OVERVIEW

Cruise along the gorgeous tropical coast while enjoying a barbecue lunch on board and then relax at an exclusive beach club. Your donut boat is shaped just like it sounds – circular. But it is the other amenities that really make this vessel unusual and fun. There is a barbecue grill in the center, seating for nine guests, a round table for food and drinks, an umbrella that shades the interior and a sound system for your favorite music. The captain will navigate and grill, so all you have to do is sit back, take in the beautiful scenery and enjoy the BBQ lunch. The good times will continue at Baby Beach, an idyllic stretch of sand named for its perfectly compact size. Feel free to do most anything you please at the beach club there. Bask in the sun, swim in the sea, kayak along the shore and enjoy the open bar the entire time.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise along the coast in an unusual donut-shaped boat with a grill in the center.
• Relax and thoroughly enjoy the tropical views while the captain grills your lunch.
• Enjoy the amenities and open bar at an exclusive beach club.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Observe abundant wildlife while cruising through the country’s largest lagoon with a stop to enjoy a rejuvenating sulfur mud bath. Located on the very southern tip of the Dominican Republic, the Oviedo Lagoon lies within the Jaragua National Park. The lengthy lagoon is environmentally protected, which attracts a remarkable number of birds, especially waterbirds as only a narrow strip of land separates the lagoon from the sea. While cruising along the dense forest of mangroves that lines the saltwater lagoon, you can expect to see brilliantly colored parrots, blue herons and roseate spoonbills. Dozens of islets dot the lagoon and flamingos are often seen feeding in the shallows that surround them. You may also spot an endemic rhinoceros iguana, an endangered species named for the bony, hornlike growth on its snout. Later, you will ease into a mud flat at the water’s edge whose minerals are said to have therapeutic and cosmetic benefits.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise along the mangrove-lined shore of the country’s largest lagoon.
• Look for wildlife, particularly birds, that thrive in and around the protected lagoon.
• Take a mud bath in the lagoon’s shallows that may impart therapeutic benefits.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an exhilarating off-road adventure in an all-terrain, open-air buggy with a relaxing stop along the way to enjoy an isolated beach. After a briefing to help you maximize the experience, you can either drive the two-person buggy or simply ride along as a passenger. Either way, the thrills will be nonstop from the moment you race off caravan-style into the wilderness. If it has rained recently, all the more fun, as mud will be flying in all directions. Not much in this part of the country has been developed, but your buggy is made to negotiate rugged terrain so you can expect a carefree ride. In time, you will arrive at a beautiful beach where you can relax however you please. The water will be crystal-clear and brilliant blue so a refreshing swim should be on the top of your list. Or just stretch out and enjoy the natural beauty.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive your own off-road buggy through the countryside or just ride along as a passenger.
• View naturally beautiful areas of the Dominican Republic that few people see.
• Pause at a beach for a refreshing swim and to bask in the sun.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a panoramic drive into the Cabo Rojo Mountains, a stunningly beautiful landscape of natural wonders and sprawling farms. The deeper you drive inland and the higher the altitude, the more spectacular the terrain. You will pass through flat tropical environments, desert-like settings and hilly woodlands on the way to Las Mercedes, an area that was formerly mined for bauxite that was used to make aluminum. As you will see from an elevated lookout, the terrain there is ocher-colored and lunar-like. You will also pause at a spot overlooking the Pelempito Valley, a natural amphitheater of sorts in the pine-forested Bahoruco Mountains. It too is remarkably photogenic. Upon descending, you will visit Finca Mariposas for a traditional farm-to-table lunch. The exact menu will depend on which locally sourced ingredients are seasonal and freshest. Afterwards, you will be welcome to pet some of the farm animals.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel inland and admire the wonderfully diverse landscape from elevated lookouts.
• Gaze out over a reddish lunar-like terrain and a forested mountain valley.
• Dine on a traditional Dominican lunch at a farm where the ingredients are sourced.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Race along the southwestern coast of the Dominican Republic in a speedboat and enjoy the pristine beach that rims Bahia de Aguilas, which translates to the Bay of Eagles. The views along the way will be wonderfully tropical and naturally beautiful as much of the shoreline is undeveloped. You can relax however you please at the white-sand beach on Bahia de Aguilas, which lies within the Jaragua National Park. Because this area is environmentally protected, the coral reefs just off shore are extraordinarily healthy and teeming with marine life. If you choose to snorkel, you will likely see schools of neon-colored fish and maybe a sea turtle or two. The crystal-clear water is also ideal for a refreshing swim. Otherwise, feel free to do nothing more ambitious than stretch out on the sand and bask in the sun. The beach is wide, lengthy and lined with palms if you want some shade.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an exhilarating and scenic cruise along the coast in a speedboat.
• Relax however you please on the lengthy, protected beach that rims Bahia de Aquila.
• Swim in the bay’s crystal-clear waters and snorkel if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Relax however you please on three of the most naturally beautiful beaches in the southwestern corner of the Dominican Republic. Each stretch of sand has its own charms, but they all share a tropical ambiance that invites you to bask in the sun without a care in the world. All of the beaches are sugar-white, rimmed by crystal-clear water and dotted with coconut palms, under which you can lie in the shade if you wish. While enjoying Playa Cuchy, you will be served a selection of refreshing fresh fruits that may include mango, pineapple and soursop, also known as guanábana, a spiny fruit with a custard-like pulp. The beach at Cabo Rojo is another idyllic setting with plenty of room for you to find your own piece of paradise. Pedernales Beach overlooks Las Aquilas Bay and couldn’t be more serene. Although you are welcome to simply relax, snorkeling equipment is available.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Relax on three of the area’s most beautiful beaches, each one with its own personality.
• Stretch out on the sand, swim in the sea, bask in the sun and do most anything else you please.
