The coastal town of Miches is undergoing a profound evolution as leading hotel chains from Club Med to Four Seasons open beach resorts in the area that is an hour’s north drive from the Punta Cana International Airport.
Previously the destination was best known as a departure point for dangerous, illegal boat trips to Puerto Rico. Today in addition to tourism, this hidden gem in the El Seibo province is also being rediscovered by filmmakers.
This shift is not just changing the town’s reputation; it is fueling a local economic engine, providing jobs, and offering global recognition to a region that was once overlooked.
The latest project to put Miches on the map is the feature film “Elena y el Mar” (Elena and the Sea). Produced by Aldea Estudio and directed by the local award-winning Tito Rodríguez, the production has effectively turned the entire municipality into a “vast, open-air film studio.”
The irony of the film’s subject matter is not lost on the community. The story follows Elena, a woman who once fled to Puerto Rico in search of a better life, only to be deported and return to face the roots she left behind. By filming this narrative on the very shores where these journeys historically began, the production brings a raw authenticity to the screen while signaling that the town’s future no longer depends on leaving.
CDN reports that the presence of Aldea Estudio, led by producer Francis Disla (“El Indio”), represents a shift in how the Dominican Republic perceives its eastern coast. While Miches was once a place people tried to disappear from, it is now a place where artists come to create. This “cinematic tourism” works hand-in-hand with the region’s growing hotel industry, positioning Miches as a versatile destination for both leisure and professional production.
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CDN
20 January 2026