Places You Must See in the Dominican Republic (Winter Edition)

Winter is my favorite season, after fall of course. This season is so amazingly beautiful. I’ve always loved the idea of feeling the snow through my fingers or maybe doing a snow angel on the floor. Then reality hits me… I live in the Dominican Republic, there’s no winter here! But, we have summer all year, and we can go to the beach in winter (HA!) 

Traveling during winter can be tough, due to the high demand. However, it’s totally worth it! Especially if you’re going to a tropical island (a.k.a where I love being because of the beaches and the beautiful sunsets). 

That’s why I’m going to be sharing the places you can’t miss if you’re traveling to the DR this winter.

The Dominican Republic is one of the countries with the most beautiful beaches in the world. The beaches, mountains, and people here are amazing, and everybody should see them! 

So? Are you ready? Here is the Dominican Republic travel bucket list! 

The Dominican Republic Travel Bucket List: 10 Places You Can’t-Miss on Your Next Trip

Samaná

OMG, you guys, and girls, one of the most beautiful cities in this country! 

Samaná is my favorite touristic city in the Dominican Republic, I won’t ever get tired of going there. And that’s why it’s in the first place on this post. 

This city has many places to visit. El Salto del Limón, for example, located on the way to Las Terrenas, is one of the most visited places there. This river is amazingly beautiful, its cristal waters won’t ever leave your memories. Plus, the pictures you’ll take there will be your favorites. 

Samaná has three main places I’d love to visit again: the center of the city, Las Galeras, and Las Terrenas. In the center of the city, I’d love to cross Samaná’s bridge one more time and take some pictures in the colorful houses that call our attention once we enter the city. In Las Galeras, we’ll find the best beaches! And in Las Terrenas, we’ll find the best restaurants and the most beautiful views. 

You may also like: Sustainable Dresses You Must Have

Punta Cana 

Okay, I gotta be honest here. Punta Cana isn’t the best part of the country, but it cannot miss a place on your winter travel bucket list. 

There is Playa Arena Gorda, known for the sunrises there are on the top! I also want to visit Playa Juanillo one more time, because last time I went there it was storm season, and it was dirty. That’s why I want to give the most visited beach in Punta Cana, another chance. 

I know Punta Cana is mainly beaches, but I also want to try some other activities that I’ve never done before. I wanna go on a jeep safari, also go sailing, and maybe go on an eco buggy adventure there! That’d be so incredibly awesome! 

I also heard there are some eco stays in that city, and I’d love to visit them so I can give you a good review about them. Let’s hope I can go this winter! 

You may also like: Sustainable Swimwear Brands

Barahona 

One of the most underrated places in the Dominican Republic! 

Barahona is located in the South part of the country. That’s the driest area here, which means that it’s also the hottest one. However, there are many places in this province worth visiting. 

I want to go to some of the beaches, like San Rafael, and go to the Parque Nacional Jaragua. I also want to go visit the Dry Forest, and some rivers such as El Pato, which is one of the coldest rivers in the country. 

There are so many things to do in this city, and the fact that not everyone visits it makes it more sustainable travel than the ones above. 

Pedernales

Another on the list of underrated places in the Dominican Republic! 

Located literally at the end of the country, Pedernales has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world: Bahía de las Águilas. I had the opportunity to visit the south part of the country a couple of years ago, but I couldn’t go to Pedernales. That’s why I want to visit it a lot more than Barahona. 

In Pedernales, there’s also plenty of beautiful beaches, such as Cabo Rojo. Plus, I want to visit the Oviedo Lagoon too! It’s the largest lagoon in the country, and it also has some flamingos there!

And, we can’t forget Hoyo de Pelempito, a natural and amazingly stunning place where you can see a geological depression located in la Sierra de Bahoruco. Gorgeous! 

María Trinidad Sánchez 

This one is not as underrated as the other too, but it’s still an underrated one. 

In María Trinidad Sánchez we can find amazing and beautiful beaches to visit, like Playa Grande, Playa Diamante, and Playa Caleton. These are on the top of the cutest beaches in the country, which means that we cannot miss a trip there!

And we have some other things to do, like visiting the Dudu Lagoon and the Blue Lake, which have always been on my winter bucket list! I’m dying to visit those places so bad. 

Montecristi 

This is a city that’s working hard to get its tourism noticed by tourists. 

Montecristi is located on the northwest part of the island, pretty close to the frontier with Haiti. They have many things to do, however, people don’t get to discover its wonders. 

While being in this city we can visit Playa El Morro, which sand is red! I’m telling you here, one of the most beautiful sunsets you’ll see! Playa El Morro has also a small mountain where you can see the sea, and take some pictures. 

There’s also a nice trip to Goat Island, where we could be able to take a nice bath at Paradise Beach, another of the most beautiful beaches in this city. 

You can also see Cayo 7 Hermanos here. This is a group of seven inhabited islands that you can visit if you pay a full tour to it when going to Goat Island!

Puerto Plata 

One of the most visited places in the country, yet nobody knows the good stuff there. 

Puerto Plata is called “The Atlantic’s Girlfriend” because of its location. The city is full of beautiful paradises, where you can easily relax with a Piña Colada. Its beaches are amazingly stunning, and it has so many good restaurants too!

This amazing province has so many hidden gems I’d love to visit, such as 27 Charcos, a group of small rivers that connects. They also have the Runners Tour, where you can visit many places in the city at an affordable price. 

I’d also love to learn windsurfing here, I heard they have the best schools for that! 

Bahoruco 

Another underrated gem in the south of the country. 

Here we can find Lake Enriquillo and Iguana’s Park, where we can see many many iguanas all over the place! It’s pretty cute, and the pictures we’ll get there are stunning. 

We can also visit La Sierra de Neyba, a beautiful group of mountains from where you can admire Enrquillo’s lake, and visit Los Indios Cave. 

I’m telling you, Bahoruco is a great place to go if you’re looking for more ecotourism in this amazing country. And, I almost forget! Las Marías Fountain is a place I’m dying to visit there! I’ve heard it has the most beautiful and crystal waters. 

La Romana 

My favorite province in all the country, besides Samaná. OMG! This city is on every travel winter travel bucket list I make, and I’ll never get tired of it. 

From there, we can go to many places such as Higuey, where we’ll find the biggest basilica in the country. We can also make a trip to Saona Island, one of the most beautiful and virgin places in the Dominican Republic. I’m telling you, I can’t explain how much I love going to La Romana. 

We can also go to Catalina Island from there, which is a place I’m dying to visit. And, let’s not forget about Altos de Chavon, one of the most important scenarios in this country. Another place I can’t wait to see!! 

Jamao al Norte

I’m going to end this post with a place that’s so close to me, yet so far! 

Jamao al Norte is a city in a Province close to where I live. However, getting there can be a bit tough. 

Why do I wanna go there if it is so difficult? Well, it has the cutest rivers in all the country!

Jamao al Norte is an underrated city from Espaillat, and there we can find plenty of incredible and crystalline rivers. I want to go to the Jamao River and the Taíno Farm! This is also one of the best places to practice ecotourism. 

And that’s it!! These are the places I’m dying to visit this winter in my country! Have you ever heard of any of them? Where are you planning to go this winter? Let me know in the comments! 

You may also like: 
–Sustainable Swimwear
–Sustainable Dresses for your Next Trip

Don’t forget to pin this post and save it for your next trip to the Dominican Republic!