Visiting Cayo Arena in Punta Rucia: Dominican Republic Travel
- Naureen Chhipa
- a few seconds ago
- 11 min read
We're taking a day trip to the iconic Islet of Cayo Arena, also known as Paradise Island, or Cayo Paraiso. Cayo Arena is a tiny island in the middle of the ocean- and it's the smallest Island we have yet to visit during our travels. The Island is about 2,700 square feet in total! That's it, you guys, 2,700 square feet!! That is during low tide, of course, as this Islet completely disappears under water during the high tide. Join us on this exciting Caribbean adventure to explore perhaps the smallest Island in the Dominican Republic.
Cayo Arena is located northwest of the Dominican Republic, off the coast of Puerto Plata, near Punta Rucia and Monte Cristi. You can visit this Island on a day trip from various locations in the Dominican Republic, but the shortest trips typically come from Punta Rucia, Puerto Plata, Monte Cristi, and Cabarete. I highly recommend staying overnight in Punta Rucia to visit Cayo Arena. That's what we did, and we got to enjoy the beautiful beaches around Punta Rucia as well, and experience a more local side of the Dominican Republic.
Cayo Arena, also known as Paradise Island, is one of the most popular destinations in the Dominican Republic. This small Islet boasts the most transparent waters in the country, making it an excellent location for snorkeling and a great diving spot for beginners. The stunning scenery of Paradise Island resembles a fairytale setting, where mermaids reign over the Caribbean Sea. It is truly one of the most beautiful places in the Dominican Republic. Don't miss the chance to explore this amazing little Island in the middle of the sea! Cayo Arena is definitely a must-see bucket list tropical destination.
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The stunning scenery of Paradise Island resembles a fairytale setting, where mermaids reign over the Caribbean Sea.
Visiting Cayo Arena in Punta Rucia: Dominican Republic Travel
Table of Contents for Punta Rucia, Cayo Arena, Dominican Republic
Where is Cayo Arena (Paradise Island) Located in the Dominican Republic
How to Get to Cayo Arena/Paradise Island
2.1. From Punta Rucia | How to Get to Cayo Arena from Punta Rucia
2.2. From Puerto Plate | How to Get to Cayo Arena from Puerto Plata
2.3. From Cabarete | How to Get to Cayo Arena from Cabarete
2.4. From Santo Domingo | How to Get to Cayo Arena from Santo Domingo
2.5. From Punta Cana | How to Get to Cayo Arena from Punta Cana
Scuba Diving in Punta Rucia | Cayo Arena (Monte Cristi National Park)
Where is Cayo Arena in the Dominican Republic?
Discovering Cayo Arena
Cayo Arena is a small shifting sandbar off the coast of Punta Rucia. You'll need a guided tour to get there, as the size and location of the islet changes. The waters, however, are very shallow and best suited for snorkeling in the Dominican Republic.
Getting to Cayo Arena/Paradise Island
Punta Rucia to Cayo Arena/Paradise Island
Punta Rucia is an off-the-beaten-path, small fishing village on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, visited only occasionally by tourists. Unconsumed by big all-inclusive chain hotels, Punta Rucia remains a remote epic destination boasting pure white sand beaches against a backdrop of the most beautiful and picturesque mountains of Monte Cristi. The fastest and easiest way to visit Cayo Arena is a half-day trip from Punta Rucia. Therefore, we recommend stopping in Punta Rucia to visit Cayo Arena. We stayed at Punta Rucia Lodge for two nights and loved our time there. We took a private speedboat from the dock at Punta Rucia Lodge in Punta Rucia, near La Ensenada Beach, and our total travel time was only 20 minutes. Staying in Punta Rucia is the way to go if you want to relax. Cayo Arena, or Paradise Island, is less accessible than the more popular attractions.
Puerto Plata to Cayo Arena/Paradise Island
To get from Puerto Plata to Cayo Arena, you have two options. You can rent a car and drive to Punta Rucia (about a 2-hour drive) and take a speedboat (about 20 minutes), or book a day trip directly from Puerto Plata. I recommend a day trip if you want to avoid driving in the Dominican Republic or if your time is limited. A day trip from Puerto Plata to Cayo Arena will take about 10 hrs, including pick-up and drop-off from your hotel, lunch, and a local tour guide. I highly recommend booking your island day trip to Cayo Arena with Sun Sand Spirit DR; they offer excursions throughout the Dominican Republic, including yoga retreats and boutique hotel accommodations. If you're not limited in time, then renting a car and staying a few nights in Punta Rucia is the way to go! Plus, by renting a car, you can also continue your road trip heading north and visit other beautiful places in the Dominican Republic, such as El Morro de Monte Cristi and the Monte Cristi National Park.
