The Best Beaches in the Dominican Republic

It’s no secret that the popularity of the Dominican Republic is in large thanks to its outstanding beaches. The coastline here is kissed golden by the sun and lined by exotic palm and coconut trees. With a mix of tranquil deserted sands and busy watersport-driven coasts, there’s ample choice for every beach bum. If you’re travelling to this world-renowned locale, here are some of our favourite beach spots to check out.

Playa Dorada


One of the most famous beaches in the Dominican Republic, Playa Dorada is located on the Amber Coast in the region’s capital Puerto Plata, and has white and golden sands. The turbulent seas of the Atlantic make this beach ideal for watersports enthusiasts, and water-skiing and windsurfing are especially popular. This coastline is three kilometres long and dotted with palm trees, offering you shade along the sloping shore. Playa Dorada also has numerous All Inclusive hotels that give you easy access to the sands.

Macao

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Near Punta Cana on the east coast of the Dominican Republic is the secluded and stunning shoreline of Macao. This rural area has a backdrop of cliffs and picture perfect, see-through water. Macao was voted by UNESCO as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean for its fine sand and tropical palm trees. It’s one of the only beaches in the Dominican Republic to be hotel-free and is frequented by buggies and four wheel riders as well as avid surfers.

Bayahibe


If you’re on a family holiday, Bayahibe is the beach for you. The tranquil sea here is great for paddle boarding, snorkelling and fly-boarding, or for just splashing in the shallows with your little ones. Bayahibe is also one of the biggest hubs for scuba diving in the Dominican Republic – its got over 20 official dive sites and a whole host of underwater spots to check out, including coral reefs, shipwrecks and an abundance of marine life.

Playa Madama

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Sometimes retreating from the crowds and finding your own personal beach is just what the doctor ordered. Playa Madama is on the Samana peninsula and is perfectly isolated from civilisation. To reach this shore you must descend a steep slope surrounded by rocks and vegetation, giving this coastline a hidden quality. Once you’ve reached the shore, you can explore a hidden cave among the rocks or swim in the shallow waters. There are also fantastic opportunities to spot marine life up close with a bit of snorkelling, and this area is even known for its migrating humpback whales that visit in the winter months between January and March.

Bavaro/Punta Cana

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On the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic sits Bavaro and Punta Cana. This beachfront stretches for about 30 kilometres and is jam-packed with All Inclusive resorts – in fact, it has the largest concentration of hotels in the Caribbean. But it’s a busy spot for a reason! The sands here are perfectly golden and the warm water is ideal for swimming all year long. It’s also great if you want to spend the whole day on the beach, with plenty of facilities, restaurants, vendors and golf resorts situated here.

Have you been to any of these sparkling coastlines? Let us know which one was your favourite in the comments below.