Santo Domingo is the country's biggest city and its oldest, and it is also a practical base. The main highways fan out east, west and north, so within a couple of hours you can be on a calm beach, in a cave full of ancient art, on sand dunes by the sea, or in the mountains.
Day trips at a glance
| Trip | Roughly how far | What it is | Getting there |
|---|
|------|-----------------|------------|---------------|
| Los Tres Ojos | In the city (east) | Cave lakes and a limestone park | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boca Chica | ~30 minutes east | Shallow, reef-sheltered beach | Bus (guagua) or taxi |
| Juan Dolio | ~45 minutes east | Quieter beach strip | Bus or taxi |
| Pomier caves | ~1 hour west | Taíno rock art | Car or driver |
| Baní dunes | ~1.5 hours west | Sand dunes meeting the sea | Car or driver |
| Saona Island | ~2 hours to Bayahibe, then boat | The postcard island | Tour with pickup |
| Jarabacoa | ~2.5 hours north | Mountains, rivers, waterfalls | Car, bus or tour |
Times are without traffic. Leaving the city on a Friday afternoon or returning on a Sunday evening can add an hour.
Boca Chica — the closest beach
Half an hour east, and ten minutes from Las Américas airport. A coral reef shelters the bay, so the water is shallow and calm far out from the shore, which is why Santo Domingo families fill it on weekends. Go on a weekday for space, or on a Sunday to see how the capital relaxes. There's more in the Boca Chica guide.
Juan Dolio — the quieter one
A little further east, a strip of beach with apartment towers and fewer crowds than Boca Chica. The water is less sheltered, but the beach is longer and calmer in atmosphere.
Los Tres Ojos — without leaving the city
On the east side of Santo Domingo, a set of lakes inside limestone caves, reached by stairs down through the rock. It is a short visit and an easy half day combined with the Malecón. The things to do in Santo Domingo guide covers the rest of the city.
The Pomier caves — Taíno rock art
Near San Cristóbal, west of the capital, a cave system holding thousands of drawings and carvings left by the Taíno and earlier peoples, one of the largest collections of rock art in the Caribbean. A guide is part of the visit. Go with a driver or a car, as it is awkward by public transport.
The Baní dunes — sand by the sea
Further west, near Baní, the Dunas de las Calderas are a protected area of sand dunes running down to the Caribbean. Walk up for the view; bring water, a hat and more sunscreen than you think. Combine with the Pomier caves for a full day west.
Saona Island — the long day
The white sand and palm-lined island everyone photographs is reached by boat from Bayahibe, about two hours east of the capital. From Santo Domingo it is a long day, and most tours include pickup in the city. If you can, stay a night in Bayahibe and do it without the dawn start: see the Saona Island day trip guide and the Bayahibe guide.
Jarabacoa — the mountains
About two and a half hours north, in the Cordillera Central, Jarabacoa is cooler, greener and quieter: rivers, waterfalls, rafting and coffee farms. It works as a day trip but is much better with a night. The Jarabacoa guide has the details, and Constanza is higher still if you want real mountain cold.
Getting around
- Guaguas (minibuses) go to Boca Chica and Juan Dolio cheaply from the east of the city
- Long-distance buses serve Jarabacoa and the east coast
- A driver for the day is the easy way to do the caves and dunes
- Driving yourself is possible but takes nerve in the capital — read driving in the Dominican Republic first
The wider picture is in getting around the Dominican Republic.
[CTA CARD: A Santo Domingo Local Friend can plan a day out beyond the city — and knows which beach the capital actually goes to on Sunday. Browse Local Friends →]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest beach to Santo Domingo?
Boca Chica, about half an hour east of the city and close to Las Américas airport. A reef shelters the bay, so the water is shallow and calm, which makes it popular with Dominican families at weekends. Juan Dolio, a little further east, is quieter.Can you visit Saona Island from Santo Domingo?
Yes, but it is a long day. Boats to Saona leave from Bayahibe, roughly two hours east of Santo Domingo, so you are looking at an early start and a late return. Many tours include pickup from the capital. If you can, stay a night in Bayahibe instead.Are there day trips to the mountains from Santo Domingo?
Jarabacoa, in the central mountains, is about two and a half hours north. It is cooler, green and known for rivers, waterfalls and rafting. It works as a long day trip, but it is better with a night there.Do I need a car for day trips from Santo Domingo?
Not for the closest ones. Boca Chica and Juan Dolio are reachable by bus or taxi, and Saona and Jarabacoa are covered by tours. A car, or a driver for the day, makes the Baní dunes and the Pomier caves much easier, since public transport to them is patchy.What is the best day trip from Santo Domingo for culture?
The Pomier caves near San Cristóbal hold thousands of Taíno and pre-Taíno rock drawings, one of the largest collections of rock art in the Caribbean. Inside the city, Los Tres Ojos — a set of cave lakes on the east side — is an easy half day.
