Things to do
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Bávaro Beach
Long band of white sand backed by coconut palms and the largest concentration of hotels on the coast, with calm shallow water inside a fringing reef. Public access points sit between the resorts at Los Corales and El Cortecito, where fishing boats land and small bars open onto the sand. Wind picks up through the afternoon.
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Park
Cotubanamá National Park
Formerly Parque Nacional del Este, this park covers the peninsula and islands at the southeastern corner of the country, protecting dry forest, mangrove and caves with Taíno rock art. Most visits arrive by boat from Bayahíbe on a Saona or Catalina trip. Entry on foot is possible at Guaraguao, though the trails are unshaded and nothing is sold inside.
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Hoyo Azul
A cenote of startling blue water sits at the foot of a limestone cliff on the Scape Park estate outside Punta Cana, reached on a wooden walkway through dry forest. Swimming is allowed and the water stays cold. Entry is through the park, which also runs zip lines, so the approach is busier in the middle of the day.
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Macao Beach
One of the few public beaches on this stretch, Macao faces open Atlantic swell and has become the surf school beach for the east coast, with board rental and instructors working from shacks behind the sand. Currents are strong and there is no lifeguard. Buggy tours arrive mid morning and thin out by late afternoon.
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Island
Saona Island
Catamaran and speedboat trips run to this low island inside Cotubanamá National Park, stopping at a sandbar in waist deep water and a palm backed beach at Mano Juan. The crossing takes about an hour each way and the day is long. Boats fill quickly in high season, so places are worth booking ahead.