Bayahibe & La Romana
A fishing-village resort area on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic and the departure point for trips to Saona and Catalina islands and dives on the St. George wreck, backed by the Mediterranean-style Altos de Chavón and the Casa de Campo resort.
Bayahibe and La Romana lie on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic in La Romana Province, about 120 km east of the capital Santo Domingo and about 80 km west of Punta Cana. Bayahibe began as a small fishing village founded in the late 19th century and now forms a resort area with neighbouring Dominicus Beach to the east, while outside the city of La Romana to the west lies Casa de Campo, one of the Caribbean's best-known upscale resort communities. The area is the gateway to Cotubanamá (East) National Park: catamarans and speedboats from Bayahibe's dock head to the white beaches of Saona Island and its offshore “natural pool”; Catalina Island to the west is a top snorkelling spot, and further offshore are some of the country's best dive sites, including the St. George wreck. On land you can visit the replica Mediterranean hill town of Altos de Chavón and the Casa de Campo marina, see Taíno rock art in the Cueva de las Maravillas, or drive east to the fishing village of Boca de Yuma and Ponce de León's house. The climate is hot year-round; December–April is the dry season, with calm seas ideal for boat trips and diving, while June–November is the rainy and hurricane season, with the highest risk in August–October. La Romana International Airport is about 20 minutes' drive from Bayahibe, or it's 1.5–2 hours by road from the Punta Cana or Santo Domingo airports. Sights are spread out, so get around by taxi, hotel shuttle or organised tour. Allow 3–5 days: a day on Saona, a day on Catalina or diving, half a day at Altos de Chavón, and the rest relaxing on the beach. Most visitors stay at all-inclusive resorts, but the village also has budget guesthouses and seafood restaurants. On boat trips, wear sun protection and don't touch or pick up starfish or coral.
Top sights
- Saona Island – The largest offshore island of the Dominican Republic, within Cotubanamá National Park. Its coconut-palm beaches and the shallow “natural p…
- Altos de Chavón – A stone village built to resemble a 16th-century Mediterranean hill town, perched above the Chavón River gorge, with a round amphitheater…
- Bayahibe – A colorful fishing village on the southeast coast, the departure port for Saona Island and a dive base, with calm waters and beautiful suns…
- Cotubanamá National Park – A national park protecting Saona Island and the southeast peninsula. Its land areas include Taíno caves, freshwater pools and coastal trail…
- Catalina Island – An uninhabited small island just off La Romana, known for white sand beaches and wall dives. It makes a quieter day trip than Saona.
- Cave of Wonders – A cave between La Romana and San Pedro, with a lit walkway and hundreds of Taíno rock paintings. The facilities are well developed.
- Playa Dominicus – A Blue Flag-certified white-sand beach east of Bayahibe with calm, clear water. Most of the area's all-inclusive resorts line its coast.
- Saona Natural Pool (Palmilla Sandbank) – A shallow sandbar in the sea on the Saona Island route and a must-stop, with turquoise water up to waist-deep where starfish are often seen…
- Casa de Campo & Teeth of the Dog – The Caribbean's most prestigious upscale resort community. The Teeth of the Dog seaside golf course, designed by Pete Dye, has long ranked…
- Marina Casa de Campo – A Mediterranean-style yacht marina at the mouth of the Chavón River. Restaurants, boutiques and ice cream shops surround the berths, making…
- Isla Catalinita – An uninhabited islet at the eastern tip of Saona Island, surrounded by white sand and shallow reefs. It is a popular diving and snorkeling…
- St. George Wreck – A 73-meter freighter deliberately sunk off Bayahibe in 1999, its hull covered in coral. It is the Dominican Republic's most famous wreck di…
- Captain Kidd Living Museum of the Sea – The remains of a 17th-century pirate ship in shallow water near Catalina Island, with cannons and anchors preserved in place, underwater in…
- Boca de Yuma & Cueva de Berna – A quiet fishing village at the mouth of the Yuma River, where waves crash against sea cliffs. Nearby Berna Cave preserves Taíno rock art, m…
- Ponce de León House Museum – The 16th-century fortified stone residence of Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León, now a small colonial history museum.
Where to eat
- Saona Café – An all-day café-bar opposite the Bayahibe pier. It's Tripadvisor's top pick locally and the first choice for breakfast…
- Tracadero Restaurant – An upscale Italian restaurant under a thatched pavilion by the sea in Dominicus. It is famous for lobster tagliatelle a…
- Playa Barcobar – A seaside restaurant-bar on the Bayahibe harbor, run by an Italian owner who does the cooking. It is popular for coconu…
Itineraries
- Santo Domingo, Samaná & Bávaro – Fly into the old town and out of Punta Cana, connecting colonial heritage, peninsula nature, and eastern white-sand bea…
- Southeast Coast Beaches to Capital Old Town – Fly into Punta Cana and out of Santo Domingo, traveling along the southeast coast from resort beaches to the colonial o…