Must visit places in Dominican Republic

Punta Cana is definitely the most marketed place in the country, but is it a must visit? I don't think so... Here is a list of places that I think are a must, and there is less chance that you will overpay

Picture this: You are in Dominican Republic, you have just a few days to spend there, and all the advertisements (and the airports) lead you to only one of two places, either Punta Cana or Santo Domingo. Of course, you can overpay a tour operator and see some of the country, a short bus stop for photos at a time. Or, you can rent a car or take a bus and enjoy the nicer, less touristy places on the island.

Here are the places I believe are must visit:

Beaches that are not in Punta Cana

Punta Cana is home to some of the worst beaches in Dominican Republic, so unless you are staying at an all-inclusive hotel, I'd avoid them completely and opt in to visit Boca Chica, Macao, El Valle, Manojuan or others depending on your route through the country. Take a look at the list of our favorite beaches to know more.

Luperon

A village with a bay that is naturally protected from hurricanes, and makes it home to a lot of sailors during hurricane season. It is a change from the local atmosphere and has great vibes to chill. The village has it's own beach and plenty of things to do around it, so if you are in the area make sure you stop by.

Pico Duarte

The highest peak in the Caribbean, and you can reach it in 2 days of hiking (or more, if you like to take your time). Located in a national park in the center of the island, surrounded by valleys, rivers and may other routes to hike, this is the first place we went to when discovering the island and it is still one of our favorite ones. So if you like to hike and you have a few days to dedicate to it then this is the place for you. Want to know more? Read here how we hiked the mountain!

Las Terrenas

Probably the most known to tourists place out of this list, but it has it's magic so I had to mention it. If you're looking for a relaxing vacation just book one of the many amazing accommodations and enjoy what the town and it's surrounding has to offer. Dive, hike, enjoy the amazing food and just relax.

Los Cacaos

An area full of rivers and waterfalls, with many opportunities to hike and cool off in sweet water. Unfortunately we discovered it too close to our departure so we could not explore the entire area, but we did manage to visit it and fall in love with the place. Check out our visit to the area.

Hidden Gems

On the way to some of these places we have found a lot of hidden gems, some of them are worth coming to the country for, some of them are worth visiting if you are nearby. We have compiled lists of hidden gems in the Caribbean coast of the country, the Atlantic coast of the country, and some food choices along the way.

Final thoughts

This list is our absolute favorite places in the country, there are plenty of other good places and there are still many places we did not manage to visit and discover. So if I am to come back I would probably go somewhere on this list.

Did the list help you? Tell us! Did it not help you? Tell us anyway!

And most importantly, enjoy your adventure on the island!