Bayahibe Holidays

Say hello to Bayahibe – a diddy tropical village settled on the Caribbean edge of the Dominican Republic. This sleepy fishing community deals out pillow-soft sand, toasty seawater and beaches backed by colossal palm trees. And if you get peckish, there’s a waterfront market that’s good for pastel-coloured scoops of ice-cream.

Bayahibe’s locals are worth getting to know, not only for their tips on rum production but also for learning about their laidback way of island life. Set out on a Bayahibe fishing trip and learn how to reel in your own barracuda, tuna or dorado. Or you could take a trip to a sugarcane mill or an artists’ village.

Underwater adventures are a given around here, and you can go wreck diving, or search for sea caves. For the best snorkelling around, take a boat trip out to Isla Catalina. This little Caribbean island was named by Christopher Columbus, and it’s earned some serious stripes as a snorkelling and diving hotspot due to its water-based residents, like starfish, turtles and stingrays.