Beaches – White sand beaches that seem to endlessly run into the horizon, punctuated with slim coconut trees reaching the skies: it’s what the Dominican Republic is best known for. South to east, and north, you will keep busy finding your favorite plot of sand along our 1,600-kilometer (1,000-mile) sandy coastline. Over 200 beaches—many of which remain uncrowded and undeveloped—line the Caribbean and the Atlantic coastlines, ranging from a brilliant white to a handful of black sand stretching southwest.

Islands and Cayes – Hop on a catamaran sail to breathtaking Saona or Catalina islands, home to the Caribbean’s longest natural pool, and beaches stretching as far as the eye can see against iridescent turquoise waters. Cayo Arena, off the coast of Puerto Plata, is ideal for a snorkeling trip. Off the coast of Samaná, Cayo Levantado is a perfect lunch and swim escape.

Surf & Kitesurfing – A top Caribbean destination for wind sports, the DR is ground zero for surfing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing. Whether novice or expert, there’s a Dominican coastline ideal for your preferred activity.

Scuba Diving – In addition to discovering exceptional beaches along the DR’s thousand-mile long coastline, you’ll soon realize that the DR’s underwater world—a handful of which is protected as a national park—is equally fascinating, revealing features such as coral reefs, caves, remains of galleons, shipwrecks, and a world of multicolored marine life.