Hidden places in Dominican Republic
- Flying Nomad
- Mar 3, 2021
- 8 min read
Hello fellow travelers, welcome to a new post.
In this post I wanted to have the opportunity to show you a little bit of my background. That is why I am doing a post about Dominican Republic.
Dominican Republic is a country that brings me a lot of memories, and I want to share that with you. My second home.
As you may know, the country is known by their paradisaic beaches and its cultural landmark. It is located in a Caribbean island called “The Hispaniola” which they share with the amazing country, Haiti. This island is the second biggest on the region, followed by Cuba.
Most of the tourists, often go to the same place, Punta Cana. There you can find amazing resorts and guaranteed relaxation.
But in this post, I wanted to go a little bit further and show you some of the hidden spots known by locals.
In my opinion, the best option would be to rent a car and visit all this places, which is an easy task. If not possible, I recommend you asking in the airport or the internet for excursion packages.
So here is my recommendation:
1. Hoyo Azul, Punta cana.
Hoyo Azul is a magical natural well located inside the Scape Park, in the Cap Cana area. You can reach this magical place taking a route in the woods.
This small natural pool of fresh water has managed to earn its fame by result of its absolute beauty.
It is made of entirely pure turquoise color, it is very deep (14 meters), and has natural cold water that vitalizes you. In the place you can find life jackets, lockers and platforms for diving. You can choose from jumping on a zip line or exploring a magnificent cave.
In order to enter the place you will have to buy tickets for the Scape Park, which normally are around 100€ for a whole day and three natural wells visits. The Scape park offers other services like cruising, zip lines, snorkel or relax in their beach club.
I recommend you to ask in the lobby of your hotel, because the majority of hotels offer free transport to the place. Also, you should buy the tickets in advance.
2. Bahía de las águilas, Pedernales.
Bahía de la Águilas is one of the most visited bays in the country and stretches for about eight kilometers. It is located right in the caribbean sea and it is in the South of the island (Pedernales), close to Haití.
The bay is considered as the most crystalline clear beach in the world and it is protected as part of the Jaragua National Park.
This protected area has an extraordinary biological richness with several highly threatened species, such as the Solenodon, the Hispaniolan hutia and there are still pelagic birds.
You can get to the beach in an 4x4 vehicle, or by boat from the shores of Cabo Rojo (around 20€ for a two way trip).
Bringing plenty of sun protection is recommended as this piece of paradise lacks shade.
3. María Trinidad Sanchez (Playa Preciosa, San Juan river; Dudu Lagoon, Cabrera)
María Trinidad Sánchez is one of the 32 provinces of the Dominican Republic, located on the north coast of the country
There you can find the Lagoon Dudu, with a depth of 32 m and surrounded by a dense forest. In there you can find a family friendly environment where you can enjoy activities such as the zip line, snorkel and a natural spa. There is many varieties of birds like peacocks and you can enjoy their food service if you get hungry.
Formations of stalactites and stalagmites that the water has formed can be observed. However, in the Taíno cave you will find the best place to contemplate the pre-Columbian art that decorates its 30-meter-long walls.
It is the only place in the world where cavers can go diving from one natural lake to another.
There is a lot of stairs to be climbed, so it is not recommended for people with no mobility.
I also recommend you to visit playa Preciosa or "precious beach". A beach with clean blue water but big waves only for the most adventorous.
In there you will find boats, which will give you, the options of navigating, where you will see the natural pool, the caves of the swallows and the lagoon.
There are different restaurant-type "houses". with different local food options and prices.
4. Sosua, Puerto Plata.
Sosua is located in the province of Puerto Plata. It is known for the beach of the same name, located in a protected cove where there is a coral reef, tropical fish and plants of various colors, becoming a delight diving lovers.
The greatest charm of Sosua is its cultural diversity that can be noted by the number of restaurants specialized in international gastronomy.
Very close to Sosua is Alicia beach. Alicia beach is a small paradise that appeared spontaneously in 2003, it is very frequented by the locals for the quality of its sand and its waters.
Furthermore, Sosua is home to a permanent exhibition of Jewish history, within the Jewish Museum, located next to the Synagogue. When it comes to Jewish history, Sosua has a significant history given that between 1939 and 1945 approximately 700 Jewish refugees were received.
In addition, in your visit to this beach you cannot leave aside one of the Dominican historical symbols such as Tres Pilotillos, which is what was the old port of the beach and has become a benchmark for tourist visits.
5. Barahona (Los patos and San Rafael)
The river and town of Los Patos are located in the Barahona province. With just 61 meters, depending on the tide, it is the shortest river on the island and one of the shortest rivers in the world. You will see ducks along its shores, hence the name.
The waters of the natural pool are crystal clear and cold, due to the fact that the river is born at the foot of one of the Paraíso mountains ending at the beautiful Los Patos beach. You can spend a wonderful day alternating between both waters (salty and fresh) or enjoying the one you like the most.
In the pool you will share space with the many fish that live in the river, very used to being fed by visitors.
There are different food and drink options around the area, sit back and enjoy the local music.
The San Rafael spa is also located in the Barahona Province. One of the best things of San Rafael is that it combines the oceanic waves of the Caribbean Sea and a natural pool created at the river mouth of the San Rafael River.
