The South Coast

Santo Domingo, located on the South coast of the Dominican Republic, ranks high among my favorite Dominican destinations. I come here for the exciting nightlife, restaurants, wonderful boutique hotels, and cultural events such as theater and ballet. I often rent a car and drive along the coast towards the East, through the Boca de Chaon Valley, passing the towns Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, San Pedro de Macoris and La Romana before arriving in Bayahibe where I take a boat to “my secret little paradise”, Isla Saona. I also adore the beach area near Baoruco, west of Barahona. Yes, it’s almost a four-hour drive but it’s more than worth it. The virtually untouched beaches, some of the most beautiful in the country, the incredible beauty of the National Parks and of course the wonderful Dominican people make me want to go there over and over again.

What else to expect
The South-coast contains some of the larger cities and national parks of the Dominican Republic. East of Santo Domingo, the first real city in the New World, the towns are fully prepared for large groups of tourists, as is not the case with the Southwestern coastal towns. Therefore I suggest you make a hotel reservation well ahead of time, especially when planning a weekend stay. Golf fans will enjoy the La Romana golf course “Dientes de Perro” (Teeth of the Dog), rated as one of the best in the Caribbean while San Pedro de Macoris is famous for the baseball winter league, held from November through February at the local stadium, Estadio Tetelo Vargas.

How to get there
Most of the time I fly to Santo Domingo airport and pick up a rental car. Everywhere I want to go on the South coast is nearby, with exception of Barahona, which is a 3.5-hour drive from Santo Domingo.

If you have the possibility to catch a flight to Barahona’s international Airport María Montez, you can save yourself the long drive to your final destination.

There are also busses that run directly from Santo Domingo to Barahona from where you can take a taxi to your hotel.

- International & Domestic Flights Dominican Republic
- Bus information see: Caribe Tours

Tours and excursions
I can recommend an excursion to Isla Catalina where you will find the South-coast best Coral reef. Divers will further enjoy the underwater national park La Caleta, nearby the town Juan Dolio. Kayaking on the Chavon River is also a popular outdoor activity. When travelling to the Barahona region I normally reserve at least a day or two for visiting one of the outstanding national parks or to explore the mountains with a guide. In our “Debbie meets” section, elsewhere on this website you can read about some people I met during my travels in the Dominican Republic and who offer tour related services ranging from a guided tour through Santo Domingo to customized trekking excursions through the impressive countryside.