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🏝️ Book a Guided Tour to Cayo Arena w/ Sun Sand Spirit DR ➡️ Click for info.
Cabarete to Cayo Arena/Paradise Island
To travel from Cabarete to Cayo Arena, I recommend driving. You can rent a car and drive to Punta Rucia Beach, which is about 2 hours and 40 minutes away. Stay overnight there, then start your adventure with a speedboat tour to Cayo Arena the following day; the boat ride is about 20 minutes. By staying overnight, we enjoyed an almost crowd-free Dominican Caribbean paradise. Since we were already in Punta Rucia, we could start our tour earlier. By the time we were leaving, the big tours coming from Punta Cana were arriving, so we got to experience the entire area and clear waters filled with tropical fish without being disturbed.
Keep in mind that the roads between Cabarete and Punta Rucia are not as well-developed as those in other parts of the country. I suggest renting a jeep or SUV for a better driving experience. When we made this drive in a low car, we had to go as slow as five mph due to the numerous speed bumps and potholes—I'm not exaggerating! It's worth spending a little extra on a jeep or SUV; you'll be glad you did. It's a life changer!
Santo Domingo to Cayo Arena/Paradise Island | How to Go to Cayo Arena
To get from Santo Domingo to Cayo Arena, I recommend driving. It'll be a long drive (approximately 4 hrs from Santo Domingo to Punta Rucia), so stay overnight and take a speedboat through the Caribbean Sea from there the following day (about 20 min) to start your Cayo Arena excursion. There are so many adventures on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic; besides the famous Cayo Arena catamaran, you'll be glad you made the drive! I often get asked how many islands are in the Dominican Republic, and the truth is a lot, over 160! These smaller islands within the larger Island of La Hispaniola are made up of cays and islets, with the most popular smaller islands being Saona Island (Isla Saona), Catalina Island or Isla Catalina (both closer to Santo Domingo for a day trip), Cayo Levantado, and Cayo Arena. The Dominican Republic is an Island nation, sharing the Island of Hispaniola (one of the largest islands in the Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea) with Haiti. We loved Isla Saona, but the Cayo Arena snorkeling experience we had was out of this world! We saw so many tropical fish without trying too hard to find them!
Punta Cana to Cayo Arena/Paradise Island
If you're staying in Punta Cana, chances are you don't have a car and are looking for a day trip/guided excursion. Traveling from Punta Cana to Punta Rucia and then to the little Island of Cayo Arena will take about 7 hrs- if you're not traveling with a large group/tour, making frequent stops. I highly recommend heading on a day trip to Isla Saona instead and swimming with starfish. If you've already been to the Island of Isla Saona and are keen on visiting the Islet of Cayo Arena. Consider allowing two to three days to travel to Punta Rucia, relax, and visit Cayo Arena on a short half-day trip from there.
Renting a Car in the Dominican Republic: Top Things to Know
Do You Need a Car in the Dominican Republic?
Every time we visit the Dominican Republic, we rent a car; it's simply the best way to explore the Island. The only time renting a car isn't necessary is for shorter trips of five days or less if you're staying at an All-Inclusive resort —that's the only time I won't rent a car.
Book Your Car Rental Before Arriving at Your Destination
Before renting our car online, we always use Discover Cars, a website that searches for the best car deals available to give you the best rates on car rentals, and it's worked really well for us when booking cars in the Dominican Republic. We love using the platform and the ability to add insurance right there if we want, knowing we'll be protected when driving in a foreign country. Some travel credit cards offer car insurance at no additional cost; all you have to do is make your car reservation/booking with that card, ensuring the rental is under the same name as the credit card. We've done both over the years, booked with and without the extra insurance, and never had any issues. The main difference was having the peace of mind of being covered if anything happened when we added the insurance to our booking. Another great reason to make your bookings in advance is the guarantee of actually getting a car. If you drive an automatic, you don't want to be stuck with a manual car because you didn't pre-book! Manual vehicles in the Caribbean Islands are typical and more budget-friendly, so make sure to select an automatic model if that is your preference.
