14 essential things to do in Bayahibe | Travel Guide

Thinking of the Dominican Republic, and more specifically Bayahíbe, evokes images of dreamy white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, all-inclusive resorts, luxury, and relaxation. However, Bayahíbe is much more than just the perfect destination for a sun-and-beach vacation. This incredible spot hides an endless number of natural wonders and from its fantastic hotels, you will be able to book excursions that will allow you to admire the best of Dominican history and culture.

Are you ready to immerse yourself in nature at its finest, discover islands, caves, and charming fishing villages, or swim at some of the most spectacular beaches on the planet? Without a doubt, Bayahíbe is one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations, and you’re about to discover the best places to visit in this tropical paradise.

Bayahibe Beach

Let’s start with the beach that shares its name with the town. Here, you will find all the features you could wish for in a dreamy Caribbean beach. Soft white sand, crystal clear and warm waters, an enviable climate for most of the year, palm trees, and abundant marine life perfect for snorkeling.

Being a very touristy beach, it is quite common to find locals offering different types of local products for sale on its shores, as well as Dominican cuisine.

From there, catamaran excursions depart to the wonderful Saona Island, the next stop on our list.

Saona Island

We’re probably talking about the most highly recommended excursion to do from Bayahíbe. Saona Island is the ultimate expression of a Caribbean paradise.
This is an almost uninhabited island that, even today, keeps its natural character intact. The 110 kilometers of extension that compose it are covered with virgin nature and all kinds of flora, and its shores are true nests of infinite species of marine life.
One of the few signs of life on the island is the small village of Mano Juan, a quaint fishing community known for the vibrant colors of its houses.
Saona is the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature, but also to practice all kinds of water sports in a truly unique environment. If you have ever imagined what paradise must look like, we can assure you that it won’t differ much from the views you will find on this island.

Cotubanamá National Park

Once again, the wildest nature takes on a special role in our list. Cotubanamá National Park is the ideal attraction for hiking enthusiasts and lovers of tropical flora and fauna. In a few kilometers you will discover different ecosystems with more than 500 different plant species and up to 300 types of birds.

Beyond its lush nature, in your walks through this magical natural environment, you will find caves and springs of all kinds.

Its beaches are the ideal place to enjoy the Caribbean climate and practice water sports such as snorkeling. Additionally, whether you practice scuba diving or have never done it, but would like to try, you are in one of the best places on the planet to do it. The marine diversity of the park’s seabed is unique on earth.

Altos del Chavón

Another of the most popular excursions departing from Bayahíbe. This time, we have chosen a small village to add a different touch to our nature-focused list.
Altos del Chavón is a small Mediterranean style village located on top of a cliff, hanging directly over the Chavón river.
Among its many small houses you will find an Archaeological Museum, the so-called City of Artists, a School of Design and even a Cultural Center.
Since its construction in 1976, it has welcomed thousands of tourists attracted by its peculiar beauty.

Playa Dominicus

When it comes to Bayahíbe, it’s no surprise that several beaches make it onto our list of recommended places to visit.

Just a few minutes away from Bayahíbe Beach, Dominicus is a public beach ideal to enjoy with the family, for its calm and shallow waters.

On its shores you will also enjoy the opportunity to practice all kinds of aquatic sports, being especially recommended the practice of snorkeling due the incredible diversity of its marine bottoms.

Just behind the numerous palm trees that grow among its fine white sand dunes, there are plenty of bars and restaurants of all kinds, with a multitude of local gastronomic proposals that you can try, while enjoying an incomparable view of the Caribbean Sea.

Cueva Padre Nuestro

A stop for the most adventurous travelers. The Cueva Padre Nuestro is a subway cave, whose interior will amaze the most intrepid tourists. Its galleries are composed of karst formations characteristic of the area.

Once inside the cave, you will discover an infinity of stalagmites and stalactites that have formed over hundreds of years in the limestone rock.

Have you ever imagined what a journey to the center of the earth might feel like? The continuous dripping of the water, the smell of limestone rock and the rays of light entering the outer cavities, make up a natural setting that you will never forget.

Cueva de Athena

As you can observe, the region of Bayahíbe is especially rich in geological matter. The Cueva de Athena is another of the area’s most important tourist attractions for its beauty and peculiarity. To go into its network of subway landscapes is a unique experience because the passage of time has been drawing different types of shapes and colors in its rocks, creating a movie scenery.
Its rocky galleries are millions of years old and the reflections that its stalactites create in its interior water accumulations, generate an incredible optical illusion.
A highly recommended for all types of public.

Catalina Island

Another one of those obligatory excursions that you must make if you stay for a few days in Bayahíbe.

Catalina Island is a world famous destination among diving lovers for its amazing coral reefs, which you will also be able to enjoy simply with a snorkel, goggles and flippers, swimming from the shores of any of its beautiful beaches.

This wonderful island was discovered in 1494 by Christopher Columbus during one of his expeditions and for years served as a refuge for pirates and corsairs who waited for the ships arriving from the old continent to assault them just before reaching land.

To reach the shores of this beautiful little island, it only takes a little more than half an hour by boat. After Saona Island, it is the second largest island of the Dominican Republic.

Anacaona Museum

Surely you did not expect to find a museum in this list, in which beaches and wild nature acquire a special importance. But we know that on vacation there is time for everything and history lovers will especially appreciate the more than 1800 pieces of Taino art exhibited in this fantastic museum, unique in the world.

