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The nearly 200-mile-long north coast of the Dominican Republic has been dubbed, variously, the “Silver Coast,” the “Amber Coast,” and the “Green Coast.” Locals often just call it “La Costa” (the coast). However you choose to refer to it, the DR’s northern shoreline, which fronts the Atlantic Ocean, is one of often startling beauty. (When explorer Christopher Columbus first saw it, he is said to have called Hispaniola the “most beautiful land on earth.”) Some of the country’s most enticing beaches and most popular resort areas lie along this stretch of coastline, which has become a playground for water lovers. The north coast presents the most varied scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities on the island and at least two of its top golf courses, as well as some of the best windsurfing in the world, propelled by afternoon breezes off the Atlantic.
Catering to visitors are a raft of all-inclusive resorts, more than a dozen of them bunched together in the walled-off compound known as Playa Dorada (“Golden Beach”), just outside the centuries-old city of Puerto Plata. Attracting hundreds of thousands of vacationers a year, Playa Dorada is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, though Punta Cana and Bávaro on the Coconut Coast have lately commandeered the title of “all-inclusive resorts capital” of the region. Still, Playa Dorada retains huge mass-market appeal, especially among Canadians and Europeans. Other north coast resort areas, such as Sosúa and Cabarete, also draw big international crowds. A beach vacation on the north coast can be an around-the-clock affair of snorkeling by day and getting snockered by night, dancing to merengue beats or perhaps hitting the roulette wheels at one of the resort casinos. Or, you can simply lie back on a beach towel or lounge chair in the time-honored fashion and take in the tropical breezes, the warming sun, and the salt air – rum punch optional.
Cabarete Beach.
Many visitors, alas, confine themselves only to the resorts. But those who don’t venture out beyond the compounds miss out on a region of tremendous diversity that’s rich in both history and natural wonders. Travelers here can visit historic parks such as La Isabela – a settlement founded by Christopher Columbus – and un-spoiled eco-parks that protect wildlife, caves, lagoons, river deltas, headlands, mesas, and mangroves. The topography ranges from the green lushness of the eastern half of the region to the increasing aridity and desert-like conditions of the far northwest. Small fishing villages add touches of atmosphere and authenticity.
A trip to the north does come with some caveats. While many of the coastal beaches are sheltered by offshore coral reefs, others are not. On the latter, waves and undertow can be strong, rendering them dangerous for swimming. The Atlantic waters can also get a bit chillier in winter than the Caribbean waters along the southern coast of the island. And you run the risk as well of getting rain here year-round, especially toward the northeast, where winters can be wetter and cooler than elsewhere in the country. One piece of good weather news is that, from summer through fall, hurricanes are generally less of a threat in the north than in the south.
Playa Encuento often sees windy weather.
