5-Day Road Trip: Santo Domingo to Bahia de las Aguilas
Who is ready for an adventure?
Boat rides, flamingos, sand surfing, larimar hunting, glamping, waterfalls, and horseback riding. All of this AND MORE are included in our epic 5-day road trip through the deep south of the Dominican Republic!
From Santo Domingo to Bahia de las Aguilas and back, this road trip through the southwest part of the country will be filled with unique scenery, adventure, and local food. The best part is…Cliff & Cove has done all of the research and planning for you to make this the ultimate road trip!
GET ON THE ROAD
Get an early start on Day 1, aiming to leave Santo Domingo by 7:30am. You can get your coffee in Santo Domingo, possibly at one of the Starbucks that have recently opened, if that’s your cup of tea (coffee). A sweet treat to go with your coffee will be at the next stop.
DULCERIA LAS MARIAS IN BANI
Stop at this bakery for some typical sweet treats to take with you for the road. They are famous for their ‘dulce de leche con coco’. We love their fig cookies (galletas de higo) and guava cookies (galletas de guayaba) ourselves. Their coconut water is also amazing and very hydrating.
If it’s mango season (May-August) make sure to grab some fresh mangos on the side of the road before entering Bani. Bani is the capital of mangos in the Dominican Republic and has more varieties than you thought existed.
SAND DUNES OF BANI
Photo Credit: @yafuisterd
Is this Dominican Republic or Dubai? Do some sand surfing, tumble down the dunes, or have the ultimate photo shoot. Arrive early to this unique spot, as the sun heats up the sand by the middle of the day. The entrance fee is just $100 DOP to explore the sand dunes of Bani.
Make sure to wear sneakers or hiking shoes with socks. Bring a scarf to protect your face from the sand on a windy day.
SALT MINE
Five minutes down the road from the Dunes are the la mina de sal or the salt mine of Bani. On a good day, you will see mountains of salt that mimic piles of snow. Explore the area to find the “pink lake”.
After this salty experience, continue down the peninsula to find Punta Salinas.
PUNTA SALINAS
Un paraiso entre dos playas
A paradise between two beaches
Punta Salinas has one beach that faces Bahia de Las Calderas and the other that faces the Caribbean Sea. These beaches are covered with fine grey sand. You can tell this used to be a popular beach spot, but the structures have not been maintained well. It doesn’t detract from the beauty of the beaches though.
LUNCH IN BANI
After sand duning and exploring, this will be a good time to take a break for a seafood lunch with a view. Near Las Salinas, there are several seaside options.
Restaurant Rincon Marino
This comedor or cafeteria, which specializes in seafood, is a quick and easy option for lunch that fits in with any budget.
Restaurant Bahia de las Piratas
This restaurant has a casual vibe and serves a variety of seafood meals with a view of the sea.
Bella Costa Social Club
If you are looking for more of a fine dining experience mixed with vacation vibes, this is your spot. Enjoy just the restaurant, or spend a minimum of $1000 DOP per person on food and beverage ($500 DOP per child) to have access to the pool.
DRIVE TO BARAHONA
Your next destination is Barahona, which is a two-hour journey from Bani. Lookout for the striking view of Ocoa Bay as you approach the town of Azua. As you drive farther south, you will notice the lush green farmland is replaced with cacti and desert-like conditions. As you approach Barahona however, the lushness returns as you pass fields of sugar cane and other crops.
Drive all the way to the Malecon in Barahona to see the heart of it all. If you are hungry, stop at Brisa’s Restaurant right on the water for a great meal. Tell them Cliff & Cove sent you!
Feel free to explore the town and head to where you are staying that night. Read our post to see a list of our suggestions for where to stay in and around Barahona.
If you still have energy and you want to go to a local beach, check out Playa Quemaito. It’s a calm, rocky beach (typical for the south), and a perfect place to relax after a long day of travel.
Look forward to less driving and more exploring today! This is the perfect day to go on an excursion with a local guide.
ADVENTURE EXCURSIONS
Take a tour of the Larimar mines
Hike to La Plaza and Cave of the Virgen
Hike the mountains around San Rafael
If you choose to do one of these excursions, go early so you will have the rest of the day to relax. OR, spend the whole day relaxing. Both sound good. Contact your guide in advance to make arrangements.
LARIMAR HUNTING AT PLAYA BAHORUCO
The larimar mines are in the hills of Bahoruco. The rivers that flow from those hills, end at the ocean at Playa Bahoruco.
Drive to this small town and park and walk to the beach. As your eyes start to adjust to the extreme brightness, you will start to see small larimar rocks mixed in with the white stones on the beach. This is such a fun thing to do and makes for a nice collection to bring home. You may have some young locals that will come and start helping you find larimar. Give them a tip for their help!
VILLA MIRIAM
Villa Miriam is a private property with beautiful pools that were formed from the river water. You can learn more about this property in our in-depth post on the area.
The entrance fee is $300 DOP. It is best to go here between 11 am-2 pm, as the sun shines on this piece of paradise in the jungle. You will want some sunshine as you take a dip into these cold water pool!
SAN RAFAEL LOOKOUT POINT
Just up the road from Villa Miriam is the mirador de San Rafael. This is one of those obligatory picture spots! This photo will prove that you have truly been to the Deep South of the Dominican Republic.
There is a larimar jewelry shop at the lookout point. Pick up a unique souvenir from the area, owned by local entrepreneur, Raylin. Learn more about him and the goals he has to help his community here.
