Any feedback on Bayahibe Beach?

[cruisinfromohio]

We will be in La Romana in late September. Are debating between Dreams and Bayahibe. Love to snorkel but have our own gear. Fairly low maintenance group of 18 with varying ages. Trying to decide if it is worth $60 for Dreams or if Bayahibe will work just as well for us - for much less cost.

[cruisinfromohio]

Just wondering if anyone has taken kids to Bayahibe beach. We will have 7 kids ages 7-14. Can't decide if Bayahibe is fine or if it is worth the $$$ for Dreams.

[lifesabeach123]

There will be more for the kids to do at Dreams than on the public beach next door... water trampoline, iceberg (rubber climbing pyramid in the pool), Core Zone for teens, Explorers Club for smaller kids, kayaks, hobbie cats. Plus clean bathrooms!

 

http://www.dreamsresorts.com/drelr/core-zone.html

[Leslie K]

Bayahibe Beach is beautiful. Water is pretty calm. cost me $60 for 2 from pier (casa de campo). there are rental chairs/umbrellas. Shops are basic 4 walls and roof - at least when we were there 4 years ago the shops were simple shacks. Not aware of snorkeling options. Entertainment for kids is what you normally do at a beach - did not have water toys.

[cruisinfromohio]

Thanks for the feedback! There just doesn't seem to be a lot of information about this area so I appreciate the input. Either way we decide, I am sure we will have a great time. It looks like La Romana is a beautiful place!

[lifesabeach123]

Some photos of Bayahibe's main public beach which is right next door to Dreams La Romana's beach

 

Map of the Bayahibe http://bayahibesup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/BAYAHIBE-MAP-NEW.jpg

 

It's a nice beach with plenty of natural shade. Toilets are rustic (bring your own toilet paper). Water is calm and turquoise, sand is soft and light golden brown.

 

Taxi from port takes around 15 minutes. $US60 per minivan 1-5 passengers additional at $US10pp (max usually 9). Pay driver on return trip. They usually wait at port until the taxi is full before setting off. Ask for Bayahibe beach as there is another beach called Dominicus a further 5 minutes away and IMO it's not as nice.

 

From Bayahibe beach you can walk 5 minutes into the village and see the other small bay - plenty of inexpensive restaurants around.

Issamar is good for fresh fish lunch

Cafecito Cubanas also good does great mojitos (closed on Tuesdays)

Doña Claras does yummy prawns in creole sauce with rice also tasty lobster (700rd $US17 for a large portion of 3 halves)

Saona Cafe good for burgers, club sandwiches, cold beers or iced coffees.

There's a cafe (to the right of Y on map) great coffee and amazing home made lemon cake.

 

Plenty of gift shacks on both public beach and in town. Visit the local supermarket for cheap coffee to take home (Cafe Santo Domingo is good, comes in a white bag). There's a fruit stall (see Q on the map) that sells refreshing sliced fresh fruit, drizzle of honey is optional.

 

For snorkeling see map - just be careful crossing the boat channel. Best area is to the side of the wooden jetty at Dreams - you can duck under Dreams swim zone rope and walk in the water to the jetty. Bring your own masks. Pamela gift shop (right behind BayahibeSUP) sells them for around $US20 I think.

 

Beach vendors can be persistent but a firm "no gracias" should do the trick.

 

Bayahibe Fishing Centre can organise boat trips to Saona and short boat trips for local snorkeling or fishing http://www.bayahibefishingcentre.com/ reservations in advance recommended.

Bayahibe SUP offers Stand Up Paddle Boarding (Bayahibe is perfect for learning SUP with flat, crystal clear water) again reservations in advanced required http://bayahibesup.com

Seavis and ProExcursions both offer Saona tours - reservations in advance.

Seavis uses speed boats, ProExcursions use small catamarans.

TIP: For any of the above tours avoid asking directions from the beach vendors as they will give you an inflated price to cover their commission for taking you there :-(

Las Palmas Cigar Factory is on route to Bayahibe.

 

Have fun!

[Cigar Dude]

Hey Lifesabeach123,

 

Regarding Bayahibe Beach, are there any chairs or is it rustic; bring your own towels, etc.

 

Tell me more about the Las Palmas cigar factory. You say it's on the way to the beach?

