Boca Chica and Juan Dolio are the beaches closest to Santo Domingo, east along the coast past the airport. This guide is for you if you want a few hours in the sea without leaving the capital for the night. It helps you choose the day and the start time, split the hours between the two beaches, and pack the right things.
Weekday or weekend
This is the choice that changes the day most. Boca Chica is the city's beach, and at weekends it fills with families from Santo Domingo. On a weekday you have more room on the sand and a quieter row of food stalls.
The tour starts at 07:00 or 13:00. The morning start gets you into the water before the strongest sun of the day. The afternoon start suits a slow morning in the city, and you are back in Santo Domingo by early evening.
Which months
Outside the north coast, the rainy season runs from May to November, and May is usually the wettest month. Pack something light to cover up in case of a shower.
The cyclone season runs from the beginning of June to the end of November. Most storms form in September and October, and hurricanes usually reach the island between August and October. If you are travelling in those months, keep an eye on the forecast. You can cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up for a full refund.
Two beaches, two characters
Boca Chica
Boca Chica is nearly a mile of white sand behind a large coral reef. The reef keeps the water calm and shallow, no more than about four feet deep, so it feels like a large natural pool. That is why families with small children like it.
From the shore you can see La Matica, a small mangrove cay where herons and other birds roost and nest. It is a short wade from the main beach. Along the sand there is a row of fish fry shacks, and restaurants where you eat with your feet in the sand. The beach clubs are at the eastern end of town.
Juan Dolio
Juan Dolio is a quarter of an hour further east and calmer in a different way: fewer people, palms and low hotels. Its water is calm enough for swimming, and paddleboarding and kayaking are possible where the waves are gentle. There are restaurants along the beach for lunch or a drink.
Nearby Guayacanes is a smaller beach with a more local feel. It is not on the plan, so ask your driver on the day whether there is time.
How the five hours fit together
The drive to Boca Chica takes about 40 minutes from the centre. You spend most of the time there, about two and a half hours, then move on to Juan Dolio for the last part. The drive back to Santo Domingo is about an hour, and the driver leaves you at your hotel or a restaurant. Tell them which on the day.
Because the car is yours alone, you can change the split. If one beach is enough, stay there and skip the other. If you would like to stop at the caves of Los Tres Ojos on the way out of the city, tell us when you book.
The price covers the car and the driver, fuel, tolls and parking. Food, drinks, sunbeds and anything you do on the beach are paid on the spot. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
On your own, or with a driver
Boca Chica is the capital's main beach, and it is close enough to reach on your own. What a driver adds is the door-to-door part, with no waiting at the roadside in wet swimwear, and the chance to see two beaches in one trip instead of one. You can also leave your bags in the car while you swim, rather than watching them on the sand.
If you want a whole day by the sea with something else in it, the Altos de Chavón and La Romana day trip ends with lunch and a swim at Bayahibe.
What to bring
- Swimwear and a towel. Wear the swimwear under your clothes and you can go straight into the water.
- Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses.
- Cash for drinks, food and sunbeds.
- Shoes you do not mind getting wet, if you plan to wade out towards La Matica.
- A dry change of clothes for the ride home.
If you have just arrived in the country, remember that every passenger entering or leaving the Dominican Republic has to complete the free immigration e-ticket online.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits families with small children, because of the shallow water, and anyone who wants a few easy hours in the sea between days of sightseeing. Our guide to day trips from Santo Domingo shows how it fits with the others.
- You want empty sand. Avoid the weekend, and spend more of the time at Juan Dolio.
- You want snorkelling or a boat trip. Activities are not included and not arranged by us. Your time on the beach is your own.
- You fly out the same day. The beaches are past Las Américas airport. Book your airport transfer separately.
- You are more than 16. Two vehicles travel together on one booking. Message us for a price.
Questions people ask
Is the water safe for children?
At Boca Chica the reef keeps it calm and shallow, which is why local families bring young children. Watch them in the water all the same.
Can we stay at one beach only?
Yes. Tell your driver, and the time goes where you prefer.
Booking the half day
Choose a weekday if you can, pick the morning or the afternoon, and pack for the sun. The pick-up areas and the timings are on the Boca Chica and Juan Dolio private trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
