Month: February 2025

According to its tourism slogan, the Dominican Republic “has it all.” And that’s no exaggeration. The island nation is home to eight different terrestrial ecosystems and hundreds of kilometers of enviable coastline that include both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. That’s a lot of beaches to explore. 

Thanks to all of that biodiversity, each one of those glorious stretches of sand has its own distinct attraction, suited for just about any adventure that tickles your fancy. That might mean surfing sand dunes along a wind-whipped coast, watching a leatherback turtle make its way through azure waters or peacefully soaking up the sun on a patch of sugary white sand. There’s really no wrong answer – just not enough bathing suits. 

These are eight of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic.

1. Bahía de las Águilas

Best beach for quiet reflection

Bahía de Las Águilas is a strong contender for the “Most Beautiful Beach” superlative category. It’s tucked into the Jaragua Nature Preserve and requires a boat from Cabo Rojo to reach its five-mile-long shore. But it’s well worth the effort as being tucked inside the preserve makes this beach blissfully quiet and stunningly pristine, the sand untouched by waste and the waters crystal clear. 

Planning tip: The boat ride from Cabo Rojo to Bahía de Las Águilas is US$50 and departs at regular intervals. You can also opt for a tour that includes the cost of the boat ride to the site. 

Sun loungers line the sand along Cayo Levantado’s perfect beach. EasyBuy4uGetty Images/iStockphoto © EasyBuy4uGetty Images/iStockphoto

2. Cayo Levantado

Best beach for paddleboarding

Over on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic is the small island retreat of Cayo Levantado. This picturesque paradise sits amidst the whale-watching waters off the coast of Samaná, although two-thirds of the island is owned by a luxury resort. The other third, though, is open to the public and visitors flock here to swim, sunbathe and listen to bachata rhythms in between sips of piña coladas from the colorful bars dotting the beach. 

Planning tip: Boat taxis to Cayo Levantado depart regularly from Samaná port on Avenida Marina. If you’re lucky, you might spot a leatherback turtle making its way through the turquoise waters.

A surfer walks across the dark sandy beach at Encuentro. Lila Koan/Shutterstock Lila Koan / Shutterstock

3. Playa Encuentro

Best beach for surfers

Surf’s up at this bohemian little beach spot between the northern towns of Cabarate and Sosúa. To get to the shore, you’ll have to pass through a tropical woodland where colorful shacks sell souvenirs and snacks. Once you make it past the treeline, the Atlantic Ocean unfolds before you with its rollicking waters. Rows of surfers bob along on the water, waiting for the next wave to take them to shore. The water can be rough, so stick to the shallows unless you’re an experienced surfer or taking a lesson with a guide.

Local tip: There are plenty of shacks along the shore offering surfing lessons to novices. It’s one of the better ways to get a taste of what Encuentro has to offer. 

The sky above Kite Beach filled with colorful kites as boarders head to the water. Andrey Prokhorov/500px ©Andrey Prokhorov/500px

4. Kite Beach

Best beach for kiteboarding

Near Encuentro, you’ll find a beach dedicated to a different kind of adventure sport. Kiteboarders from around the world flock to Kite Beach so they can catch powerful gusts of wind that propel them into the air. Watching their aerial acrobatics is a good time in and of itself, but if you get the itch to try your hand at kiteboarding, lessons are offered by various companies around Cabarete. 

The rolling dunes at Dunas de Bani are perfect for sandboarding. Alex Po Travel/Shutterstock Alex Po Travel / Shutterstock

5. Dunas de Bani

Best beach for sandboarding

The sand dunes in Bani feel like a desolate Saharan oasis – it’s unlike any beach you’ll ever encounter, which is what makes it worth a stop. The sloping sand dunes crest up to 35m (115ft) high and are dotted with olive trees, goats and the occasional visitor surfing the dunes. Once you make it past the 10-minute trek through the sandy hills, you’ll find the rough currents of Bahia de Las Calderas. Desolate and wild, the beach here feels private and untamed. Swimming isn’t advised, but collecting the glossy pieces of quartz tumbling around the shore is.

Local tip: People often leave their wooden planks and boards on the dunes for others to surf on, but you can also pick up a board from one of the shops in the town of Bani. 

A stretch of Playa Bávaro dotted with loungers and palm trees with clear blue waters beyond. Anastasia Petrosyan/Shutterstock Anastasia Petrosyan / Shutterstock

6. Playa Bávaro

Best beach for families

Clocking in at 48km (30 miles) of coastline, Playa Bávaro is one of the longest stretches of shore in the Caribbean and provides beach access for most of the resorts of Punta Cana. That means quite a few pockets of the sand are off-limits to non-guests, but you can still find publicly accessible entrances filled with families building sand castles, dancing to bachata rhythms, and enjoying picnics in the sand. The calm, turquoise waters are ideal for swimming and splashing about. 

Planning tip: Cortecito and Los Corales beaches offer public access to the Bávaro shores. 

