Dominican Republic's hidden gems - Atlantic coast

When people are in Dominican Republic they usually hang out in the touristic spots. Here is a list of places most of the people will miss, but you shouldn't! Edition of the Atlantic

First of all I have to say that most of these places are not accessible by public transport. We rented a car and drove to each of them, but a lot of them are accessible as parts of tours offered by tour agencies, let me start by saying that renting a car is the cheaper way to go.

Hostal Johnnier Macao

Macao is a small village in the Punta Cana province, which has one of our favorite beaches in the country. The beach is unprotected, which means that it is a great spot to surf at. But the real hidden gem in this village is this hostel! It is not going to be the best hostel you will ever see, but it definitely has the best service in the whole country. Jorge and Angelica are just great human beings, and the trip is worth if only to spend some conversation time with them.

Montana Redonda

Located about 40 minutes outside of Miches, there is a small hemispherical mountain (hence the name).Once you get to the car park you can leave your car there and either pay for a shuttle to get you up the mountain for 1000 Peso or just pay 100 Peso and walk up by yourself. You can also drive your own car, but they usually allow only 4x4 cars to pass. We, of course, walked. The walk up is about 50 minutes, not that hard during the morning hours but the sun gets you once its is up. The beer upstairs was worth so much more! On the top you can find a restaurant, some souvenirs and a panorama view of all the area, with some great photogenic spots. They even give you your own brooms to try to be witches!

Los haitises

A national park located close to Sabana de la Mar, home to a mangrove forest, some caverns with wall paintings from various times and a lot of history in general. The park is not accessible without a guide, but you can reach it as a part of a tour from all the big cities around. The closer you'll be to the park entrance the cheaper the tour will be. We found a guide in Sabana del Mar and paid 6500 Peso for 4 people. We did a 2 hour tour on the river in a kayak and then a 2 hour tour on a boat to reach the caverns. Definitely a must see if you are in the area.

El Valle

In the northern part of the Samana peninsula, there is a very small, hard to reach village that has one of the best hidden beaches I've ever seen. On the beach there is one camping spot in which you can put your tent, or if you are lucky or call long enough before, you might get the only room. On the beach you can buy a meal and beers, and the beach is frequently visited by tourists. But as the tourists come with a bus, they spend on the beach only a few hours, so you will probably spend the morning and the afternoon by yourself (and the people that sell food and beer). The best part is, of course, the view

El Limon

About 30 minutes by car from Las Terrenas, lies one of my favorite hikes in Dominican Republic, and at the end of it there is a waterfall called El Limon. The hike itself is not difficult, and there is a place to have a beer just before you reach the waterfall. There is a parking place just before the entrance to the park. The entrance is 50 Peso per person and the parking is 200 Peso per car. Do not be fooled by the various people that will try to sell you parking before you reach the entrance. The big waterfall is impressive, and offers also an area to swim near and under the waterfall. The amount of water is dependent on the time of the year, but there is always water. During the hurricane season the area might be flooded, so best check the weather before.

Laguna Dudu

On the northern coast, between Nagua and Cabrera, there is an ecological park with a few lagoons in it. The park is called Laguna Dudu and inside you will find what appears to be 2 lagoons but is actually one Lagoon connected underground. In one of the lagoons you can zipline into the water, or just go down the stairs and take a swim. On the smaller one you can dip in the water as well or enjoy a beer just outside of it. Other than the water, in the park you will find a restaurant and some caverns to walk around. A great way to spend a few hours, the place is frequented by local families as well. We paid 300 Peso per person for the entrance.

Monkey Jungle Dominican Republic

Just outside of Cabarete you can find an amazing shelter for monkeys. Originally opened by a Swiss couple to save monkeys from the animal trade and being pets to drug lords. The Monkey Jungle offers ziplines and a tour among the monkeys where you can feed the extremely friendly squirrel monkeys and see the bigger species they managed to save. You can either do one, the other or both. The updated pricing is on their website.

The place is reachable by car, and since they fixed the road it does not have to be a 4x4. Just follow the signs on the road and you will get there - be aware that Google maps might lead you to a different place if you are coming from the direction of Cabarete.

Luperon

Our absolute favorite village in the Dominican Republic so far, so favorite that it will get it's own post later on! The village has a bay that is naturally protected from storms and hurricanes, and that is the reason many seafarers are making this village their home for the stormy times every year. A lot of them come back every year, and some of them decide to stay. Which means that you can find a great mixture of culture, and some world dishes. The village itself is very chill and has plenty of activities to do around it, a must visit for us every time we are in the area, and I'm sure it will be for you as well!

El Morro de Monte Cristi

On the most western part of the Atlantic coast of the country you will find the town Monte Cristi. There is a lot to see around that part, but our favorite was this park. With a symbolic entrance fee of 100 Peso, you can enjoy a wild beach (with strong waves!) and a small hike to see the amazing view on the whole area from above. Be prepared, because it can get very windy!

Final thoughts

As always, I'm sure that I have missed a few places. But hey, this time I have an excuse, they are not called Dominican Republic's hidden gems for nothing! I hope that you manage to visit at least some of those places and enjoy them as much as we did. Until next time!