The beaches in front of the Punta Cana hotels face the Atlantic. Drive an hour and a half south-west and the sea changes: around Bayahibe it is the Caribbean, and the water is usually calmer. This guide is for you if you want a full beach day somewhere quieter than the hotel strip. It covers when the trip makes most sense, how the day runs, what is and is not paid for, and how it compares with our other days out.
Why make the drive for a beach
You already have a beach outside your room, so the question is fair. There are two good reasons to go.
The first is the sea. Punta Cana's beaches take the Atlantic swell, while Dominicus faces the Caribbean, and the water there is usually calmer. For young children or nervous swimmers that alone can decide it.
The second is the seaweed. Sargassum drifts in on Atlantic currents and washes up on east-facing beaches, and Bávaro, which faces due east, gets more than most. Bayahibe is on the south-facing coast and is largely sheltered from it. In bad seaweed years some hotel groups have moved their guests to Bayahibe for exactly that reason. If you arrive to find weed on your hotel beach, this is the day to book.
When to go
On the Punta Cana side, sargassum is usually heaviest from about June to August and lightest from November to March, with the change coming in April and May. That is when this tour does the most for you. The amount varies a great deal from one year to the next, so look at recent photographs of your hotel beach before you decide.
The water is warm in every month, from 26°C early in the year to 29°C in September and October. February and March are the driest months, May and October the wettest, and tropical storms are most likely from August to October. From March to September the UV index is at the top of the scale, which matters on a day spent mostly on open sand.
How the day runs
You are collected at 07:00 and reach Bayahibe at about 08:30. You start in the village, with an hour to look at the fishing boats on the bay, the jetty where the island boats leave and the seafront. Bayahibe is a fishing town with pastel wooden houses, craft stalls, bars and small restaurants.
At about 09:30 you move to Dominicus, the long beach just south of the village, with white sand and calm water. Most of the morning is spent here, close to three hours. Lunch follows at about 12:15, back in Bayahibe, at the fish and seafood places on the bay. You leave at around 13:30 and are back at your hotel at about 15:00.
The car is yours, so the timetable is a guide, not a rule. If the beach is good, tell your driver and you leave later.
What is paid on the day
The tour covers the private vehicle and driver, fuel, tolls and parking. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page. Everything on the beach is extra:
- Sunbeds, if you want them.
- Lunch and drinks.
- Any boat trip.
Bring cash for small purchases on the beach and in the village, and a card for lunch as a back-up.
Saona, the national park and the stone village
Bayahibe is the gateway to more than its own beach, and it helps to know what fits in this day and what does not.
- Saona and Catalina. The two islands offshore have long white beaches, and the boats leave from the Bayahibe jetty. A boat trip takes a full day, so it is not part of this tour. Book the boat yourself and we can drop you at the jetty and collect you, as a separate booking.
- Cotubanamá National Park, also known as Parque Nacional del Este. Its land side is reached from Bayahibe village, with marked trails to caves and freshwater springs, and its coral reefs are popular for snorkelling and diving. It is not part of this tour.
- Altos de Chavón, the stone village above the Chavón River, is half an hour away. If you would rather mix a village with a swim, our Altos de Chavón and Bayahibe day joins both.
What to bring
- Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes for lunch.
- Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses. Reapply after each swim.
- Cash for drinks and lunch.
- Water for the drive.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits families with young children, anyone who finds the Atlantic waves at their hotel too much, and anyone whose hotel beach is covered in seaweed. It is an easy day: no steps, no tickets and no timetable you cannot change.
- You want to see something besides sand. Choose the Altos de Chavón day instead, or the Santo Domingo day for the capital.
- You only have a few hours. Three hours of the eight are on the road. Our Macao and Bávaro half day stays close to the hotels.
- There are more than 16 of you. Two vehicles travel together on one booking. Message us with your numbers.
Questions people ask
Is the sea safe for small children?
It is usually much calmer than on the Atlantic side, and that makes it the better choice for young families. Conditions still change with the weather, so keep an eye on them in the water as you would anywhere.
Can we combine this with a Saona boat on the same day?
Not on this tour. A boat to Saona fills the day. We can take you to the jetty and collect you on another date.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up for a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
If the seaweed has reached your hotel, or the waves are too big for the children, this is the day to pick. Bring cash, sun cream and a hat. To see how it compares with the other four tours, read our guide to day trips from Punta Cana, then book on the Bayahibe and Dominicus private beach day page.
