20 Dominican Republic Beaches

According to the country’s official tourist slogan, ‘The Dominican Republic has it all’. It’s a big, bold statement, no doubt, but one which certainly rings true when it comes to the beaches in the Dominican Republic as they rank among the best in the Caribbean. There is a Dominican Republic beach for everyone.

On the island’s north side, the coast is lined with a string of outstanding soft, sandy beaches, which are popular spots for kiteboarding or surfing. You’ll also find plenty of calm, idyllic locations that are perfect for swimming, snorkelling or simply just relaxing in relative isolation there too. 

Around the Caribbean Coast, on the southern side of the island, are outstanding beaches considered quintessentially Caribbean. Think immaculate white, powdery sand, swaying palm trees and translucent waters with gentle, lapping waves.

However, the best-known beach region in the country is Punta Cana, towards the far east end of the island, where the Atlantic Ocean seamlessly merges with the Caribbean Sea. It’s the Dominican Republic’s number one beach resort destination and a heady place of impressive beaches and glitzy all-inclusive luxury resorts. Punta Cana is where most visitors base themselves when they vacation here. So, if you’re planning a visit, these are the 20 best beaches in the Dominican Republic to check out.

Dominican Republic Beaches

20 Best Beaches In The Dominican Republic

1- Bahia de Las Aguilas, Pedernales

If you like your beaches to be stunning and remote, then the Bahia de Las Aguilas should be right up your street.

Situated on the Caribbean coast, close to the town of Pedernales, and not far from the Haitian border, this fantastic 8-km stretch of pristine sand lies within the beautiful Jaragua National Park.

The park is a UNESCO designated natural reserve, so you can imagine how beautiful the beach must be.

Forming a gentle crescent between two rugged capes, this near-deserted shoreline boasts gleaming, sugar-like white sand, a gorgeous landscape and crystal clear water.

Completely undeveloped, it is one of the least visited beaches in the country.

Those who come here tend to do so on a day trip from Barahona to swim, snorkel and revel in its blissful tranquillity.

2- Playa Rincón, Samana Peninsula

Another largely undeveloped and remote beach paradise, Playa Rincón is the kind of beach that often pops up as your screensaver.

Found on the Samana Peninsula, Playa Rincon can only be accessed by a 30-minute boat ride from Las Galeras or a 30-minute drive.

It’s not simple to get there, but once you do, you will be rewarded with a sensational landscape of massive, stately palm trees, 3km (1.86 miles) of pure white sand and shimmering turquoise waters.

At one end of the beach, a protected cove provides a safe bay for swimming, whilst a backdrop of verdant mountains adds an overall paradisical feel.

3- Playa Los Mino, Rio San Juan

The Dominican Republic is blessed with several fabulous villages near some terrific beaches.

One of the most picturesque village beaches is the one at Playa Los Mino, in Rio San Juan.

It is a very easy beach to get to, it has stunning white sand backed by lush vegetation and sparkling azure waters.

It’s a quaint beach with a welcoming community feel that seems a world away from the frenzy of the beaches that host the glitzy all-inclusive resorts.

4- Bávaro Beach, Punta Cana

Probably the most popular beach in the Dominican Republic, Bávaro Beach for many people, is the ultimate family beach destination.

Located in Punta Cana, which in itself is the Dominican Republic’s most popular beach resort destination, the beach is always full of holidaymakers and sun-seekers who come to relax and unwind at the many big-name all-inclusive resorts that line it.

The white, sandy beach is beautiful and stretches for miles.

It’s perfect for walking, sunbathing or people-watching, and the translucent waters are great for swimming in too.

Bávaro Beach is also a noted spot for snorkelling, surfing, scuba diving, banana boat riding, windsurfing and kayaking.

All of which provide fantastic opportunities to capture some great Instagram photos.

5- La Playita Beach, Las Galeras

A list of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic would be complete without reference to La Playita Beach.

Enjoying a spectacular location where huge coconut palms grace the entire beachfront area, this stunning tan coloured beach oozes character.

Situated near the charming little town of Las Galeras, the colour of the water is gorgeous here, flitting between various shades of turquoise, green and blue as the light dictates.

