La Romana or Boca Chica which is better. Dominican Republic resorts on the Caribbean Sea: La Romana, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Juan Dolio and others. Sights of La Romana
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Boca Chica is a very famous resort in Western countries, especially among US citizens. Moreover, he has a “bad” reputation. But it's not so bad, this is not Walking Street in Pattaya, most of the obscene entertainment is not on display here.
The resort is located west along the coast of the island from the resort of Juan Dolio, and is only 30 kilometers from the capital of the country, Santo Domingo.
Boca Chica is very famous as a yacht port. Many yachtsmen prefer to stay in the Caribbean in Boca Chica. There are many motels and a developed yacht servicing infrastructure. The port is crowded with yachts, and you can always go there. If you are interested in yachts, then the port of Boca Chica will be akin to a museum for you.
Samana Resort
Samana is located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. This is a peninsula that is considered one of the most beautiful places in the Dominican Republic.
The Samana region has its own international airport, but charter flights from Russia do not land there. It is almost impossible to buy a tour to Samana in Russia, and those who managed to do it will have to travel 180 kilometers by bus. The journey will take about three hours, the roads in the Dominican Republic are winding, often pass through mountainous areas, so you can’t expect high speed from buses.
The resort of Samana has only mountains and beaches, but this place is famous not for mountains or beaches, but for humpback whales. From January to March, whales come here for the mating season.
In many ways, people come to this resort precisely to watch whales. The chance of meeting whales while walking on the sea here is almost 100%; in many other places in Taiwan, Alaska or Hawaii such chances are much less, you can make a dozen trips by sea and still not see whales.
Resort Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata is another resort on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. Buying a tour here from Russia is even more difficult than to the resorts described above. There is also an airport here, and charter flights from Russia do not fly here either. The drive from Punta Cana airport is about four to five hours.
This resort is dominated by nature, clear sea and pleasant sand.
Read other interesting facts about the Dominican Republic in our articles ( links below).
The Dominican Republic can offer you a wide variety of resorts, all different from each other. Here you need to make difficult choices in order to make the most of your 2 precious weeks of vacation.
Let's try to compare Punta Cana and La Romana.
Punta Cana, located on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, is where local tourism actually began and is still, together with Playa Dorada, one of the most popular tourist destinations.
Punta Cana has many more resorts with wonderful beaches than other areas of the Dominican Republic. You can choose either a busy tourist destination or a remote hotel where you will be almost alone on the beach. And the area of the beaches is very large - there are places to walk. These are the most extensive beaches in the Dominican Republic.
But there is practically nothing to do outside the hotel. While in Punta Cana, you will essentially not see the real Dominican Republic. Punta Cana exists only for tourists.
Once you arrive, you'll be transferred to your hotel on a bus where you'll swim, eat, breathe, and hang out with other tourists, mostly American, Canadian, French, English, Spanish and Italian. At the end of your stay you will board a bus which will take you back to the airport. That's all.
In addition, Punta Cana has the highest concentration of resorts. There is no such crowding anywhere in the Caribbean. Many people can be annoyed by such an abundance of tourists. Although, to be fair, not all beaches in Punta Cana have such an abundance of vacationers.
The most memorable attraction is the famous Captain Cook's fish restaurant. In this area, this is practically the only decent place where you can have a very tasty lunch outside of hotels. Well, there is practically no shopping there due to the lack of large cities nearby.
Of course, this does not mean that there are no excursions in Punta Cana. You will be offered many trips, but they are all located at some distance. You can read more about this here.
As for local entertainment, bars and discos, they are mainly concentrated in hotels; parties are often “local” in nature, since there is no city here as such. You can simply move from hotel to hotel. But, since in some areas of Punta Cana there is a strong overcrowding of hotels, the party turns out to be very noisy.
It is located closer to Santo Domingo, and if you wish, you can go to the capital for a day to unwind.
La Romana is dominated by one resort, Casa de Campo, one of the grandest and most luxurious in the Caribbean. This is a very expensive and very luxurious vacation.
The local chic golf courses are deservedly popular among fans of this game.
Casa de Campo is located next to one Dominican Republic's greatest tourist attraction— Altos de Chavon, an amazingly realistic recreation of a 16th-century Spanish village. This is a city of artists and artisans where you can purchase many of the paintings and items made locally, including jewelry and macramé.
The local church of St. Stanislaus has become a very popular wedding venue.
There is nothing touristically attractive in La Romana itself, with the exception of shopping in local stores.
30 kilometers east of La Romana is the small town of Bayahibe. All those who like the local coast come here, but cannot afford the high prices of Casa de Campo.
Nearby are the islands of Saona (Bounty Beach) and Catalina, which we also previously wrote about.
The Dominican Republic's most popular national park, Sendero Padre Nuestro, is located south of La Romana. Visitors can arrive there by speedboat, catamaran or motorboat.
Activities in La Romana are basically the same as throughout the Dominican Republic - swimming, snorkeling, diving, shopping, spas, etc. Nightlife is concentrated mainly in Bayahibe, where partygoers have several large nightclubs and many bars. La Romana itself is relatively quiet.
