DK Travel : Dominican Republic : Costa del Coco

Costa del Coco

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The “Coconut Coast”, with its reef-protected white beaches and placid waters is the country’s up-and-coming tourist mecca, challenging the North Coast as the number one resort area. Some 40 miles (64 km) of uninterrupted beach sweeps up the southeastern tip of the country, the endless vistas of sea, sand, and coconut trees broken only by clusters of low-level hotels and villas. Since the 1980s a bonanza of construction has seen huge self-contained tourist cities rise up along the waters’ edge, their varied attractions and facilities cut off from the rest of the world. It is possible, should you wish, to escape the luxury of the hotel enclave and to explore the dramatic beaches — some calm, others wild — that stretch as far as the eye can see.
More information on Horseback Riding

Top 10 Sights

1. Playa Punta Cana

1. Playa Punta Cana

Backed by the landscaped grounds of two massive resorts, this long strip of perfect sand leads into warm turquoise water. Coconut trees provide much-needed shade, and only guests are allowed to use the resorts’ facilities.
2. Cabo Engaño

The headland separating the two main tourist towns is a paradise for surfers as high winds whistle around the cape. A lighthouse marks the country’s easternmost point, where winds and strong tides make swimming very risky.
3. Bávaro Beach Hotels

Bigger and more developed than Punta Cana, the resort is dominated by a single complex of modern hotels, offering a plethora of restaurants, water sports, and other creature comforts. An 18-hole golf course is a green oasis within the sun-baked sand.
4. Manatí Park

This controversial natural theme park offers fascinating insights into the country’s flora and fauna, as well as allowing visitors to swim with tame dolphins in a large pool or to watch performing horses do entertaining tricks (see Manatí Park, Bávaro).
5. Beach Markets

Good bargains can be had at one of the several beach markets at Cabeza de Toro or Bávaro, where locals sell rum, handicrafts, and Haitian art.
6. Water Sports

The Costa offers every conceivable beach activity, including diving, catamarans, and snorkeling in the limpid waters. The calm conditions make for excellent visibility, and glass-bottom boats reveal an underwater world of coral and fish life.
7. Cortecito Beach

One of the few stretches of sand not claimed by the all-inclusive giants, Cortecito has a more authentically Dominican feel, with small restaurants, bars, and a cluster of souvenir stalls. The sand is just as fine as around the big hotels.
8. Horseback Riding

8. Horseback Riding

The empty expanses of beach on the Costa del Coco make an ideal place for beginners or experienced riders to hire a horse.
9. Playa Macao

9. Playa Macao

A primitive dirt road leads northwards from the all-inclusives, leaving behind the manicured sand and entering a different landscape of wild beaches, crashing surf, and tiny fishing villages. Swimming is not advised, except at the more protected cove at Macao.
10. Boca de Maimón

One of the remotest of the country’s beaches, this empty wilderness of undeveloped beach and mangroves is divided by a river mouth and surrounded by marshes and lagoons, home to sea turtles. Local fishermen outnumber tourists in this isolated spot.

Practical Information

Despite successful initiatives to improve food hygiene standards, mass-produced hotel buffets can be risky. Whenever possible, eat only freshly prepared meat and fish. Check the quality of the glass-bottom boat before paying for a trip, as there have been complaints in some cases that the “glass” is hard-tosee-through plastic. Manatí Park: Open 9am–6pm daily; 221 9444; Adm; www.manatipark.com