Where to Get Your Car Rental in the Dominican Republic
After pre-booking our vehicle, comes the fun part: picking up our car rental at our destination! I've rented cars from Santo Domingo International Airport and Punta Cana International Airport, and had a great experience at both locations. Sometimes service can be slow, but you should keep in mind that you're on an Island = Island Time Mode. I had to, at times, remind myself to leave my little New Yorker behind and be in the moment.
Make Sure to Take Photos and Videos of the Car Before Driving Off
We're in the habit of reviewing what we sign and taking photos/videos of our car rentals. It's extra proof of the condition we received the car in, in case there are claims. During all our travels and car rentals around the world, we only had to use our video proof once in Sicily, and it ended up saving us $$$ as we could prove an alleged dent was already there when we got the car. Please get in the habit of doing that; you never know when it might come in handy. We've never had any issues with this in the Dominican Republic, but taking that video will only take a minute, so just hit record ;)
Driving in the Dominican Republic
At the time of publishing this article, you do not need an international driver's license to drive in the Dominican Republic. A physical driving license from your home country will do just fine. The highways are well-paved, but if you're visiting rural areas, renting an SUV or Jeep is crucial, as those roads are not maintained. Also, avoid driving past sunset in the smaller towns, as there aren't many streetlights, and it gets pitch-black! That happened to us in Samaná, Sabana de la Mar, and Punta Rucia. Not a fun position to be in, and very easy to get lost as street signage is also limited. Other than that, you got this!
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Where to Stay in Cayo Arena/Paradise Island
As you can imagine, lodging on the tiny island of Cayo Arena is impossible due to its size. If you want to visit this island, which is a must when visiting the Dominican Republic, we recommend staying at Punta Rucia Lodge. Punta Rucia Lodge is in the fishing village of Punta Rucia, so day-tripping to Cayo Arena will be a breeze! You can take a speed boat right from the boardwalk at Punta Rucia Lodge to Cayo Arena; Cayo Arena is only a 20-minute boat ride away. Read my blog on Punta Rucia Lodge or watch my YouTube video.
Scuba Diving in Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena
Two main scuba diving spots in Cayo Arena are part of the Paraiso system in Punta Rucia: Melissa Insight Punta Rucia and Cabeza del Cayo Punta Rucia.
Melissa Insight features a coral bank near Cayo Arena, which is an inner (more enclosed) reef. The dive reaches depths of up to 30 meters and includes a steep wall dive. In contrast, Cabeza del Cayo is an outer reef dive that offers the chance to see larger marine life, including protected manatees. Since this is an outer diving reef, you'll also experience stronger currents. Both diving spots are part of the Monte Cristi National Park.
On our trip, we chose to stick to snorkeling at Cayo Arena. I recommend scuba diving for experienced divers who want to explore the depths of the Caribbean Sea. The entire area surrounding Cayo Arena is breathtaking, with shallow, crystal-clear waters perfect for snorkeling and adventurous dives at nearby banks.
Things to do in Cayo Arena (Paradise Island) and Nearby
Cruise the open Caribbean Sea on a speed boat or catamaran.
Marvel in awe at the scenic landscape set against the shallow turquoise Sea.
Encounter wild pelicans in the middle of the Ocean.
Sunbathe on a remote Islet surrounded by ocean-blue Caribbean water.
Snorkel away and mingle with the diverse Sea life.
Enjoy a minimalist setting on the best Island in the Dominican Republic.
Take a dip in the clear waters of paradise and see all the tropical fish.
Bring your lunch and have an epic beach picnic.
Visit the endangered Dominican mangroves.
Learn how to dive; the waters at Cayo Arena are perfect for beginner divers.
Swim in the clear waters of Las Piscinas Naturales nearby.
Have an authentic local Dominican lunch at the end of your tour.
Cayo Arena (Paradise Island/Cayo Paraíso) Day Trip
This experience was beyond epic. The Dominican Republic has some of the best beaches in the world! The water is so clear, with deep hues of blues and greens. Adding Punta Rucia to our road trip was worth it to see all this natural beauty in peace, away from the crowds.
Cayo Arena is an open islet, so bringing sun protection is imperative. There are about four human-made huts on this tiny Island, but this beach is trendy and tends to get crowded past noon, so I recommend coming prepared. Also, bring your snorkeling gear, as these are among the most transparent waters in the Dominican Republic. Cayo Arena's shallow, tropical, fish-infused waters make it a top tropical destination for family trips.
What are your thoughts? Would you visit this tiny Island? Leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading! Till next time!
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