Bayahibe village
Guesthouses, foodThe fishing village.
Village guide
Things to do in Bayahibe
A fishing village on the south-east coast, and the gateway to Saona Island and Cotubanamá National Park: calm turquoise water, the best diving in the country, and a relaxed alternative to Punta Cana.
Saona
Boats from the beach
3
Days
The gateway to Saona
Bayahibe is a small fishing village on the Caribbean coast in the south-east of the Dominican Republic, about 20 minutes from La Romana. It sits on the edge of Cotubanamá National Park, formerly Parque Nacional del Este, which protects dry forest, caves and the islands of Saona and Catalinita.
Most boats to Saona Island leave from its beach, and in the morning the village fills with catamarans and speedboats. By afternoon, it goes quiet again. The calm, clear water makes it the country's diving centre, with reefs and wrecks, and the snorkelling is good straight from the shore.
Bayahibe is a cheaper, more local base than Punta Cana, with small guesthouses and fish restaurants on the beach. Nearby are the long beach at Dominicus, the cave pool of Padre Nuestro and the stone village of Altos de Chavón. Give it three days.
Where to base yourself
The village for guesthouses and food, or Dominicus for a bigger beach.
Dominicus
Bigger beachSouth of the village.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Bayahibe
Take a day trip to Saona Island, with white beaches, a sandbar natural pool full of starfish and lunch on the sand. Visit Isla Catalina for snorkelling on its reef wall.
Dive the reefs and wrecks of Cotubanamá National Park, including the St. George wreck, or learn to dive with one of the village's schools.
Walk the Padre Nuestro trail in the national park to a freshwater cave pool, swim at Playa Dominicus, and visit Altos de Chavón, a replica 16th-century Mediterranean village above the Chavón River.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The village beach and Playa Dominicus are free, and you can snorkel from the shore.
Watching the boats leave in the morning and the sunset from the beach costs nothing.
The national park, Saona and Altos de Chavón charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Fresh fish is the thing to eat: grilled or fried with tostones at beach restaurants and shacks. Comedores in the village serve la bandera for €4 to €7.
Colmados sell cold Presidente on the waterfront.
Restaurant bills add 18 per cent tax and a 10 per cent service charge by law, so check whether menu prices include them; a little extra for good service is appreciated.
Nightlife
Going out
Bayahibe is quiet at night. A few bars and colmados play music on the waterfront, busiest at weekends.
Most people are up early for the boats or a dive.
A Presidente costs €1.50 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around
From Santo Domingo, take a bus to La Romana, about two hours, then a guagua or taxi to Bayahibe, about 20 minutes. La Romana airport is about 25 minutes away, and Punta Cana airport about 1.5 hours.
The village is walkable, and Dominicus is a short walk or ride.
Taxis go to Altos de Chavón and Padre Nuestro.
Costs
What Bayahibe costs
Beds start at around €15 to €25 a night. La bandera costs €4 to €7.
Saona trips cost about €50 to €90, and dives about €50 to €70 each, with courses extra. The national park charges a small entry fee.
Carry pesos for comedores and guaguas.
Safety
Safety and scams
Bayahibe is relaxed and safe. Do not leave belongings unattended on the beach.
Book Saona trips and dives through your accommodation or known operators, not beach sellers, and check boats carry life jackets.
Do not touch or lift the starfish in the natural pool. Do not drink the tap water; bottled and refill jugs are cheap everywhere. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The dry season and holidays.
December to April
Dry season
Bayahibe
Calm, sunny days.
March or April
Semana Santa
Nationwide
Dominicans head to the beaches.
When to go
December to April is the dry season and the busiest time. The south-east is one of the driest parts of the country. Hurricane season runs from June to November.
Jan
Dry, busy
Feb
Dry, Carnival
Mar
Dry
Apr
Semana Santa
May
Showers begin
Jun
Hurricane season opens
Jul
Hot
Aug
Hot
Sep
Peak hurricane risk
Oct
Wet
Nov
Quieter
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Calm water most of the year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Bayahibe prices.
Treat these as a guide. Boat trips and dives cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Bayahibe questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do I get to Bayahibe?
By bus from Santo Domingo to La Romana, then a guagua or taxi, in about 2.5 hours.
Is Bayahibe better than Punta Cana for Saona?
It is closer, with shorter boat rides, and cheaper to stay.
How much is a Saona trip?
About €50 to €90.
Can I dive in Bayahibe?
Yes, it is the diving centre of the country, with reefs and wrecks.
Is Bayahibe quiet?
Yes, especially after the boats return in the afternoon.
Can I snorkel from the beach?
Yes, from the village beach and Dominicus.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April.
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