Closest,appropriate beach to SD?

nyc dad

Bronze
Jul 28, 2011
723
0
0
44
Mixed reports about boca chica,so whats the second choice if there's any,Bavaro?lol.
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,069
6,216
113
South Coast
Don't forget el Gringo beach in Haina, or the beach in Najayo.

Playa Najayo is very "Dominican", few tourists there. Can be very loud, especially on weekends. It's nice for kids because Trujillo had a rock wall built to create a huge 'pool'. It is rocky though. The eastern edge away from the 'pool' is pretty. Thumbnails are of Playa Najayo.

A little further west is Playa Palenque, quieter, higher class Dominican clientele. Go to the furthest end, which they call Cocolandia, good food, nice people.
 

Attachments

  • images.jpeg
    images.jpeg
    1.6 KB · Views: 63
  • IMG_0360.jpg
    IMG_0360.jpg
    190 KB · Views: 57

nyc dad

Bronze
Jul 28, 2011
723
0
0
44
Thanks all,kids have been asking 'bout the beach,didn't want to find any nasty surprises.
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,069
6,216
113
South Coast
How far is playa palenque?

About an hour+ from SD. You can get there through San Cristobal, through Haina/Nigua, or if you live near 27 de FEb you can come out on the SD-Bani Hwy and take the Duveax road over the mountain [left at the sugar cane factory off the hwy] till it ends at the ocean, make a right and it's just a few miles down.
 

JuanDolioLiving

New member
Sep 7, 2010
215
1
0
Juan Dolio and Guayacanes are by far the best beaches in the eastern portion on the DR, Bavaro and Punta Cana are all all inclusive hotels which does not gives you any room to go and sit at a beach front restaurant like Juan Dolio and Guayacanes. And it is only 45 minutes East of SD and a very nice drive to get there.
 

Givadogahome

Silver
Sep 27, 2011
4,397
2
0
Mixed reports about boca chica,so whats the second choice if there's any,Bavaro?lol.

Was at Boca for a couple of days last week, absolutely horrible place, did not like one second of it. Facially tattooed thugs giving you grief, girls grabbing at you constantly, there's a lot of minute insects on that beach as well, dunno what they are but if you stand back you can see a slight haze of them about a foot high, disgusting place. Just when you thought a place couldn't get any worse...............
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,069
6,216
113
South Coast
playa palenque

CIMG0786.jpgCIMG0789a.jpg

Attached thumbnails: Playa Caribe/Embassy Beach, east of Boca Chica
 

Attachments

  • 100_0096.jpg
    100_0096.jpg
    186.3 KB · Views: 46
  • 100_0097.jpg
    100_0097.jpg
    182.5 KB · Views: 42
  • 100_0098.jpg
    100_0098.jpg
    184.9 KB · Views: 57

Castle

Silver
Sep 1, 2012
2,982
1
0
I often go to Playa Caribe, between Boca Chica and Juan Dolio. Rough sea at times, but no loud crowds. No public transportation, so visitors are pretty decent. If you're into drinking a few beers and relaxing, Boca Chica is OK. I never get into the water there, though.
 

Bronxboy

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2007
14,107
595
113
I often go to Playa Caribe, between Boca Chica and Juan Dolio. Rough sea at times, but no loud crowds. No public transportation, so visitors are pretty decent.

Very nice spot. Spent plenty of times there. Not many vendors and food pretty decent.

Oh, and the ladies I have met here!!!
 
Last edited:

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,069
6,216
113
South Coast
Playa Caribe was Mr. AE's favorite beach for many many years, he loves the rough waters there. We haven't been there since they closed the hotel [was torn down wasn't it??]. Last time we stopped it was deserted, not a chair in sight, no food, etc., but we hear that's changed again.

Some more photos of Playa Palenque:
CIMG0015.jpgCIMG0016.jpg
 

mainegal

New member
May 22, 2012
150
0
0
Playa Guayacanes is very nice, usually very quiet during the week without vendors to bother you.
 
May 12, 2005
8,564
271
83
Playa Najayo is very "Dominican", few tourists there. Can be very loud, especially on weekends. It's nice for kids because Trujillo had a rock wall built to create a huge 'pool'. It is rocky though. The eastern edge away from the 'pool' is pretty. Thumbnails are of Playa Najayo.

A little further west is Playa Palenque, quieter, higher class Dominican clientele. Go to the furthest end, which they call Cocolandia, good food, nice people.

Ssssssh apparently you can't say anything nice about Trujillo
 

Hernandez

Banned
Feb 9, 2009
875
20
0
The closest appropriate beach to Santo Domingo is Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, FL. No face tattoed thugs, no street vendors, decent people, clean hotels/motels, nice food.