The pristine white-sand crescent of Playa San Rafael backed by dense forest. Matt Munro for Lonely Planet ©Matt Munro/Lonely Planet

7. Playa San Rafael

Best natural pools with a view

It’s hard to believe, but taking a dip in San Rafael feels more akin to an ice plunge than a warm bath. Here, the Caribbean Sea meets the crisp waters of the San Rafael River, which thunder down in a series of waterfalls from the chilly Sierra de Bahoruco mountain tops. The actual waters of the beach are too rough to swim in, but the natural pools that form just as the river meets the sea are perfect for casually sitting around and cooling off on a warm day.

Local tip: Try some of the coastal Dominican fare from the various shacks situated around the natural pools. You’ll find fresh-caught fish, fried plantains and rice available for lunch.  

The towering granite cliffs behind Playa Frontón. Pavel Prodan/Shutterstock Pavel Prodan / Shutterstock

8. Playa Frontón

Best beach for snorkeling and scuba diving 

A 20-minute boat trip from the sleepy coastal town of Las Galeras, Playa Frontón feels like an unspoiled paradise. Emerald-green waters lap against a 91m (300ft) black granite rock formation while towering coconut palms sway in the breeze. The labyrinth-like reefs beneath the surface are teeming with fish and sting rays – the perfect spot to bring your mask and spend a few hours snorkeling (or scuba diving) in Playa Frontón’s warm waters. 

Planning tip: Las Galerias is about a two-hour drive from Las Terrenas, a vibrant ex-pat hang with cafes and restaurants dishing up a variety of international cuisines and some of the best food on the island. 

Bathing in an onsen gives you a glimpse into a millennium-old Japanese tradition and ritual. Locals of all ages come to relax the mind and body with friends or for peaceful solitude. Literally meaning “hot spring”, an onsen visit is a vital experience in Japan. 

An “onsen” refers to the hot spring and its attached facilities. These might be within a hotel or ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) or grouped with other onsen in a mineral-rich town. Onsen can range from luxurious modern baths to steaming outdoor pools carved into an exquisite Japanese garden.

There are strict rules of etiquette surrounding a visit to these relaxing springs, which might be daunting for first-time visitors. This guide walks you through each stage of your visit and all the required etiquette to help you experience an onsen like a local.

Two women relaxing in an outdoor pool at Yumotoso. Getty Images Getty Images

Arriving at an onsen in Japan

When you enter an onsen, leave your shoes in a locker or on a designated shelf. Pay the entrance fee (usually between ¥400-800/US$2.67-5.34 Japanese yen but up to ¥2000/US$13.35) to a person at a counter or a vending machine for tokens. Large and small towel rental is either included or costs extra (about ¥300/US$2). Then head to the changing area. Men and women bathe separately, so look for the characters 男 for male and 女 for female on door curtains to avoid embarrassment. Men’s curtains are usually blue; women’s are red. 

In the changing rooms, you’ll find baskets or coin lockers in which to store all your belongings, a large towel and, after undressing, your clothes – even your underwear. Yes, it’s routine to get completely naked. Jewelry can get stained by the bath’s minerals, so leave that behind too. All you should be left wearing is an optional small towel and a waterproof locker bracelet. If you have bathing toiletries, you can bring them along. Changing rooms usually provide a hairdryer and other basic amenities such as razors, lotions, perfumes and colognes.

Scrub up before soaking

Once in the buff, move into the onsen bathing area. Facing the baths cloaked in rising steam you’ll find open shower cubicles or wash troughs lining the walls. Sit on a stool facing the wall and use the small bucket, soap and shampoo provided to wash yourself thoroughly from head to toe. The onsen is not for washing yourself in, so make sure you are sparkling clean and soap-free before getting in. Find the toilets first, if you need to go. This all keeps the bathwater pristine and inviting for everyone. Watch your step, the floors are wet and can be slippery.

An outdoor pool surrounded by greenery at Tsurunoyu onsen. Narongsak Nagadhana/Shutterstock Narongsak Nagadhana / Shutterstock

How to soak in a hot spring bath

Public onsen have at least one main bath with steps to enter or sit on. Some have various baths, each fed by natural spring water. Choose yours carefully. Maybe not the one with the lightning bolt symbol above it, unless a mild electric shock thrills you – the theory is that electricity contracts the muscles, which leads to relaxation once you jump out. Be careful also of the scalding bath – you’ll know it the moment you dip your pinkie in.

Start instead with one of the regular hot baths (34-42°C/93-107°F), entering slowly to test the temperature. Steps can be hidden under milky water too. If there are other bathers, there’s no need to say a word or make eye contact, just enjoy. Stay in the soothing warmth for as long as you like. Leave after a minute or soak for hours. Some people will get out, take five on a rock or the bath edge, and then get in again. Relax and forget the stresses of the modern world outside for a blissful period. 

After soaking away your tension in the hot waters, you might feel daring enough to dip into the icy cold bath to snap you out of drowsiness. Some onsen also have an extra mineral-rich bath with a water color that varies depending on the minerals it contains. Iron-rich onsen water can appear dark reddish-brown, while iodine onsen water has a straw color and a distinct smell.

