Introduction to the Dominican Republic’s Hidden Beaches
From trunk speakers blaring merengue to marketers hawking fresh mofongo, Dominicans have many talents – one thing they’re not known for is being quiet. However, when you ask them about their secret beaches, a silence spreads over their vocal cords like algae on their shores. They quickly find their words and wax freely about Punta Cana, La Romana, and Puerto Plata, the tourist traps that make Drake and Jake Gyllenhaal sunburnt.
The Secret Beaches
Then there’s something the locals only dare to murmur about: the Dominican Republic’s seven hidden beaches that are only accessible on foot. Their names are meaningful if you passed Spanish I: Playa del Amor, Playa el Ermitaño, Playas Colorada 1, Colorada 2, Playa Escondida, Playa Caletón, and La Playita.
The Journey to the Hidden Beaches
To reach these beaches, you’ll need to check in at headquarters, the Ocama Retreat, which overlooks Rincón Bay on the tranquil northeastern Samaná Peninsula. The staff organizes the trip, and with the help of a freshly tailored hiking pole and a guide like Joel Nicolás Paredes of Exotic Samaná, you’ll be able to navigate the twisted coastline. Along the way, keep an eye out for the mysterious “blue house,” where the owners offer coffee, tea, and jewelry for minimal coins.
Exploring the Cuevo de Duarte
When your energy starts to wane, there’s literally a light at the end of a tunnel: a natural skylight deep in the Cuevo de Duarte, a cave named after the Dominican Republic’s founding father, Juan Pablo Duarte. Be careful of the stalactites and enjoy the cooling darkness. You might even hear the squeaking of bats fluttering overhead.
La Playita and Caño Frío
Once you reach La Playita, you can treat yourself to a piña colada before continuing on to Caño Frío, a sodium-free river with vast mangrove forests, fed by fresh underwater springs and bordering the saline Caribbean Sea. Expect to see kids mingling here with inflatable pelican floats and shooting lots of dembow through the trees.
Perks at Ocama
Bold Move
Ocama has brought chef Fierro Pérez Castillo on board as surf and turf master, serving dishes with a little French, a little Asian, and a whole lot of Dominican flair. Chef Castillo is happy to serve his shrimp and nachos in your room or in the thatched common area called the Kai Pavilion.
On the Horizon
By law, all DR beaches are public, but Ocama’s hidden little part of Rincón Bay, Playa del Amor, is de facto all yours. The staff has dug in the sargassum, which is good news for everyone, and a permanent beach bar is opening soon this year.
Highly Rated
Ocama’s multi-story villas with kitchens come in one-, two-, and three-bedroom styles, all with private plunge pools. Just remember the steep and railless marble stairs, which allow for a free climb worthy of a Netflix special—especially if you’re visiting a few Barcelós (from $970 per night).