The quality of hotels in Punta Cana will be slightly higher. According to reviews from tourists, even hotels of the same line in these regions differ in terms of food and service, as well as the condition of the rooms.
As for the beaches, Punta Cana is undoubtedly the leader in terms of their beauty. For information on the top ten beaches in Punta Cana, see our material. But the undoubted advantage of La Romana is the almost complete absence of waves and algae on the beaches, since this is no longer the Atlantic, but the Caribbean Sea.
For swimming enthusiasts, it may also be important that there is much more underwater life in La Romana, and the calm water makes it possible to see it well.
The beaches of La Romana are also good, but they are inferior to Punta Cana in the softness of the sand and the beauty of nature.
The graphs below will help you compare these weather, such as day and night air temperature, sea water temperature and precipitation levels.
Daytime temperature.
Night temperature.
Water temperature.
Precipitation (mm)
The following information will help you choose the best time to visit your desired resort. You can see the best months of the year for each location.
If you want to spend a vacation in paradise, then you should go to the resorts of the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean Sea. No matter where you choose - La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana or any other - you will be greeted by palm-lined beaches, gorgeous underwater tropical gardens, smiling dark-skinned locals and gentle breezes. The main wealth of Dominican resorts is the warm sea and sandy beaches. The best hotels in the world operating on the All Inclusive principle are located here. The average annual air temperature varies between +28 and +31 degrees. Travelers will forever remember the enchanting tropical forests, coral reefs and stunning waterfalls.
General characteristics of the resorts
The resorts of the Dominican Republic are in extraordinary demand among tourists today, as they offer complete relaxation with the highest level of comfort organized and constant sunny weather. The most popular type of recreation is luxury. Incredibly beautiful, one might even say fabulous, play an important role in it. Tourist vacations here are combined with national Caribbean events, fiery carnivals and expressive dances.
If you briefly describe the resorts of the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean Sea, you will get the impression that they are a real paradise, located in a stunning tropical forest. Holidays at any of the resorts will take place in the shade of coconut trees. The beach recreation areas filled with golden and crystal white sand impress with their well-groomed appearance and inviting warmth; they will give you a complete feeling of relaxation and absolute safety.
One of the most popular resorts
One of the most popular Dominican resorts is Punta Cana. It is located on the Caribbean Sea, or more precisely, on one of its shores, and its snow-white beaches stretch for 30 kilometers. It arose in the early 80s of the last century on a deserted sea coast. The resort includes several large tourist complexes. They are intended for family vacations or couples' vacations. Only in the spring can you meet only students here who come to have fun among the youth crowd.
The Punta Cana resort is known all over the world. And this is not surprising, because the best hotels on the coast are located here, historical and cultural attractions are concentrated, and only here there is a lot of interesting and educational things. At this resort, even those travelers who place the highest demands on their holiday will satisfy their needs. In Punta Cana, guests are surrounded by peacocks, rare species of flowers, mangroves and flamingos. Things that are unusual for Europeans will seem quite natural here.
Quiet and relaxing resort
La Romana (Dominican Republic) is a wonderful resort, which is the capital of the province of the same name. It was founded at the very beginning of the 16th century. On the coast of the modern resort there is a huge hotel complex, included in the list of the most respectable places in the world. This chic tourist center is the main attraction of La Romana.
The resort of La Romana (Dominican Republic) has dozens of luxurious cottages and hundreds of luxurious villas. This place is recommended for visiting by young married couples who prefer a calm, quiet vacation on the seashore. Athletes, both professional and beginners, can have a wonderful time here. There are several sports complexes for them. In La Romana you can go underwater fishing and the most popular sports are horse riding and tennis, and you can do them right in the La Romana resort.
Resort on the island of Haiti
The wonderful resort of Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) is located on the island. It has more than ten hotels, including two-star and five-star establishments. The hotels offer guests a variety of entertainment for every taste: there is a club right on the beach, everyone will be taught diving and snorkeling, and you can also take part in sports games and competitions. Here you have the opportunity to enjoy endless white beaches and the warm Dominican sun.
There are not as many people in the resort of Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) as in other resorts in the republic. Here you can always find an incredibly beautiful but secluded place for a relaxing holiday. The small Puerto Plata warmly welcomes all its guests - it is designed in such a way that everyone who arrives here can feel calm and comfortable. There is lush greenery and an unrivaled beach, and magnificent nature surrounds both on land and in the underwater world.
Favorite resort of Dominicans
Juan Dolio is a Dominican Republic resort located in the southeastern part of the island. It is loved by many travelers, but it has earned special recognition among local residents. Those who like the delights of the underwater world come here: near the shores of this particular resort there is a magical coral reef, which you can explore for days on end. Juan Dolio has more than ten upscale hotels, chic restaurants, clubs, discos and casinos.
It is almost impossible to imagine the Dominican Republic without the Juan Dolio resort. The beautiful town, which is located near the capital, is filled with interesting places, it is characterized by luxurious nature and an interesting history. There are many museums, small churches and chapels that you can visit at any time. Resort life here proceeds slowly, but this only benefits everyone here.