It’s also shallow and calm, making swimming very safe, especially for children. While the coral reefs found just offshore are also a fun thing to explore.

For more beaches around the world read:

6- Playa Fronton, Las Galeras

If you’re looking to escape from the crowds, Playa Fronton in Las Galeras provides a wonderful sanctuary.

Only accessible by a 40-minute boat ride, or a four-hour, guided, round-trip hike, this completely undeveloped beach is a slice of paradise you will most likely have to yourself.

Backed by imposing black cliffs, the beach features a stunning landscape of lush coconut trees, golden sand and crystalline water.

For couples, it offers a very romantic location where you can stroll hand-in-hand along the secluded shoreline or enjoy a private swim or snorkel.

7- Cayo Levantado, Samaná

If you want nothing more than to relax on a stunning beach on an elysian island, then Cayo Levantado is just the ticket.

Found on a remote island, just off the coast of the Samaná Peninsula, this beach is on the lovely islet of Bacardi Island.

Replete with fine white sand, lush palm trees and shimmering cerulean waters, it’s the perfect place to relax away from the main crowds.

You can spend all day here doing nothing but sunbathing and relaxing.

If you want to indulge in swimming, kayaking, fishing or paddle boarding, it’s an excellent spot to do that.

8- Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata

Although Punta Cana is the Dominican Republic’s primary beach region, Puerto Plata has some excellent beaches too.

One of the best of them is the Playa Dorada.

Situated on the Amber Coast, this magnificent stretch of golden sand runs along the coast, from east of the city.

It features a breathtaking landscape of lush mountain scenery, palm tree-lined beaches and some of the most beautiful clear turquoise waters you could ever hope to see.

There are lots of all-inclusive resorts to stay at here too. But as building regulations have kept them all to three stories, they don’t spoil the beauty of the landscape all that much.

9- Playa Grande, Rio San Juan

If you’re after a good surfing beach, the Playa Grande does not disappoint.

Boasting a rustic charm, it features soft, coral coloured, powdery sand, plenty of verdant greenery and crystal-clear water that looks like it has come straight out of a swimming pool.

An excellent spot for surfing, the pounding waves of the Atlantic Ocean often create huge swells.

Situated on the fringes of Rio San Juan, the kilometre-long beach also hosts a good range of facilities, as well as a handful of food stands that serve up a delicious range of seafood snacks.

10- Playa Los Patos, Barahona

In keeping with most of the beaches in Barahona, Playa Los Patos is a pebble stone beach instead of a sandy beach.

It’s a very picturesque landscape nonetheless, and what makes it so popular is that it is renowned for having fast-breaking waves – which surfers think is rad.

Situated directly along the coastal highway, between Barahona and Pedernales, this is an easy beach to get to.

It also features the Los Patos river on the other side of the beach, which has a lovely, wide, natural pool, which locals love to swim in when the ocean gets a bit too rough.

11- Kite Beach, Cabarete

For the watersports enthusiast, Kite Beach is like Disneyland.

Located in Cabarete, it is one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean for such activities, not least kitesurfing, for which it is considered to be a top destination.

This beach hosts the internationally renowned ‘Master of the Ocean’ competition every February, the world championship for watersports like kitesurfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, surfing and stand-up paddleboarding.

On windy days swimming is not permitted here, as scores of kiters hit the water to negotiate the perfect wave conditions.

But the sandy shoreline, which runs for two kilometres, provides plenty of space to take it all in.

12- Playa Cabarete Beach, Cabarete

As an all-around beach destination, Cabarete Beach is hard to beat.

Running all along the waterfront of Cabarete, the crescent-shaped beach is great for people-watching.

It’s also another popular spot for water sports, with all the usual activities like kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing, paddleboarding and banana boating, and regular games of volleyball or soccer.

Lining the beach are several restaurants that offer al fresco dining and often live music.

At night, several beach bars come alive so that you can enjoy a drink or two under the stars as the waves gently lap the sand.

13- Punta Rucia, Puerto Plata

Sometimes you just want to head to the beach to sunbathe, listen to some tunes, read a book and generally chill out alone.

