04Experiences

The sea

Beaches and reefs

The Dominican Republic’s coast is long and varied between the Atlantic to the north and the Caribbean to the south and east. In the east, white sands at Punta Cana and Bávaro meet turquoise water and resort services along kilometres of almost continuous shoreline. In the south-east, Saona Island inside Cotubanamá Park offers shallow water that shows the sandy bottom, reached by boat from Bayahíbe. In the north-east, Samaná draws sandy arcs such as Rincón, Frontón and Bonita against hills and an open bay. The south-west around Barahona is more rugged, with mountains close to the sea and fewer large resort clusters. Water stays warm through most of the year, and swimming is common on public beaches and hotel stretches. Choose by pace: full services in the east, an island day on Saona, or a quieter feel in Samaná. Watch flags and currents in organised areas, leave no litter on islands and protected shores, and bring water and a hat for strong heat on open sand.