Escape your everyday: Find the calm you’ve been looking for in the Caribbean with secluded beaches and breath-taking waterfalls

PUBLISHED: 08:50, 01 July 2022

With the Atlantic Ocean to one side and the Caribbean Sea on other, the Dominican Republic boasts nearly 1,000 miles of coastline and over 250 miles of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Its tropical climate, which is enjoyed year-round by locals and native wildlife, makes the island an ideal destination for those looking to escape for a week.

If the grey city is slowly wearing you down, nothing leaves you feeling renewed like a week enjoying some of the world’s most striking landscapes and idyllic valleys.

Explore lush valleys, national parks both on and offshore, rivers that wind down to stunning waterfalls, cays where turtles nest and ancient Taíno caves shrouded in thick rainforest. There’s a lot more to this island than meets the eye.

Feel golden sand between your toes

World-class beaches are what the Dominican Republic is best known for. The endless sandy beaches dotted with coconut trees along the shore are a huge draw for travellers the world over.

An island where lush mountains slope down to whitesand beaches

A festival of colour at el Carnaval

With upwards of 200 beaches, many of which remain uncrowded and undeveloped, it’s clear to see why a pair of swimmers should be on the top of your packing list.

Not only are these beaches a large part of the island’s topography, but also its culture. Sundays are commonly known as beach days for locals, with the entire family setting the day aside to be spent splashing in the azure waters or relaxing under the shade of a palm tree.

While most of the Caribbean beaches are safe bets whatever the time of year, those that face the Atlantic are best enjoyed when the weather is mild. In calm waters, you’re free to explore the many fantastical creatures that reside just below the waves.

Walk for miles along a stunning shoreline before taking a dip in the azure waters

Climb to the highest peak

Flanked by five large mountain ranges, the Dominican Republic is defined by its impressive summits which swiftly slope down to the coast. It’s an inextricable part of its stunning scenery. The largest and most important mountain range is characterised as the island’s spine: the Cordillera Central, stretching across the centre of the country.

The rugged, pine-topped mountains have been dubbed the ‘Dominican Alps’ on account of their height and imposing presence. Boasting the highest peaks in the entire Caribbean, much like their European counterparts, these mountains are just begging to be explored.

There’s no beating a waterfall

When it comes to unmissable photo opportunities, you can never beat a waterfall. The sound of the thrashing waters is perfect for drowning out the noise and re-centring. The best stop to head for a few sightings of abundant rivers turning into elegant cascades is the 27 Charcos de Damajagua waterfall park.

Each of the springs and falls are a beautiful sight, and jumping from their heights or even sliding down their paths is irresistible. Ranked among the highest in the country is Salto El Limón in Samaná, which tumbles down an impressive 30 meters before pooling and continuing its journey to the sea. Dotted throughout thick forestry or hidden in intimate caves, there are plenty to discover.

Salto Baiguate is a beautiful cascade that can be found by the town of Jarabacoa

Discover the flora and fauna

Whether you’re interested in hiking, bird watching, or flora expeditions, Dominican Republic’s protected areas should feature on every holiday to do list. The tropic yet varying climates combine to create the perfect environment for over 6,000 species of thriving flora and fauna, including a high number of endemic species.

One of the best places to witness nature in all its splendour is the Cotubanamá National Park, which stretches from in land—where you can spot the national, endemic Bayahíbe Rose—to the coast where you can discover the jewels of Saona and Catalina on the islands offshore. The island also has its own cloud forest, Sierra de Bahoruco, which happens to be the only one in the Caribbean.

Other highlights include the towering rock karst mounts rising out of the water at Los Haitises, which is best toured by boat, and the dense pine forests and frosty mornings of Valle Nuevo National Park.

Striking rock formations in Los Haitises National Park are renowned far and wide for their beauty

Also in Los Haitises is the Isla de los Pajaros, one of the park’s most popular cays

Keeping up with the Cays

Just a few paces offshore of the stunning beaches, you’ll find a constellation of cays which offer a respite from some of the island’s hubbub. Each beautiful, sandy island can be visited with boat excursions which are available year-round but are best taken in the summer months when the ocean glitters around you.

Over at Saona and the Catalina islands, you can expect to see the Caribbean’s longest natural pool, and beaches stretching as far as the eye can see against iridescent turquoise waters. Bring your camera ready to take some envy-inducing holiday shots.

Then down in Cayo Arena, just off the coast of Punta Rucia, Montecristi, you can experience some of the best snorkelling the island has to offer. Lined with rustic wooden shacks, it’s clear to see why this darling has garnered the nickname ‘Paradise Island’.

Grab a boat from Punta Rucia and set sail for the straw-roofed huts of Cayo Arena

Palm-fringed beaches and shallow waters of Saona Island are the picture of paradise

If you’re looking for somewhere to kick back and indulge in the local cuisine then Cayo Levantado, just off the coast of Samaná, is a perfect spot. Book yourself a tour that also includes Los Haitises and you’ll get to see the cay in all its splendour. And, if the budget allows, you can stay overnight at the on—site, luxury resort.

A walk on the wild side

To truly escape your everyday, surrounding yourself with exotic creatures is the best way to go. Hop aboard a whale-watching boat tour during mating season to witness the great beasts in their natural habitat. They even venture near the coast when it’s time to birth their young.

In the north of the island, you can watch manatees surface at Estero Hondo Marine Reserve, or dolphins flipping in the bay waters of Los Haitises National Park. If your younger self had a keen interest in creatures of the sea, then you owe it to them to dive in amongst them.

Never met a humpback whale? In the Dominican Republic, you can!

Also, a large part of the island’s biodiversity are its exotic birds which include 32 endemic species. If you count yourself a lucky birdwatcher, then you may catch a glimpse of the Ridgway’s Hawk - one of the most critically endangered raptors in the world.

Throw in a few reptiles for good measure, from the American crocodiles teeming inside Lago Enriquillo to the endangered iguanas that inhabit cacti-lined, desert-like regions, and you have yourself a rainbow of animals to get better acquainted with.