Now step out and repeat the process, washing yourself again on a stool, then sinking into another bath – this is the centuries-old ritual of onsen.

Finishing up at an onsen

When you’re ready to leave, go Japanese style – don’t wash off the minerals of your last dip. Pat down with the small towel before going to the changing room to keep the floor splash-free. Then dry off completely with your large towel and get changed into your clothes or pajamas.

Some onsen offer amenities such as massage services for an additional fee and relaxation lounges where you can rest before or after your bath.

The carved wooden exterior of Dogo Onsen in Shikoku. Masayuki Nakaya for Lonely Planet Masayuki Nakaya for Lonely Planet

Naked and free

Everybody bathes completely in the buff at an onsen. It’s just you and the water – no swimsuits or underwear are allowed. For newbies, it can help to know that Japanese people feel completely at ease with this nudity and won’t pay (overt) attention to you, foreigner or not. Bathers keep to themselves the same way they do alongside strangers on public transport in Japan.

With this knowledge, and doing as the Japanese do, the experience can feel liberating and natural amongst the shrouding steam. Communal bathing in Japan is viewed as a great social leveler for its power of hadaka no tsukiai (naked friendship).

You can try to use your tiny scarf-like towel to cover yourself as you move between pools, but don’t let it touch the water. To keep it from contaminating the baths, fold it and balance it on your head like the pros do. 

Not interested in getting naked with strangers? In onsen ryokan, there is usually the choice of an intimate kashikiri onsen room (a private space but the pre-cleansing routine still applies) or rotemburo (outdoor bath) with scenic views just for you and your special somebody.

Onsen etiquette

Onsen are peaceful retreats. Speak softly and avoid making loud noises or splashing about to maintain the serene ambiance. Swimming and submerging your head will earn you dirty looks. People with long hair should tie it up before stepping into the bath.

Some onsen do not allow entry to bathers with visible tattoos due to associations with organized gangs in Japan. Check the policy or cover your tattoos with waterproof tattoo-covering stickers (sometimes provided by hotel onsen), if needed.

Steaming water at Zao Hot Spring in Yamagata surrounded by a snow-covered landscape in winter. weniliou/Shutterstock weniliou / Shutterstock

When should I visit an onsen?

Each season offers its own unique onsen charm. Spring (March to May) cherry blossoms and fall leaves are popular for bathing in outdoor baths with picturesque backdrops. Winter (December to February) is a dramatic time to visit an onsen, especially where there is heavy snowfall – the hot springs create a dramatic contrast against a snowy wonderland.

It’s no wonder that winter is when many onsen festivals take place. For budget travelers, the least crowded and most affordable times are typically in late winter (January to early March) and early autumn (late September to early October). The busiest and most expensive periods are the holidays of Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August), and the New Year (late December to early January). 

How much time should I spend at an onsen?

A visit to an onsen can be as brief as five minutes or as leisurely as a whole afternoon. For a day trip to an onsen town, plan to spend at least a few hours to fully enjoy the experience. Add extra time for lounging in on-site saunas and relaxation areas. If you have a weekend to spare, consider staying at a ryokan with its own onsen facilities. This allows you to experience the onsen at different times of the day, for serene early morning bathing and tranquil evening hours. Onsen towns are often set in nature with hiking and temple visits for a deeper immersion into the cultural and relaxation experience.

An indoor pool at Dogo Onsen with bathing facilities in the corner. Masayuki Nakaya for Lonely Planet Masayuki Nakaya for Lonely Planet

The best onsen in Japan

This is our pick of the best onsen across the country.

Rendai-ji’s Kanaya Ryokan, Hakone: The wooden onsen bath on the Izu Peninsula is enormous, atmospheric and offers mixed bathing. 

Nakabusa Onsen, The Japan Alps: Amazing and remote onsen with 29 natural hot springs.

Kurama Onsen, Kyoto: An ideal spot to soak away city pressures or to relax after a hike in the nearby hills.

Kinosaki, Kansai: The ultimate onsen town, featuring seven public baths and numerous onsen ryokan.

Lamp no yado Aoni Onsen: Cradled in a remote valley, this ryokan and onsen are illuminated solely by oil lamps, creating a serene soaking experience. 

Tsurunoyu Onsen, Nyūtō: Dip into the milky, mineral-rich baths of on onsen that has been operating for four centuries.

Fukiage Roten-no-yu, Central Hokkaidō: Way off the beaten track, the forest-surrounded konyoku (mixed bathing) onsen is wonderfully natural – as a bonus, it’s free.

Dōgo Onsen, Matsuyama: Since the castle-like building’s construction in 1894, this onsen has been featured in ample literary classics, most notably in Natsume Sōseki’s Botchan.

Ibusuki, Kyūshū: Beppu attracts onsen tourists, but for a unique experience, visit the renowned sand baths of Ibusuki where onsen steam rises through the sand, enveloping bathers buried up to their necks.

Hirauchi Kaichū Onsen, Yakushima: For the adventurous, this outdoor, seaside pool offers minimal privacy unless you get lucky and snag it to yourself. But at under ¥300 (US$2), the stunning setting is unbeatable.