Three Charming Beaches in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

Las Terrenas is a charming beach-front town on the north coast of the Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. It has typical Dominican attractions but enjoys the European influence of a large expatriate community primarily from France, Germany and Canada. The attraction for visitors is undeniable – the beaches of Las Terrenas are wide with fine sand and Caribbean blue water.



Panoramic View of Las Terrenas Beach and Punta Popy

There are three main beaches – Las Terrenas, Punta Popy, and Playa de las Ballenas - along the main stretch of Las Terrenas you won't want to miss.

Las Terrenas Beach

Las Terrenas beach is directly to the east of downtown Las Terrenas and stretches along the road to El Portillo and El Limon the east. Las Terrenas beach begins just as you veer to the right at the end of the main road that travels into Las Terrenas over the mountain pass from Sanchez.

Las Terrenas beach looking east, Dominican Republic

Highlights of Las Terrenas Beach include a wide variety of restaurants including Dominican, Italian, German and American restaurants lining the south side of the road. Also along the road are many small hotels owned by Austrian, French, German and Dominican hosts.

If you choose to stay in one of the hotels on this stretch of beach, you must cross a paved road to get to the sand and palm trees. Crossing isn't difficult and shouldn't be a reason to avoid Las Terrenas beach. The road is lined with speed bumps so traffic moves slowly through the area. Just be sure to bring a cover-up and wear your flip-flops – and bring a beach bag to take your towel, novel and any other beach necessities with you.



Las Terrenas beach looking toward Playa Las Ballenas

You can pack a beach chair but you can also rent beach chairs on the beach. And there are an array of beach cabanas where you can buy a cuba libre or el Presidente, so you don't have to pack a cooler unless you want to.

The beach in this area is frequented by local families and visiting tourists and is wide enough for a nice stroll on the beach or a game of frisbee.

Punta Popy

As you continue along Las Terrenas beach to the east you will come to Punta Popy as the beach curves out to the sea. At this end of the beach you will find a large parking area under the palm trees and more bars than at the east end of Las Terrenas beach.

Parking under palm trees at Punta Popy

Park under the palm trees to keep your car cool in the shade and wander out to the point. This wide stretch of sand has plenty of activity but like all the beaches in this area – crowds never prevent you from finding a place to put down your towel and soak up the rays.

Punta Popy, Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

From the point, you can walk more than three miles east to El Portillo Beach along a series of shallow crescent bays. Along the way, you may encounter a few other beach combers and the occasional “coco-dog.” If your visit falls during the week, you could feel like the first person to discover this particular stretch of sand. Enjoy!

Playa Las Ballenas

As you come through downtown, if you veer to the left instead of right at the white wall that encloses El Cemetario, you will head back to the south side of Las Terrenas. Once you pass the police station on your left, you will cross a small bridge and a sharp right turn heads back to the water. The beach on this side of town is Playa Las Ballenas and it extends almost two miles to the west until you run into Punta Bonita.



Playa Las Ballenas, Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

The beach is named for the three large rocks offshore that rise out of the water like breaching whales – las ballenas. This end of the beach hosts the Las Terrenas Sailing Club and you can enjoy the sight of boats racing along the water on breezy, sunny afternoons.

Heading east from Las Terrenas Sailing Club, you encounter mostly private homes and villas that can be rented by the day or by the month. HomeAway.com is a great source to find the perfect rental.


Playa Las Ballenas, looking toward Punta Bonita, Las Terrenas

Further east, you encounter some small boutique hotels facing the water. Just like the other side of Las Terrenas, a road runs between the hotel property and the beach. They are laying a brick road from downtown out to the Sailing Club but right now the dirt road is a little rough with holes and mud. You don't need a four-wheel drive but expect some bumps along the way.

Palm trees on the beach, Playa Las Ballenas, Dominican Republic

The beach on this end is rarely crowded except for the few places where the hotels have put out their beach chairs. You will want to bring your own chair or plan to relax on the sand since there are no vendors with beach umbrellas on this end of the beach. Instead, tuck in under one of the many groves of coconut palms with your cooler. If there's not enough shade, wade into the swallow water and gentle waves to cool off when the sun gets too intense.



Fishing Boats, Playa de Las Ballenas, Dominican Republic

At the far eastern end of the beach is Fisherman's Village. As you walk the beach heading back towards town, you will notice the boats pulled up on the sand. If you arrive after 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. you will usually find the fishermen with their daily catch laid out on the makeshift tables. Beyond their boats are the beach shacks that house some of the best restaurants on the beach. You won't want to miss their seafood specialities when you're ready to head for a bite to eat after a day in the sun.