The top beaches of the Dominican Republic dazzle with sugary white sands and shimmering turquoise waters. Most of these are in the Punta Cana and Bavaro areas, which stretch some 30 miles along the island’s eastern shore. With popularity come crowds and the lion’s share of resorts.
For those willing to seek out a beach less trodden, the country has some 250 miles of coastline open for exploration. It’s well worth the effort to discover your private place. Depending on the location, your beach blanket might come to rest on bone white sands, latte colored strands or peach tinted grains.
Playa Coson
A 15-minute ride from the town of Las Terrenas brings you to this solitary beach, where 12 miles of golden sand are flanked by palms, and seldom occupied. Strong easterly winds beckon kiteboarders, and surfers find the 3-to-6-foot swell coming in from the north-northeast a draw. Neighboring Playa Bonita offers similar scenery, with palms that dip into the sea and grassy areas that provide a soft surface to lay down a beach towel. Novice surfers love this spot, and after a day of paddling, they can refuel at the outdoor bars and restaurants across the road.
Isla Catalina
Hire a boat for the day, drop anchor and head ashore with your snorkeling gear, beach towels, and picnic lunch for a day of frolicking on this 6-square-mile island. If you are staying at Casa de Campo, it’s even easier to hop aboard one of the resort’s catamaran trips for the day, as they provide the food and drink along with chaises and towels. If you go it alone, make sure you pick a day when a cargo of cruise passengers isn’t on the docket; check with the concierge at Casa de Campo to identify the off days.
Playa Las Terrenas
A stay at the Balcones del Atlantico resort puts you right on this prime spot. Nestle into a cushioned lounge alongside the open-air restaurant Porto, and you’ve got everything you need for the day. This long, narrow stretch of golden sand is backed by palms and sea grape trees and runs along a coastal road right through town. No hotels are built beachside, just the occasional beach bar offering up sea views and an irresistible chilled Presidente beer. Once a quiet fishing village, the locals now share the town with a European expat community, which gives the spot an intriguing mix of customs and lifestyle.
Playa Juanillo
Cap Cana’s claim to fame is this silky white sand beach that was once a coconut plantation. Remnants of the groves still grace the shores between resorts built in the last decade. From your luxury suite at the Sanctuary Cap Cana, you can step right out onto these pristine sands. A short stroll brings you to the Blue Marlin, an over-the-water restaurant where the daily catch is always on the menu, and later, you’ll have no trouble finding a spot of solitude on the softest and whitest sands on the island.
Playa Rincon
This crescent of café au lait sand is touted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and few would disagree. Coconut palms frame views of rolling green hills, and at the far end, a clear water river tumbles from low cliffs into the sea. This site remains pristine and protected by locals as a national treasure, with no hotels or beach clubs. For the easiest access, hire a boat from Las Galeras, or plan on bumping along rough roads on an overland adventure. Should hunger creep in, several modest beachside eateries serve fresh seafood.
Isla Saona
Catamarans and motorboats load eager visitors from the fishing town of Bayahibe for the day trip to Saona, the favorite offshore island of the DR. The attractions are breathtaking white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and shallow waters where sandbars allow all levels of swimmers a view of the starfish below. You’ll find plenty of personal space to explore the 14-mile-long nature preserve that’s fringed with mangroves, home to roosting colonies of big birds like the frigate bird, brown pelican and red footed booby. Sea life is also plentiful, with frequent sightings of bottlenose dolphins, turtles, manatees, sharks and whales.
Playa Uvero Alto
Orange sands that contrast with a teal blue sea create impressive vistas, but the real beauty of this beach is its isolation. The waterfront is shared by just two resorts. Stay at either the posh Le Sivory Punta Cana or Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana, and you’ll feel like you own the place. Both have beach frontage where the sands are cleaned and raked. A walk in either direction will unveil beaches in their natural state where coconuts wash ashore, and palm fronds pile up. Stormy weather brings chop and waves that break onshore, and entry may require navigating a few rocks.