One of the best places to do this in the Dominican Republic is Playa Punta Rucia.

Located in Puerto Plata, near a small fishing village on the west end of the Amber Coast, this beach enjoys a spectacular location.

Backed by stunning sea grape trees, with lush mountains framing one side of the beach and a prominent rocky headland on the other, the picturesque long curve of white sandy beach is a place you will likely have to yourself.

So it’s the perfect spot to indulge in a bit of ‘me’ time.

14- Playa Juan Dolio

A vibrant beach, without being too frenetic, Playa Juan Dolio has one of the best stretches of coastlines in the Dominican Republic.

Extending for some 10km, you can enjoy a range of activities on this palm-lined stretch of golden sand, including snorkelling to a nearby reef, banana boating, volleyball and swimming.

The beach has a great vibe, nestled along the Caribbean coast between the capital, Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.

It also houses several excellent oceanfront restaurants that serve a wide selection of fresh seafood dishes and local delicacies.

15- Playa Boca Chica, Santo Domingo

A couple of minutes away from Santo Domingo, Playa Boca Chica is a vibrant 1.5km (.9 miles) beach that features powdery white sand and shallow, calm waters that are great for swimming in.

A place where locals and tourists freely mix, it’s the perfect spot to immerse yourself in the Dominican way of life.

Usually reasonably crowded, it’s full of a wide range of vendors selling everything from cigars and fruit to jewellery and paintings.

Their patois, banter and energy are pretty infectious, and in between dips in the water and walks along the shoreline, you should find it very entertaining.

16- Playa Bahoruco, Barahona

Playa Bahoruco is another white pebble-stone beach in Barahona, which is known for being an outstanding surfing destination.

Nestled in the southwestern corner of the Dominican Republic, it’s also an excellent spot for windsurfing, jet skiing, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling and fishing.

There is more than enough room on the beach to chill out and sunbathe, but as this place is about adventure, you should also time a visit here with one to Casa Bonita, a fantastic nearby attraction that enables you to zipline through lush, tropical forests.

17- Playa Sosúa, Puerto Plata

One of the crown jewels of Puerto Plata, Playa Sosúa, is a stunning beach that offers something to everyone.

It is blessed with outstanding natural beauty and a fabulous arc of coastline that has golden sand and shimmering cerulean waters.

A great beach to enjoy activities like paddleboarding, snorkelling, kitesurfing and banana boating, there are also numerous bars and restaurants here where you can sit and soak the ambience.

Perhaps the best offering at this beach is the magnificent sunsets, which are about as perfect as you can imagine.

18- Macao Beach, Punta Cana

In a region with so many wonderful beaches, Macao Beach manages to stand out.

Located on the northern end of the Punta Cana region, it has a stunning locale of soft powdery sand, stately coconut trees and sparkling azure water.

The wide beach is excellent for walking, sunbathing or playing ball sports.

It’s also another surf site renowned for its swells and trade winds and there’s a surf school towards its northern end.

Open all year round, it is very adept at teaching beginners the basics of how to ride the waves.

19- Juanillo Beach, Punta Cana

Situated on the southeast coast, Juanillo Beach features an idyllic silky and sandy shoreline that boasts gently swaying palm trees and crystalline turquoise waters.

A long, refined beach that is cleaned every day to maintain its pristine appearance, Juanillo has two sides to it.

During the week, the beach is never crowded and noise is generally kept to a minimum, making it a perfect spot for couples to go on a romantic barefoot walk.

However, it comes alive with events and live music for the whole family to enjoy on the weekend.

20- Grand Laguna Beach, Sosua

Home of a resort of the same name, Grand Laguna Beach lies about 3km from the town of Sosua.

Located on the country’s northern coast, this is one of the most serene beaches in the whole of the Dominican Republic.

It features a stunning setting where rocky outcrops and lush vegetation perfectly offset tan coloured sand and dazzling azure waters.

It’s a trendy spot with families and couples who especially love to swim here. But despite this, the vibe is always quiet and relaxed – which is undoubtedly why so many people love it.