Most tourists will be interested in beaches, Dominican Republic's one of the prime destinations in the Caribbean. This tropical island has long stretches of pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and beautiful resort areas. Not only can you relax on the beach sipping a cold drink, the beach areas offer abundant water sports and eco-tours.

One of the benefits of visiting the Dominican Republic relates to the fact that most tourism in the Caribbean is focused on other islands. That means if you are looking to avoid huge crowds of tourists and have a more relaxing time, then the Dominican Republic is the perfect destination!

Below are descriptions of some of the more popular beach destinations in the Dominican Republic.

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Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata is one of the prime beach destinations in the Dominican Republic. The town itself is small but has a nice colonial feel to it. The main draw of this area is the stunning beach area. The sands are bright white and the waters are turquoise blue. Just offshore are corral reefs teeming with life which make them perfect for diving and snorkeling. In terms of accommodations Puerto Plata has a range of hotels ranging from very high end to budget.

For those looking for something a little quieter and more popular with the locals, then head over to Guarapito. This beach offers a tropical beach setting: lots of sun and very relaxing!

The town of Puerto Plata is small but does offer some colonial charm. Its main feature is the central park where locals gather and many weekends you can listen to an outdoor concert. If you have time take a trip to the top of Isabel de Torres and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding area. Other sites of interest in town include the Amber Museum and the old fort called San Felipe.

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Sosúa

As you travel east from Puerto Plata you come across a small fishing town called Sosúa. The does not offer to much in terms of things to see, but of course that is not why people come here. The reason people come to Sosúa is to enjoy the beach, which locals claim is the nicest in the Dominican Republic. Besides just relaxing on the beach one can also snorkel, water ski, or go wind surfing.

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Cabarete

Windsurfing Central
The northern region of the Dominican Republic has great beaches and a steady wind. This means that many places along the northern coastline of the Dominican Republic are ideal for windsurfing.
One of the best places to go windsurfing has to be Cabarete.
Cabarete is just 25 minutes from Puerto Plata, so getting there is no problem.
The beach itself is about 2 miles long and just offshore lie some beautiful corral reefs.

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Samaná

Another extremely popluar beach destination is the Samaná region of the Dominican Republic. The area is famous for long stretches of white sand beaches and cystal clear waters. Throughout the region are numerous small towns and sleeply little fishing villages. Getting to Samaná is relatively easy, the trip from Puerto Plata is only 1 hour.

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Punta Cana

Punta Cana is probably the prime beach destination in the Dominican Republic. This area has great beaches, and as such is home to some of the nicest resorts on the island. In the resorts and the surrounding areas are numerous bars, restaurants, night clubs, shops and more. That means you can spend the day in the sun and dance the night away if you like.

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Barahona

The area has been called by many the "Pearl of the South". This region is home to the following beaches, Los Patos, Paraiso, Bahoruco, and Saladilla. These beaches are beautiful and the water is even nicer. What makes this region special is the fact that the area is still relatively undeveloped. It is great for those people who want a beach experience, but not necessarily the "resort" experience.

Santo Domingo & The Surrounding Area

You don't have to travel far from Santo Domingo to get to the beach. Two of the more popular nearby beaches are Juan Dolio and Boca Chica.

Boca Chica is surrounded by a corral reef that has created a calm area of water that is exceedingly shallow. Due to this, it is very popular with familes due to the safety of the water.

Further out from Santo Domingo is Juan Dolio. Just 50 minutes from the city, the beach is a great destination. Many come to just soak up the sun. However the beach offers a variety of water activities including sailing, diving and snorkeling, windsurfing and more!

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