SAN RAFAEL BEACH
Down the hill from Villa Miriam is San Rafael Beach. This is a chance to enjoy the river and the ocean all in one. It’s also a great place to get some good seafood or a yummy snack or cold beer. Wrapping up the day here is a good idea, as the sun goes down. More about San Rafael beach can be found in this post.
Get a good night’s sleep tonight, as tomorrow is another big driving day.
Today is the day! Bahia de las Aguilas! One of the top beaches in the Dominican Republic.
This drive is beautiful and diverse! For most of the drive, the road hugs the cliff which results in some incredible views. The shades of blue of the ocean vary from a deep color to turquoise to a milky light blue. The waters seem to mimic the varying shades of blue found in the larimar stone. You will pass the wind farms of Enriquillo, and then the desert as you approach the Pedernales area.
BAHIA DE LAS AGUILAS
From Barahona, Cabo Rojo, the access point to Bahia de las Aguilas or Bay of the Eagles, is about a 3 hour drive. To fully enjoy your time on this beach, it’s best to start early, with the goal of arriving at Cabo Rojo by 9-10 am. So plan your departure time from where you are staying accordingly.
As you plan your trip to Bahia de las Aguilas, reference our comprehensive guide to learn about how to get there, what to bring, and what to expect.
Photo credit: Ecolodge Cueva de las Aguilas
Staying over in Cabo Rojo or Pedernales is ideal this night. We highly recommend the glamping option, even for those who are not experienced campers (like me!). Check out the glamping, camping, and hotel options here.
If you decide to camp or glamp, don’t miss the sunset over the ocean!
If you stayed near the beach, you may be interested in a morning swim in the crystal clear waters of Cabo Rojo. Enjoy breakfast at the beach at the glamp site.
If you are staying in Pedernales, check out this option for breakfast in town:
Shop 69
This modern convenient store is easily found on the main road of Pedernales. In addition to snacks and drinks, they also serve Dominican and American-style breakfast options.
After breakfast, get on the road to fully enjoy the rest of today’s activities.
ARROYO SALADO
Right off the main road in Oviedo, about an hour east of Cabo Rojo is a tranquil natural pool area called, Arroyo Salado. Pull over for a quick picture. I don’t think you will be able to resist a quick dip though.
OVIEDO LAGOON
If you didn’t already know about this place, it’s time you do! Laguna Oviedo or Oviedo Lagoon is in Jaragua National Park. It’s a truly unique place and a natural habitat for an abundance of wildlife The yellow/pale green color of the lake water is due to the limestone sediment at the bottom. Your captain will show you where you can have a DIY natural spa treatment using this sediment.
This is an amazing spot for bird watchers. Be on the lookout for American Flamingos, as this is the only place in the Dominican Republic they call home. Check out our full post about Oviedo Lagoon here.
Photo credit: Cafe con Leche Tours
Visit the nature center at Laguna Oviedo for more information and to book a tour directly with them that ranges from 30 min - 3 ½ hours.
Where are you heading this afternoon? That depends on you. If you think you want to spend more time in Barahona and the surrounding area, you could spend your last night here.
If you are ready for more new sights, head an hour past Barahona, back to Azua for the night, specifically to Altos de La Caobita Ecolodge.
It’s time to choose your adventure! (Remember those books?)
Day 5a: Azua
You choose Azua…the adventure through the deep south continues with new places!
Altos de La Caobita Ecolodge is a destination on its own. After a busy 5 days, you may just want to hang out poolside enjoying the amazing view of Ocoa Bay from the hills of Caobita…we wouldn’t blame you. Although, make sure to wake up to see the sunrise. Then you can go back to sleep.
LA CAOBITA BEACH
If you still have some adventure left in you, Altos de La Caobita offers excursions that leave directly from the hotel. Take a boat to explore the islets and mangroves at the beach (Playa La Caobita) below, or take a guided horseback ride through the mountains.
WINERY AND GOAT FARM
If you have the time, you may choose to extend your trip. Staying here an extra night or two may be just what you need to finish off this epic 5-day road trip in a relaxing way. If you do spend more time in Azua, we recommend visiting Ocoa Bay Winery for a meal paired with a glass of wine in a gorgeous setting or enjoy a full tour (1.5 hours) that includes wine and tapas.
Nearby the winery is also, Rancho Caprache, a goat farm that sells artisanal goat cheese. For $100 DOP ( $2 USD), you can book a tour that includes feeding the baby goats on Saturdays and Sundays.
Day 5b: Barahona
You choose Barahona! You can’t go wrong with spending more time exploring this beautiful area.
If you really loved a spot you visited during the last 4 days and want to spend more time there, today is the day to do that.
LOS PATOS RIVER & BEACH
If you didn’t stop at Los Patos in the previous days, make that a visit for sure today! Like San Rafael, at Los Patos you can either hang out in the cold river water or play in the waves. This is a great place to go for lunch as well and enjoy a plate of fried fish.
BEACHES OF BARAHONA
If you don’t want to drive as far as Los Patos, Playa Quemaito, Playa Saladilla (pictured below) or San Rafael may be where you want to spend your last day in the south.
DRIVE TO SANTO DOMINGO
Make your way back to Santo Domingo taking advantage of those roadside stands for fresh produce or local artisanal products.
Keep in mind that the journey back to Santo Domingo from Barahona is approximately 3 hours and you don’t want to be driving that journey in the dark.
You have done it! 5 days exploring the most underrated part of the Dominican Republic. Now you know why we do what we do…the Deep South is amazing!
“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
