Underrated Places in Dominican Republic
Punta Cana is the most visited place in the Dominican Republic. The advertisement featuring white sand- clear water beaches, all-you-can-drink piña coladas, and adventurous day trips make this the perfect getaway. Most people don't even venture out of the resort they're staying at, and why would they? Punta Cana is a pure tropical paradise, or at least that's what we thought until we left Bavaro beach. In this post, we invite you to discover with us where you should go in the Dominican Republic-- and sorry, but Punta Cana is not on our list!
Here are our Favorite 8 Underrated Places in the Dominican Republic
Las Galeras, Samaná | Dominican Republic
Playa El Valle, Samaná | Dominican Republic
Playa El Ermitaño, Samaná | Dominican Republic
Bayahibe, La Romana | Dominican Republic
Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo | Dominican Republic
Wilson's La Boca Restaurant | Cabarete, Dominican Republic
El Choco National Park | Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Rio Yasica | Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Las Galeras, Samaná | Dominican Republic
If you visit the Samaná Peninsula between Mid-December to Late-March, you can see wild humpback whales congregate on the shore of the bay. Humpback whales migrate to the Caribbean during winter, and they prefer these shallow, warm Caribbean waters while calving, so you might even spot a few baby whales. Our favorite Airbnb on the Island, Casa el Paraiso is located in Las Galeras, overlooking the bay, perched upon jungly mountains. These eco-friendly, open-air bungalow rooms are an experience not to be missed!
Playa El Valle, Samaná | Dominican Republic
Playa el Valle is one of our favorite beaches on the Island. Secluded and boasting dramatic scenery, this beach is perfect for those wanting to disconnect and get away.
Read more about Playa El Valle and where to stay.
Playa El Ermitaño, Samaná | Dominican Republic
Just a short boat ride from Playa El Valle, you can find Playa El Ermitaño. Playa El Ermitaño is a virgin beach lined with sea and mountains filled with coconut trees, and although you can't stay overnight, it is worth the trip! We barely saw anyone else there and had the entire beach to ourselves. Playa El Ermitaño is an underrated, hidden gem of the Dominican Republic that few people know about yet; hurry and visit before it gets too popular!
Bayahibe, La Romana | Dominican Republic
Most people visiting La Romana stay at Casa de Campo, but we found the small town of Bayahibe (which is closer to the sea) to be very relaxing. We stayed at Tracadero Beach Resort and found ourselves surrounded by infinity pools overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Tracadero Beach Resort was the perfect place to unwind while still being social as they play live music, have two onsite restaurants, and a beach bar making the best cocktails!
Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo | Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo, is home to cultural museums and well-preserved ruins dating back to the 1400s. You can glimpse the city life away from the beaches by visiting the capital. If you're a foodie, Santo Domingo is not a place to miss! Many up-and-coming restaurants are opening their doors and merging traditional local flavors with an innovative modern taste that will expand your taste buds and take your culinary experience to another level. La Zona Colonial is a great place to hang out, shop, watch the locals, dine out and experience the nightlife in Santo Domingo.
Wilson's La Boca Restaurant | Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Wilson's Restaurant "La Boca" is a real adventure! This hidden gem restaurant is located at the mouth of a river named Yasica, and to get there, you have to cross the river via boat. Visiting La Boca was one of the highlights of our stay in Cabarete; this rustic river-side restaurant offers authentic Dominican seafood with fresh and local ingredients.
El Choco National Park | Cabarete, Dominican Republic
El Choco National park is located near downtown Cabarete. When visiting, you can hike, swim, dive, and learn about the Taino culture in the Dominican Republic. On tour, you'll get to explore three different cave systems, from underground to semi-open.
Rio Yasica | Cabarete, Dominican Republic
We discovered Yasica river on our way to Wilson's restaurant "La Boca" and automatically, upon arrival, fell in love with this place; It's laid back, less crowded, and perfect to learn to kitesurf if it's your first time! Plus, it's right across from one of the best restaurants in Cabarete. You can combine dining at Wilson's restaurant with a half-day of adventure sports, including lazy river tubing and kitesurfing at Rio Yasica.
I hope you found some new adventures to add to your next visit to the Dominican Republic. Thanks for reading, and leave a comment below if you have an underrated location in the Dominican Republic that we should add to our list.
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