Boca Chica, Dominican Republic is located on the southern coast of the island of Hispaniola, which is shared with Haiti.

Boca Chica's beach is truly unique. It is a large cove approximately 1 mile wide.

400 yards offshore the beach is protected by a reef in the shape of a giant semi-circle that extends from end to end beyond the water's surface and completely surrounds the cove, forming a giant self cleaning natural salt-water pool with depths averaging 3-4 feet.

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

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

Boca Chica Bay is a natural "swimming pool in the sea" where you can swim, walk, and catch the rays to your hearts content.

As you enter the sea from the beach the water is ankle deep. 100 yards offshore it is two or three feet deep with nothing but smooth clean sand underfoot. As one approaches the middle, there is a stretch of 100 yards or so where the water depth reaches 6 feet, but it quickly returns to just a few feet in depth and slowly decreases until it is again ankle deep as one approaches the natural reef.

This naturally calm, clear, and shallow water makes it ideal for all sorts of water sports and swimming.

It is great for paddleboats, kayaks, water skiing, banana boat rides.

Jet skis are restricted to the far end of the beach, away from the hotels and swimmers. The water is especially safe for small children.

There is a well organized dock for deep sea fishing boats in front of the Don Juan and Don Emilio Hotel beachs.

The sand along the shore varies in appearance from a light tan to white, depending on the angle of the sun.

The beach is unusually flat for easy walking, varying between 40 to 100 yards wide. There is lots of open space.

On Sundays and holidays, the beach gets can be crowded, as many Dominicans families come from Santo Domingo to enjoy the beach, but by Monday morning  the beach is quiet and tranquil and cleaned of debris left from the Sunday crowds.

The rest of the week is equally quiet until Saturday, when the beach attracts more visitors.

Off shore but inside the reef, there are two small islands. In the center is a mangrove islet named La Matica, or "Little Bush".

There is very little firm ground on this mangrove but it is home to thousands of "garzas," birds, herons in English.

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

A narrow waterway cuts through the center of the mangrove and curious visitors like to pass through it for a better look at the mangrove interior.

Los Pinos

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

It is a magnet for discarded trash along the islands shore. Hurricane Georges uprooted many trees and bushes making navigation across the property difficult so few visitors with bare feet and swimsuits venture beyond the first 20 yards into a more pristine interior.

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".

On the western shore is the Andrés Marina, home to many large yachts, and the Andres Container Port and Customs Facility for use by the large freighters that call at Puerto Andrés. Playa Andrés is a good stretch of beach used mainly by locals is located between the marina and Boca Chica Beach.

Playa Andrés is lined with natural palm leaf beach umbrellas, wooden slat chairs, and tables. It is crowded on weekends, quiet on weekdays.

Boca Chica - main beach

The beach side of Boca Chica Beach is lined from end to end with restaurants, bars, chair and umbrella rentals, and other appropriate services.

At the east end of the beach is the Hamaca & Casino Resort. The Hamaca has cordoned off their section of beach frontage with a wall and pier. Technically by law, the first 60 meters from the water is public property. However the resort is all-inclusive, and those not wearing the color coded wristbands given to guests upon registration are prevented from entering the property 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.

The last hotel beach to the west is run by the all-inclusive hotel, Dominican Bay Resort, although actually this is only their sunning area with a building that houses their disco and restaurant.

The hotels main grounds and pool are located a short distance inland but there is a direct skywalk passageway to their beach and sun area, complete with a disco and restaurant.

There are many other hotels within 1/2 block of the beach.

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 prices are fluid and can vary if not pre-negotiated.

That said, one could easily and very inexpensively spend the day on the beach with complete food and beverage service while lounging on a comfortable beach chair shaded naturally by palms or with an umbrella.