Quiet Beaches
1. Playa del Morro
A rocky track cuts through a gap in the landmark mountain of El Morro, leading to a deserted white-sand beach. The beach is walled in by sheer cliffs, but the water is calm and protected in this spectacular cove. Sunsets are superb.
2. Playa Isabela
Steeped in history as the site of the first European settlement in the Americas, this low-key stretch of sand backed by shade-giving vegetation attracts more fishermen than tourists. The freshwater Bajabonico River meets the sea at this spot, producing an interesting ecosystem that’s worth exploring.
3. Playa Bonita
This is probably the nearest thing to the classic image of tropical paradise. White sand meets calm turquoise sea, watched over by a stretch of coconut palms. Even the nearby hotels and guesthouses fail to intrude on the peaceful beach heaven (for further details see Playa Bonita).
4. Playa Rincon
Lack of easy access due to a single connecting rough road, has kept this beautiful horseshoe cove free from obtrusive development. The sand is pristinely white, the sea bluer than blue, and the coconut trees sway enticingly (for further details see Playa Rincón).
5. Playa Limon
A beach for exploring rather than swimming. A long, wild, deserted 6-mile (10-km) stretch, where big breakers crash onto the palm-littered sand. As part of a protected National Park, the beach has escaped development and offers nature in the wild, including mangroves, coconut groves, and hungry mosquitoes.
6. Playa Macao
Only a few miles from the well-tended beaches of Bávaro and Punta Cana, this long, sweeping stretch of untamed coastline is as undeveloped as anywhere in the country. Pounding surf and a powerful undertow discourage most swimmers, but the bay at Punta Macao, with its sheltering headlands, is safer.
7. Playa Corbanito
The white sand may not be the finest in the Dominican Republic, but the view over the Bahía de Ocoa towards the distant sierra is breathtaking. The bay’s water is calm and inviting, and the beach itself, untroubled by tourists and home only to a few fishermen, is attractive and extremely relaxing.
8. Playa Baoruco
Harboring one of the many small and undeveloped beaches on the coastline south of Barahona, Baoruco is more a fishing village than a tourist resort but it has a small luxury hotel, Casa Bonita, with a great view. The pretty beach has white pebbles, and the views into the wooded mountains are stunning.
9. Playa Cabo Rojo
Lying on the coastline of Parque Nacional Jaragua, this “Red Cape” is named for the rich red seams of bauxite that once fed a now-derelict processing plant. The wilderness is certainly a draw for the pelicans and other birds.
10. Bahia de las Aguilas
One of the most beautiful and unspoilt beaches in the country, the pristine Bahia de las Aguilas is also the hardest to reach. Fishing boats from the village, Las Cuevas, transport visitors to and from the beach; a return trip costs US$45. Facilities here are minimal, so carry water and other necessities.