The visit to this museum is a journey through the history of the Dominican Republic, highly recommended for all ages. And if you wish, you can take a guided tour to soak up the traditions, customs and trajectory of the civilizations that lived on this natural paradise thousands of years ago.

Conquista Park

Once again we bring you a recommendation for the most adventurous tourists. Conquista Park is an adventure park with all kinds of activities focused on adrenaline. Can you imagine riding a buggy through paths between palm trees and the crystal clear sea as a luxurious backdrop? In Conquista Park it is also possible to go zip-lining or rock climbing.

This is a completely different recommendation from the previous ones, but especially fun, and that offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a plan for the whole family.

Conquista Park is the largest theme park in the Caribbean and recreates throughout its extension several scenes of the first contacts of Columbus’ troops with the local Indians during the years of his expeditions to the New World.

Cenotes of Bayahibe

Another of the natural wonders characteristic of the area are its spectacular cenotes. Some of them even allow you to swim in their crystalline waters, a truly magical experience.

The excursions, guided by expert instructors, will let you safely explore these aquatic caverns hidden in the heart of the jungle.

These peculiar lakes are the product of the erosion of rocks and geological formations that have been filtering water for thousands of years. The result is what look like large crystalline pools, which in many cases have astonishing depths. Many of them are located inside caves, which only allow a few rays of light to enter through their cavities. More than enough to draw colors and reflections on the water, which turn the cenotes into huge fishbowls illuminated in a natural way.

From our point of view, one of the most special and recommendable stops on our list.

Enriquillo Lake

Enriquillo Lake is the largest lake of all the Antilles and one of the best things to see in Bayahíbe. It is located several hours by car or bus from the region of Bayahíbe, but without a doubt, it is one of the most recommended excursions to make in the Dominican Republic.
In addition to its natural beauty, the Enriquillo Lake is famous for being the habitat of the American crocodile and over its waters, it is possible to see more than a hundred different species of birds, both local and migratory. Among them stand out for their size and elegance, the grey heron or the flamingo, but you will also find Creole ducks or Florida ducks. The crocodile is not the only reptile that inhabits its waters. Ricord’s iguana is another of the wild animals present in its varied fauna. Even if you are lucky, you can enjoy the sight of a rhinoceros.
The geomorphological conditions of this lake cause it to present up to twice the salinity of sea water, something very rare.

Diving in Bayahibe

Although in this case we are not talking about a particular place, the experience of diving in the waters of Bayahibe deserves a spot on the list of activities you can’t miss during your vacation.
Bayahibe is one of the few places of the planet where you will enjoy immersions next to manatees, sharks and all kinds of marine fauna and flora. In addition, you will discover sunken wrecks in the depths of the ocean, like the Atlantic Princess or the St. George and you will hallucinate with the spectacular colorful reefs of Cocas, El Faro and Dominicus.
Remember that it is not necessary to have a diving license to do what is called “diving baptism”, a shallow dive that will serve you as an introduction to this wonderful sport.

Santo Domingo

We conclude our list of recommendations with the only urban tourism excursion. The capital of the Dominican Republic is located a few kilometers away from Bayahíbe and it is a highly recommended plan if you wish to dedicate a day of your stay in the island to enjoy its history and culture.

Some of the must-see stops in the city tour are the Columbus Lighthouse, the Puerta del Conde, the Columbus Park, the Ozama Fortress, the Calle de las Damas, the Catedral Primada de América, the Panteón de la Patria, the San Francisco Monastery, the Plaza de España or the Museo de las Casas Reales.

Feel free to ask at the reception of our hotels about the best way to get around the city, as well as the best itineraries to cover the different tourist attractions mentioned above.

Frequently Asked Questions Bayahibe

What places should you not miss in Bayahibe?

If we had to choose just a few, without a doubt, these are the places you should not miss in Bayahibe: Saona Island, Bayahíbe Beach, Cotubanamá National Park and Catalina Island are the real must-sees in the region.

Where to eat in Bayahibe?

One of the great things about destinations like this is that their Resorts stand out especially for their varied gastronomic offer, where it is possible to taste dishes of different types of cuisine. If you are staying in a full-board or all-inclusive regime, our recommendation is that you enjoy the restaurants of your hotel as much as you can.

What is the best time to visit Bayahibe?

The best time to visit Bayahibe is between the months of December and April in order to avoid the rainy and hurricane season. Of course, if something distinguishes the Dominican Republic besides its natural wonders is its tropical climate, with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees most of the year.

What currency should you bring to Bayahibe?

The official currency of the country is the Dominican peso. However, nearly in all the stores of the island they accept the American dollar as a payment method.

Our recommendation is that if you can, opt for the local currency since you will always obtain better prices.

When does sargassum appear in Bayahibe?

The sargassum tends to appear more often during the months of September, October, November, December and January, but don’t worry because it is not a particularly common occurrence. It is an accumulation of algae on the shores of the island, which although it is not harmful to humans, makes the experience of bathing in its crystal-clear waters much worse.

How to get to Bayahibe?

The easiest way to get to Bayahibe and access to all its wonders is flying to the International Airport of Dominican Republic and then, hiring a private transfer or taking a cab to your hotel. Once there, you just have to get ready for a truly unforgettable vacation experience.