The Beach

Boca Chica Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Dominican Republic is a real show, changing of scene at any time.

Depending on the breeze, the clouds and the angle of the sun you will enjoy a lot of distinct views from the deep azure blue of the Caribbean beyond the reef, contrasting with the shallow bay, that varies between a deep sky-blue and an intense blue-green, up to an unbelievable white where the water is shallow.

If compared to the beaches along the northern coast (Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cabarete, Playa Dorada), the sand is whiter and softer and the water is calmer, clearer, and shallower.

You can find wider virgin and fantastic beaches in Las Terrenas on the north side of the Samana peninsula.

But if you are looking for a beach provided with all kind of services, come to Boca Chica.

Boca Chica, Dominican Republic is located on the southern coast of the island of Hispaniola, an island that is split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Boca Chica's beach is truly unique. Its waters make up a cove approximately 1 mile wide.

About 1/4 mile out, there is a reef in the shape of a giant semi-circle that extends from end to end and just protrudes out beyond the water's surface and completely surrounds the cove, forming a giant natural salt-water swimming pool with depths averaging 3-4 feet.

The reef acts as a natural break wall to the Caribbean Sea, so the cove is usually glass calm.

Inside the reef, the water is crystal clear, continuously filtered and fed by a series of natural underground springs.

On Sundays, the beach gets very crowded, as many Dominicans families come in from Santo Domingo to enjoy the beach, but by Monday morning the beach is empty and cleaned up of any debris left from the Sunday crowds.

Off shore and inside the reef, there are two small islands. At about the center is a mangrove named La Matica, or "Little Bush".

There is very little firm ground on this mangrove but it is home to thousands of birds called "garzas" (herons).

Many visitors enjoy wading out to the shore of the mangrove and just hanging out, as the water off-shore is only a couple feet deep and it recedes gently up along a soft and smooth sand bar.

A narrow waterway cuts through the center of the mangrove and curious visitors like to float through in a boat, just to see where it goes.

On the very far west end of the cove lies the island of Los Pinos, or "The Pines". This island is larger and has plenty of firm land.

It is somewhat polluted along the edges from all the visitors that throw trash onto the ground but few venture beyond the first 20 yards once landing on this island.

This is partly because Hurricane Georges uprooted many trees and bushes making navigation across the property difficult.

Another reason is because most people arrive with bare feet and swimsuit.

An exploration of this little island requires sturdy shoes and mosquito repellent.

Playa Andrés

Directly across from this island towards the main shore is an old but still operating sugar factory, a key source of employment for the town of Andrés, often called "Andrés de Boca Chica".

Also across the shore is a marina, home to many large yachts, a Dominican Customs facility for use by the large freighters that arrive here at the port of Andrés, and there is a good stretch of beach called Playa Andrés that covers the distance between the marina and Boca Chica Beach.

It is seldom crowded and lined with natural palm-leaf beach umbrellas and wooden slat chairs.

Playa Andrés is lined with palm leaf umbrella adorned tables.

Boca Chica - main beach

The back side of the of main section of Boca Chica Beach is lined from end to end with various businesses.

At the extreme east end is the Oasis Hamaca Resort.

The Hamaca has cordoned off their section of beach frontage with a wall and pier, although technically, the first 60 meters from the water is public property by law, all across the country. This resort is all-inclusive however, and those not wearing the tell-tale wristbands that are given to guests upon registration are prevented from entering the property via the beach by security guards.

At the center of the beach is the all-inclusive resort Don Juan Beach Resort and their associated dive company, Treasure Divers.

This is arguably the best stretch on Boca Chica Beach, and there is a pier stretching out from in front of it.

Most of the beach's water sports are centered around this pier.

At the end of the pier, and there is an open-air bar open to the public at the end of the pier (closed Mondays).

Beside the pier, you find Don Emilio Hotel straight on the beach, a boutique family-run hotel with a restaurant and bar, one of the few non-all-inclusive hotel that are directly on the beach.

Their main grounds and pool are located a couple blocks away, accessible via a private walkway, part of which is a suspended sky-walk and part of which weaves through a courtyard.

There are no other hotels directly on the beach, although there are many within 1/2 block.

Between these hotels, the beach is essentially wall-to-wall small restaurants and bars.

Many rent out beach chairs and umbrellas. Make sure you confirm the price for any item you order, including drinks and food, as visitors have been known to be overcharged.

That said, one can easily and very inexpensively spend the day on the beach with complete food and beverage service while lounging on a comfortable beach chair.