• Enjoy a selection of refreshing fresh fruits, some of them exotic ones you may have never tasted.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Race through the otherworldly terrain near an abandoned bauxite deposit on your own ATV and then relax at an exclusive beach club. One of the key ingredients in aluminum, bauxite has been mined in the Pedernales region for years. As you will discover at the former Las Mercedes mine, the surrounding landscape features huge ochre-colored craters, boulder-strewn hills and scrubby green vegetation – the ideal setting for an exhilarating ATV ride. Expect dusty trails and nonstop thrills as you follow the guide through the rugged terrain, which resembles a lunar landscape. The setting for the remainder of the excursion is the polar opposite, as you will spend hours relaxing on Baby Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand named for its diminutive size. Even so, it is big on amenities. Feel free to take a refreshing dip in the ocean and swimming pool, paddle off in a kayak and enjoy the open bar.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Zip through the lunar-like landscape near a former bauxite mine on a powerful ATV.
• Relax at an exclusive beach club not far from the heart of Cabo Rojo.
• Swim in the ocean and beach club’s pool, kayak and take advantage of the open bar.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Hike through a landscape with highly unusual geological features and then relax on a remote beach so beautiful that it too is a natural wonder. As an introduction to what lies beneath the earth’s surface, you will visit an open bauxite mine. This deep-red ore is exported throughout the world and used to make aluminum. Although the color of the earth is similar in the peculiar geological depression that you will see in Hoyo de Pelempito park, the hole or “hoyo” is a natural phenomenon. As you hike the mountain trail that winds through this striking setting, the landscape will change from desert to cloud forest. The flora and fauna are equally diverse, as is the scenery on the way to Pedernales Beach, which is tucked into the southwestern corner of the Dominican Republic. During free time there, you might swim in the sea or simply relax while taking in the gorgeous views..

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit an open mine where deep-red bauxite ore is extracted for the production of aluminum.
• Gaze out over a natural red-hued gorge while hiking through Hoyo de Pelempito park.
• Spend free time relaxing however you please on remote Pedernales Beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Sail to the pristine beach that rims Bahia de las Aguilas in a boat with transparent panels that offer unobstructed views of the marine life below. As if the scenery above water weren’t beautiful enough, the boat will also present the wonders underwater. Through the panels in the boat’s hull, you can expect to see an ever-changing parade of colorful fish darting in and out of the coral reefs. You may even spot manatees, which thrive in the crystalline waters as the bay lies within the protected Jaragua National Park. Bahia de las Aguilas translates to Bay of the Eagles, a name that may refer to the sea eagles that feast on the fish there. The area couldn’t be more remote or undeveloped, which is much of its appeal. The captain will pick a spot that will be ideal for you to relax on the beach and within a carpeted tent ideal for glamping.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take in the gorgeous tropical scenery as you cruise to secluded Bahia de las Aguilas.
• Observe the abundant marine life through transparent panels in the boat’s hull.
• Relax on a lengthy stretch of beach chosen for its privacy and natural beauty.
• Enjoy access to a tent with a carpet to enhance your glamping experience.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Tear through the seas on an exhilarating ride in a high-powered speedboat and then catch your breath at an exclusive beach club on a pristine stretch of sand that rims the harbor. The sleek, beefy speedboat lives up to its name “Wahoo” because that’s what the 24 passengers usually scream as they race through the waters just offshore. The captain knows how to get a rise out of everyone by making one sharp hairpin turn after another and leaving high-flying rooster tails in the boat’s wake. The ride will be a nonstop adrenaline rush that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. In contrast, the mood on the beach will be laid-back and easy-going, an ambiance that the included open bar will only enhance. Feel free to lie back in a lounge chair with a cool drink in hand and do nothing more strenuous than bask in the sun.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Rip through the Caribbean on a powerful speedboat that is sure to leave you breathless.
• Hold on tight as the captain makes one impossibly sharp turn after another.
• Relax on Baby Beach, a serene harborside setting named for its diminutive size.
• Enjoy the included open bar and dine on your own if you choose.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours relaxing at a beach club and hotel on one of most naturally beautiful stretches of sand near the southernmost tip of the Dominican Republic. Eco Del Mar is named for its environmentally friendly practices and location right on the sea. It is considered a glamping – or glamorous camping – resort as most of the buildings are luxurious tents or made entirely of natural materials. The setting couldn’t be more relaxing or inviting. You might do nothing more ambitious than lie back on a lounge chair and bask in the sun and take a leisurely stroll up and down the beach. The sea is typically crystal-clear and deepens gradually so it is ideal for swimming and wading in the refreshing shallows. Kayaks and paddle boards are available as are plenty of options for dining on your own. The open bar adds yet another dimension to the carefree experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend hours relaxing at Eco Del Mar, a glamping resort with an alluring ambiance.
• Revel in the natural beauty of the beachside setting and do anything you please.
• Enjoy the included open bar, access to watersports and options to dine on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Delight in the generous amenities of an exclusive beach club where you will be free to relax however you please. The club is located just a short walk from the cruise terminal allowing you to maximize your time at Baby Beach, which is affectionately named for its compact size. It won’t take long to settle in and take full advantage of this idyllic tropical setting. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the sea or the swimming pool if you prefer freshwater. Bask in the sun in a comfortable lounge chair, stroll along the shore and relax in the shade of a coconut palm. What you do will be completely up to you. Kayaks and paddleboards are readily available if you wish to explore coastal areas beyond the beach. An open bar is included, plus you will be welcome to dine on your own at any of the club’s four restaurants and bars.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend a thoroughly relaxing day at an exclusive beach club overlooking the harbor.
• Indulge in whatever beach activities suit your mood, including kayaking.
• Enjoy the included open bar and access to the club’s dining facilities.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.