4 Best Sights in Southeast Coast, Dominican Republic

Playa Bayahibe, where several seafood restaurants are situated, is somewhat thin, with hard-packed taupe sand and no lounge chairs. However, as you move away from the village, a 10-minute walk along the shoreline, you'll reach the glorious, half-moon cove. Although you'll be able to get to the cove and the soft sand, bring a towel (resort security won't let you use the facilities). At night, when no one is on the playa and the silver moon illuminates the phosphorescence, it's the stuff that Caribbean dreams are made of. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

You can walk far out into warm, calm, clear waters protected by coral reefs here. On weekends, the strip with the mid-rise resorts is busy, drawing mainly Dominican families and some Europeans. But midweek is better, when the beaches are less crowded. Expect a parade of roving vendors of jewelry and sunglasses, plus hair braiders, seafood cookers, ice-cream men, and masseuses. The best section of the public beach is in front of Don Emilio's (the blue hotel), which has a restaurant, bar, decent bathrooms, and parking. It's recommended you go to one of the nicer waterfront restaurants—Boca Marina Restaurant & Lounge, El Pelicano, Neptuno's Club—and skip the public beach altogether. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming; walking.

Playa Dominicus has clear water, just a very few waves at the entrance, and absolutely no undertow. It's Caribbean idyllic and Blue Flag accredited. The Iberostar, Viva Wyndhams, and Oasis Canoa resorts all share this beach, and there's a small public section where the locals venture on weekends. The beach has two restaurants and some huts selling souvenirs. Of course, if you are a guest at one of these resorts or buy a guest pass, you will have access to their food outlets, restrooms, and nonmotorized water sports. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunrise; sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This beach is now glorious, especially in the Villas Del Mar area. Its regeneration, which goes for 2½ miles (4 km), included the relocation of more than 14 million cubic feet of nearly white sand. It has led to the town's rebirth; the tourism authority's goal is to turn Juan Dolio into a major Caribbean destination—the next South Beach—with condominium projects that demonstrate style and first-class amenities fit for the international tourists, but this vision has not yet been completely realized. The beach rejuvenation continued to the horseshoe-shape public beach in Playa (Old) Juan Dolio. Although the beach has no public facilities, like toilets, nearby restaurants cater to beach-goers. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: partiers; sunrise; sunset; swimming; walking.