La Romana

Holidays to La Romana aren’t just about brochure-ready beaches. Dig a bit deeper and you’ll find rainforests teeming with wildlife, Spanish-style cites, and top-notch golf courses, too.

Good-looking La Romana

Tucked away in the south-east corner of the Dominican Republic, La Romana is beach central. The sandy swathes in this neck of the woods stretch along the coastline from La Romana City all the way to Bayahibe, and the locals reckon they’re the best-looking in the country. Playa La Minatas, for example, is a Photoshop-perfect stretch where jetsetters come to see and be seen. And Playa El Caleton’s pristine sands and shallow waters make it a big hit with families.

Bayahibe’s beaches

For the pick of the bunch, though, head to Bayahibe, a 30-minute drive from La Romana. The options here range from sleepy Bayahibe Beach, with its pastel-coloured fisherman’s huts and palm-topped beach bars, to Dominicus Beach – the area’s watersports hub. Plus, the footprint-free sand of Isla Saona is just a short boat ride away.

Lively cities

Away from the beaches, meanwhile, La Romana City – the Dominican Republic’s third biggest – is well worth a look. It’s all cobbled streets, busy markets and colonial-style churches. Plus, it’s home to a marina that’s packed with swanky restaurants and cocktail bars. Drive 2 hours west along the coast, meanwhile, and you’ll reach Santo Domingo. The Dominican Republic’s capital lines up sights like Christopher Columbus’ house and the Santa Maria Cathedral in the old quarter, alongside high-octane clubs and salsa bars along the Malecón.