Which Coasts to Visit in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a country of many faces; which one you experience is left up to what region of the island you visit. While one may offer that discreet, laid-back atmosphere that the more experienced crowds tend to favor, a family or group of college students would probably want to vacation a Dominican city with a bit more fire and kick to it. So carefully choosing where in the country you visit is imperative to the quality of your vacation.

North Coast
A balanced mix of party and relaxation. While areas such as Playa Durado and Playa Plata offer the excitement and nightlife so frequently sough after on vacations, Cabarete, a nearby surfing village, is much more sedated, but equally packed with places to go and things to do. What the location does lack, however, is that classic tropical-island atmosphere; there, the water is clean but not clear and the beach is nearly golden not white. Dominican Republic's North Coast also features the peninsula of Samana, a Conde Nast Top-25 location from their 'More Sun for Less Money' list.

South Coast
The most unassuming and silent coast in the Dominican, and an essential source of travel for anyone craving that uninhabited-island theme for their vacation. Immaculate beaches and translucent waters comprise the area. Towns such as La Romana, Bayahibe, and Altos de Chavon each offer distinct topographical characteristics that dictate their level of tourism. The first two are quintessential of a movie-screen paradise, whereas the latter features beautiful craggy cliffs that peer out over Chavon river.

East Coast
Combining the excitement of the Dominican Republic's North with the tropical elements of the South, the East Coast is home to the infamous Punta Cana and the city's Punta Cana hotels. Sugar sand, brilliant blue ocean water, and extravagant hotels for miles tracing the coast and showcasing the pinnacle of Dominican fun and leisure.

Wherever you decide to visit, the reality of traveling the Dominican is that, unlike other larger vacation destinations, the country is still an island and visiting each of its coasts and staggering your vacation around their different locales is an option frequently taken by those who visit.