THE SOUTHEAST

Opulent tourism and bucolic Dominican life strangely coexist in the southeast region of the Dominican Republic. It is still not uncommon to see a motorcade of tour buses slowing down on the highway behind an oxen-driven cartload of sugarcane. It wasn’t until the latter part of the 20th century that tourism really took off in this section of the republic, and the one-time rookie region quickly became the nation’s leading economic powerhouse, overthrowing the incumbent Puerto Plata on the north coast as the favorite destination for travelers looking for paradise. The agricultural, livestock, and sugarcane industries that once ruled the area have had to bow down to the powerful allure of the pristine beaches, which have become the livelihood of the area and the country. But along with the mushrooming all-inclusive resorts along the southeastern coastline and Costa del Coco, the job opportunities for Dominicans have increased as well.

The southeast region’s main tourism areas—including Bayahibe along the Caribbean coast and La Costa del Coco of the Atlantic side—deliver what many visitors expect from a Caribbean vacation: exquisite beaches, first-class snorkeling, catamaran rides, phenomenal golf courses, and luxurious accommodations. Their all-inclusive resorts are famous for being the best bargains in the Caribbean, and indeed, a good portion of the southeastern coastline is lined with these mega-complexes, boasting the largest number of hotel rooms in the country.

In addition to all of the tourist development, the southeast is home to two of the nation’s larger national parks, Parque Nacional del Este and Parque Nacional Los Haitises, and ecotourism is enjoying a steady rise in popularity. Visitors can hike miles of unspoiled beaches and forests, paddle boats through mangroves in search of manatees, keep their eyes open for endemic and rare land animals (such as the rat-like solenodon), and take bird-watching excursions. The Parque Nacional del Este, found where the waters of the Atlantic Ocean meet the Caribbean Sea, is an intensely hot and dry expanse, and the vastly different Los Haitises (as it is commonly referred to) is a mangrove-lined tropical forest with a plush interior. Limestone caves dot both of these parks, protecting the ancient Taíno drawings found within many of them. A day of exploration to these caves is a trip back to a time when the Spanish conquistadors and native inhabitants of the islands were making their first impressions on each other, some of which is documented on the walls within.

The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Tourism is profoundly proud of the development of the tourism industry in this area, and it focuses much of its marketing attention on the maintenance and future of the area. Lately that has included the protection and development of ecofriendly tour options. Those looking for posh accommodations and isolation within the luxurious bubbles of all-inclusives will be perfectly satisfied with their choice to travel to the southeast. While there are indeed other, more independent-traveler-friendly areas of the Dominican Republic, those who seek unique experiences will not be disappointed either.

Bayahibe and Dominicus Beaches: The plush white sand, tall coconut trees, and turquoise waters of these beaches are drawing tourists in ever-increasing numbers. Yet, the towns of Bayahibe and Dominicus Americanus remain laid-back and quiet. (read more)

Isla Saona: This island is part of the Parque Nacional del Este and is the most popular day trip taken by tourists vacationing in the southeast or Costa del Coco regions. After a boat trip through the crystalline waters where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, visitors can enjoy the powdery white-sand beaches of this picture postcard of an island. (read more)

La Piscina Natural: It doesn’t seem right, but you can sit in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. La Piscina is a starfish-inhabited sandbar off the southwestern coast of the Parque Nacional del Este’s peninsula. It’s a hit with excursion boats taking visitors to Isla Saona. Although it can get quite congested with tourists, it is worth a short visit to bathe in the ultra-tranquil clear and balmy water. (read more)

Parque Nacional del Este: This arid national park occupies almost the entire southeastern peninsula. It holds evidence of Taíno life; ruins, cave drawings, and burial sites have recently been discovered. This park is also home to some 539 species of flora, 144 types of birds, and the endangered bottle-nosed dolphins and manatees frolicking offshore. (read more)

Parque Nacional Los Haitises: This is a treat for the ecocurious traveler. You enter the park by boat through the semi-spooky, mangrove-studded coastline. More than 750 species of plants, 110 species of birds, bats, and even the endangered manatee are at home in the extensive cave systems and lagoons throughout the park. (read more)