La Romana is a name on cruise itineraries and resort booking pages, and the town behind the name is not what either is selling. What is worth it is twenty minutes down the road.
The short verdict#
| You want | Worth it? |
|---|---|
| Quiet beaches, a fishing village, the boats to Saona | Yes, Bayahibe |
| Snorkelling and a day on an island | Yes, Catalina and Saona |
| Altos de Chavón, the cliff-top village and amphitheatre | Yes, a half day |
| Golf and a marina | Yes, Casa de Campo |
| The town of La Romana itself | No, little for visitors |
| The longest beaches and biggest resorts | No, that is Punta Cana |
What makes it worth it#
Bayahibe, the fishing village with calm beaches, dive shops and the morning boats to Saona (Bayahibe guide). Saona Island, the postcard beach day, which leaves from here and not from Punta Cana (Saona). Isla Catalina, the better snorkelling (Catalina). Altos de Chavón, a 16th-century-style village built in the 1970s on a cliff above the river, with an amphitheatre and a museum (Altos de Chavón). Casa de Campo, the resort with the Teeth of the Dog golf course and the marina.
What makes it not worth it#
The town: a sugar-mill city with a central park, a market, a cruise terminal and traffic. Stay in Bayahibe or Casa de Campo. Bayahibe's beaches are small and calm, not long; and the boat touts price Saona for the uninformed.
La Romana or Punta Cana#
An hour apart. La Romana side for quiet, value and the islands; Punta Cana for scale and flights. Many people do four nights in Bayahibe and three in Punta Cana, or the reverse. Punta Cana excursions worth it covers the day trips sold from both.
Cruise days#
The cruise port is in the town; Altos de Chavón is twenty minutes, Bayahibe thirty, Catalina a boat from the port. The DR cruise ports.
With a Dominican#
Roavi has no Local Friends listed in La Romana or Bayahibe yet. Post on the Community board anyway, and the Dominicans who answer, most in Santo Domingo an hour and a half away, know the coast. The Dominican Republic forum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Romana worth visiting?
For Bayahibe, Saona, Catalina and Altos de Chavón, yes. The town of La Romana itself is a working sugar city with a cruise port and little for visitors; stay in Bayahibe or Casa de Campo and use the town for supplies.Which is better, La Romana or Punta Cana?
La Romana and Bayahibe for calmer and cheaper beaches, the islands close by and fewer people. Punta Cana for the longest sand, the big all-inclusives and the most flights. They are about an hour apart, so a week can take in both.Is La Romana in Punta Cana?
No. La Romana is a separate city and province about an hour west of Punta Cana by road. Saona Island trips sold in Punta Cana actually leave from Bayahibe, in La Romana province.Is La Romana safe?
Bayahibe, Casa de Campo and Altos de Chavón are safe with ordinary care; La Romana town needs city rules. The risks are small scams and overcharging on boat trips rather than crime.