All Inclusive Bayahibe Holidays

Set on the Dominican Republic’s southeast coast, Bayahibe used to be a small fishing village. And it still is. The hotels may have moved in but, at heart, this place is all about a little piece of laidback Caribbean living. And with its tropical charm and powder-soft sandy beaches, it’s one of the island’s top getaway spots.

The beach at Bayahibe has clean, white, powdery sand and the sea’s nice and shallow. You’ve got restaurants and food stands overlooking the beach. And if you fancy an ice-cream or want to rent a deckchair, the small waterfront market has it covered. Snorkellers are in the right spot, too. Head over to the waters by Dreams hotel and you’ll find colourful damselfish in the coral reef.

By day, divers can swim with the likes of hammerheads and turtles. Head north out of the resort to Anamuya Lake and thrill-seekers can get up in the treetops with a three-kilometre zip line course, the Caribbean’s longest. If you’ve got any energy left after that lot, you can show off your best salsa moves at Bayahibe’s open-air dance spots.

You've got Parque del Este national park right on your doorstep. What you get here is mangrove-studded lagoons, painted caves and over 100 types of birds. Also part of this huge place is Isla Saona, about a 45-minute boat ride away. This undeveloped island is a bit of a celebrity – its beaches starred in the Bounty ads. You can spend a whole day here just sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling.