Bayahibe is where the Saona boats leave from, and most people who pass through it on a bus from Punta Cana wish they had stayed.
The short verdict#
| You want | Worth it? |
|---|---|
| A fishing village, calm water, a few restaurants on the sand | Yes |
| Diving and snorkelling | Yes, the best in the DR |
| Saona and Catalina without the bus from Punta Cana | Yes |
| Long beaches, big resorts, nightlife | No, Dominicus next door or Punta Cana |
What makes it worth it#
The village: a small bay, boats, fish restaurants on the sand, a church, no strip. The diving: the reefs and wrecks of the Parque Nacional del Este, with dive shops in the village. Saona Island, the morning boats from the pier (Saona). Isla Catalina for snorkelling (Catalina). The beaches, small and sheltered. The Bayahibe guide.
What makes it not worth it#
The beaches are short; Dominicus, the resort beach next door, is the long one. There is little nightlife and no town to speak of. The Saona touts on the beach price for tourists; book in a shop.
How far, how long, when#
An hour from Punta Cana airport, thirty minutes from La Romana (is La Romana worth visiting). Three or four days, or half a week paired with Punta Cana. December to April for the weather, calm seas most of the year on this sheltered coast.
With a Dominican#
Roavi has no Local Friends listed in Bayahibe yet. Post on the Community board; the Dominicans who answer, most in Santo Domingo, know the coast and the dive shops. The Dominican Republic forum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bayahibe worth visiting?
Yes, for a quiet fishing village with calm beaches, the best diving in the Dominican Republic and the Saona and Catalina boats at your door. Not for long beaches, nightlife or a resort strip.How far is Bayahibe from Punta Cana?
About an hour by road from Punta Cana airport, and thirty minutes from La Romana. It is in La Romana province, not in Punta Cana, even though Saona trips are sold from Punta Cana and bus people here.Is Bayahibe safe?
Yes, a small village with ordinary care; the risks are the sea and overpriced boat trips rather than crime. Book Saona and dives with a shop in the village, not a tout on the beach.Bayahibe or Punta Cana?
Bayahibe for calm, diving, the islands and a village; Punta Cana for the longest beaches, the resorts, nightlife and the most flights. Many people split a week between the two.