The white pebble beach is popular for surfing, because of its strong waves. But it is not recommended for swimming. Nonetheless, you can relax at the shore or enjoy the magic waters of the natural pool.
The river waterfall is one of the main attractions of the place, which has been converted into a natural spa.
6. El saltadero de los muchachos.
Saltadero de los Muchachos in Cabrera is several meters high and flows into a natural pool in the middle of a tropical grove. A small waterfall, in which the locals do show jumping to provide an unforgettable spectacle to the visitors. To go down to its waters, you have to cross a bridge and go down a wooden staircase. Already in the place, the colors of the stone, the water, the sky and the vegetation combine as if we were looking at a truly masterpiece.
As with all rivers and waterfalls, it is strongly discouraged in rains and floods. We also, recommend taking mosquito repellent because is not an area where the sun brights.
The entrance is totally FREE.
To arrive, you have to get to the end of a local path that is filled with colorful moles in summer and look down to discover the white waterfall of the natural monument created in 2009.
7. Río Partido, Salcedo.
Rio Partido is a magical and incredible place hidden in the Hermanas Mirabal province in the north of the Dominican Republic.
Of all the recommendations, this is the most secret one.
The waterfall is quite difficult to access, you need good shoes, suitable clothing for this type of adventure, and it is advisable to bring water. The road is difficult but is totally worth it; it is a unique and quiet place, and the water is an extraordinary turquoise blue.
This place is for the most adventurous. The stones are very slippery, very deep water and everything you carry can get wet since you will be gong upstream,
8. Monte Cristi: Monte Cristi's swing, El morro, piscina natural, los manglares, las salinas.
Monte Cristi is one of the 32 provinces of the Dominican Republic. It is known by the name "the jewel of the northwest", a wild and captivating landscape, ideal for out of the ordinary adventures. Its waters are known as "the cemetery of Caribbean ships" with more than 450 sunken galleons dating back to the time of Columbus.
Around this scenario partly desert and partly similar to the Mediterranean, tunnels lead you to lagoons fresh, while offshore cays are filled with migratory birds and offer white sandy beaches isolated.
Those who venture off the sand and into the Atlantic Ocean will be able to kitesurf or go under the sea to explore the barrier reef that runs parallel to El Morro. It is the largest and healthiest reef in the Dominican Republic
The Manglares (or mangroves) extends along 17 km of coastline , covering an area of 81 km².
The protected area encompasses an area of wetlands with lagoons and mangroves. The wetlands have an amazing natural beauty.
The mangroves are the most extensive in the Dominican Republic and visitors can observe hundreds of aquatic birds, such as flamingos, spoonbills and herons.
Before reaching the heart of the town, you will find the well-known Montecristi salinas (salt ponds). You can walk around the area and see how sea salt is made; seawater is concentrated in shallow man-made ponds, before it evaporates and leaves behind large salt crystals that are then transformed into table salt. A show worth to be watched.
9. Samana (Las galeras, Cayo Levantado, Salto El Limon)
The Samana peninsula, located in the northeast, is a Caribbean paradise on earth. It overlookes the bay of Samana, where thousands of humpback whales flock during the winter mating season.
Cayo Levantado, also known as Bacardi Island because of a Bacardi commercial filmed there in the 1970s. The small island of Cayo Levantado sits just five kilometers from Samaná Bay, and you can enjoy the sparkling white sand and beaches lined with palms.
It has a big range of activities like snorkling, paddle boarding, kayak, and much more.
Every day, small taxi boats leave from the port of Samana, on Avenida Marina, that take visitors to this small island.
El Limon waterfall falls at a height of 40 meters. Over time, the Salto has become a famous tourist attraction and local communities depend on it for their own well-being.
The 2.5 km journey to get there can be done on foot if the person is in good physical shape, or it can be done on horseback (in the village you can choose your option). The reward is a refreshing dip in the cool water under a majestic waterfall.
Las Galeras is a remote fishing village located on the northeastern of the Samaná peninsula. It is also home to a big amount of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic, including the world-renowned Playa Rincón. Its amaxing clear waters allow you to enjoy snorkling or diving.
The town has remained in its own Dominican style, formed by little houses lined with coconut trees and bathed by the sea with some boats owned by the residents of the town themselves.
Many companies gather here in order to do boats excursion to all different beaches.
10. Bayahibe, Saona Island.
Bayahibe is also a fishing village found in Saona island in the Dominican Republic. The local fishermen still live in beautiful wooden houses painted in bright colors along the coast. The village is also known for its sandy beaches and its dive places.
You can enjoy the crystal clear freshwater springs, amazing coral reefs, hundreds of colorful butterflies, magnificent beaches and amazing seafood. Furthermore, kitesurffing is almost a religion in the area,
Despite the almost nostalgic atmosphere in the area, we can find alternative accommodation with a good quality. As it is becoming the new Punta Cana.
I hope this post have been useful for some of you and that you already have it in the wishlist.
If you really want to have an uforgettable experience I really recommend you to go to the country because you will come a new person.
From the kindness of the locals to the land view it is something you won't find nowhere else.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and let's go.
Comment what you think.
Meanwhile, I will see you in my next post.
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