The most vibrant resort in the Dominican Republic
Many Dominican Republic resorts on the Caribbean Sea resemble a real fairy tale. One of these places was the Boca Chica resort, located in a lagoon protected by reefs. The resort is located in the suburbs of the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. Boca Chica was founded by wealthy industrialist Juan Visini in the first half of the last century. And the resort development of this place dates back to the 50s of the twentieth century. This happened after dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo ordered the construction of the modern Hamaca Hotel, which today is called Hamaca Coral By Hilton.
Modern Boca Chica is the busiest resort on the southeast coast. Life here flows to the rhythm of the merengue, the sounds of which spread from the numerous restaurants located on the beach. Here you can try tropical drinks and dishes from different cuisines of the world. The most popular in Boca Chica are fish delicacies, especially those that are grilled. The main advantage of the resort is the natural five-hundred-meter coral barrier.
Resort capital of the Dominican Republic
The best resorts were founded during the Middle Ages. For example, the now popular Santo Domingo was founded back in 1496 by Bartolomeo Columbus, the brother of that same Christopher Columbus. He named the city New Isabella, but then the resort was renamed Santo Domingo, which translates from Spanish as Holy Sunday.
The Osama River flows into Santo Domingo, dividing it into two parts. The western region is the cultural and business center of the city, and the eastern region is the historical one. The most interesting regions for travelers will be the colonial zone and Gazcue. In the center of the western part of Santo Domingo is the “commercial” heart of the capital. The best shops and restaurants in the city are concentrated here.
Port city of Barahona
We described all the popular resorts of the Dominican Republic above. But there is one more, on the Caribbean Sea, which is not very popular with tourists, but is no less wonderful - this is the port city of Barahona. It is hidden in a bay surrounded by mountain ranges. The pride of Barahona is the picturesque lakes scattered throughout the village. The resort offers tourists a wide variety of excursions.
Travelers can visit Las Caritasma, an archaeological site located in the northern part of Lake Enriquillo. This pond is home to pink flamingos, iguanas and crocodiles. Magnetic Hills is the most remarkable place in the Barahona resort. And if you have a passion for reptiles, you can visit Cabritos Island.
Holidays on the peninsula
The amazing country of the Dominican Republic. Which resort to choose for your vacation is a question that sometimes confuses many travelers. There is another place in the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean Sea that fascinates with its beauty. This is the Samana Peninsula.
In the 18th century, King Ferdinand VI of Spain ordered the founding of the city of Santa Barbara de Samana. Every year in February, a carnival is held here, which opens with the “ambula” dance. It is attended exclusively by male representatives, dressed in multi-colored masks.
The Cordillera mountain range crosses the peninsula from east to west. The ridge has become a natural feature between the island and the Samana conservation area. Samana Bay is a true tropical paradise. It has small islands. The bay is 11 kilometers wide, and its length reaches as much as 54 kilometers.
La Romana is the second most popular resort among Russian tourists in the Dominican Republic after Punta Cana. Just a few years ago, Russian tour operators did not offer tours to this resort area, but now you can buy a ticket to any famous hotel in La Romana from almost any tour operator.
Which is better: Punta Cana or La Romana? Let's try to compare these resorts.
Tour prices
When tourists wonder which is better: Punta Cana or La Romana, many, of course, pay attention to the prices, which sometimes make them turn a blind eye to some of the shortcomings of a particular resort. In our comparison, Punta Cana offers lower prices for hotels and, accordingly, tours there. But this same resort also offers the highest prices for tours. Like this? The fact is that in La Romana there are no very expensive hotels, like in Punta Cana.
You'll find decent hotels in La Romana - even the 4-star hotels in this resort area can be better than some of the 5-star hotels in Punta Cana.
In general, if you are interested in a “cheap and cheerful” holiday, then La Romana will be a pretty good option for you.
Coasts
When comparing Punta Cana and La Romana, the location of the resorts comes first. Or rather, they belong to different coasts. Punta Cana is on the Atlantic coast, and La Romana is on the Caribbean coast. That is why there is a big difference between these resorts. Punta Cana has cooler water (1-2 degrees colder than La Romana), higher waves and algae on the beach. In turn, La Romana offers calmer and warmer waters without algae. But still, even in Punta Cana you can find hotels whose beaches do not have a lot of algae, and the water in the ocean near these beaches is quite warm and calm (for example, the hotels of the Barcelo Bavaro Resorts complex).
Hotels
In terms of hotel diversity, Punta Cana is noticeably ahead of La Romana. Punta Cana has hotels to suit every taste (there are even hotels with water parks) and budgets, while La Romana has no more than 10 hotels to choose from.
Excursions
In principle, the set of excursions for both resorts is almost the same, but La Romana is located much closer to the islands of Saona and Catalina, as well as to the city of Santo Domingo. If you plan to visit all these places and do not want to waste extra time traveling, then La Romana may be a more attractive option for you.
Bottom line
La Romana is a serious rival for Punta Cana. However, there are not as many hotels here as in Punta Cana, so most tourists will still head to Punta Cana. But you must take into account the pros and cons of all the resorts and come to a conclusion about which resort is best for you.