[lifesabeach123]

Bayahibe public beach: they have sun loungers to rent, sorry don't know the price. Bring your own towel. The facilities are rustic ie no showers, and the toilet is in a corrugated tin shack - bring own toilet paper/paper napkins.

[lifesabeach123]

On 1st September 2012 Tabacalera Garcia (the cigar factory next to La Romana Port) opened their new and improved La Flor Dominicana Cigar Factory. Located in La Estancia, on the road between the port and Bayahibe village.

 

Comprises a Visitors Center, Cigar Factory and Cigar Megastore.

 

open 8am to 7pm all week.

closed xmas day, new years day and Restoration Day (the Sunday nearest 16 Aug)

 

Cigar Megastore shopping (entry is free) must be 18years and over to buy.

 

Tours:

30 minutes Enthusiasts 5$US pp

watch and learn about hand made rolling and packing etc

 

60 minute Cigar Tasting basics 30$US pp

 

Reservations needed 1 day before.

Tel: +1 809 550 3000

Email: info@cigarcountrytours.com

 

send them:

your name and phone number

arrival time at port

date and desired tour time

number of visitors

language

 

La Flor Dominicana Cigar Factory at La Estancia is less than 10 minutes from La Romana Port on the new Coral Highway and a further 8 minutes to Bayahibe village.

 

Website http://www.laspalmascigar.com It's been down for a few days now. But they are def still open.

 

Here's an old 2009 article about the old factory http://casadecampoliving.com/2009/11/la-tabacelera-garcia-now-offers-factory-tours-to-all-in-casa-de-campo/

[blondietink]

Just wondering if anyone has taken kids to Bayahibe beach. We will have 7 kids ages 7-14. Can't decide if Bayahibe is fine or if it is worth the $$$ for Dreams.

 

Just so you are prepared (or your kids are prepared) beaches in the DR allow topless sunbathing and from our experience, many women participate.

 

Also, all beaches are public, even those in front of resorts, unless Dreams has some special privacy.We stayed in the north DR a couple of years ago in a large resort complex with many different all-inclusive hotels in the complex. there were guards at all the entrances to the resorts, but that did not stop the locals from walking along the beach and settling in front of the resort areas. They could charge the locals/tourists for using their chairs/loungers/restrooms, etc. but could not throw them off their beach. If it is a weekend or holiday when you visit, expect plenty of locals at the beach also.

[lifesabeach123]

Just so you are prepared (or your kids are prepared) beaches in the DR allow topless sunbathing and from our experience, many women participate.

 

Also, all beaches are public, even those in front of resorts, unless Dreams has some special privacy.We stayed in the north DR a couple of years ago in a large resort complex with many different all-inclusive hotels in the complex. there were guards at all the entrances to the resorts, but that did not stop the locals from walking along the beach and settling in front of the resort areas. They could charge the locals/tourists for using their chairs/loungers/restrooms, etc. but could not throw them off their beach. If it is a weekend or holiday when you visit, expect plenty of locals at the beach also.

 

Yes it is true that all beaches in the DR are public - by law the first 60 meters, from the high water mark, of any beach is public property.

Law 305 of 1968 states the following:

“Art. 49.- It will be subject to maritime navigation, as well as to any other public use established by Executive regulation, the strip of land called the “Maritime Zone,” meaning that which is parallel to the sea, 60 meters wide, measured from the line reached by the normal high tide inland, and comprising, except for those property rights in existence, all the Dominican coast and beaches. Said zone comprises rivers and currents, navigable lagoons and lakes up to the line where they are affected by the tides. The maritime zone is part of the public domain, as well as the zone of the tides, that is, the portion of land found between the high water and low water marks.”

 

However, the President can authorise concessions that restricts access - that's how the hotels and private properties have got around this law.

 

Dreams La Romana's hotel beach is right next to the public beach. The boundary is patrolled by friendly and polite security guards with excellent memories for faces! They will politely question any person crossing the boundary that they do not recognise as a guest. DLR doesn't use plastic wrist bands to identify guests. Any "locals" on DLRs beach will be paying guests like yourself.

 

No resort in Bayahibe, Dominicus or Punta Cana will allow non-guests to pay to use sunloungers etc unless they have purchased a day pass.

[lifesabeach123]

Here's the working website link for La Flor Cigar Factory in La Estancia and Tabacalera de Garcia in La Romana

http://www.cigarcountrytours.com/

[duffyswann]

There is also the Saona Speical - $80 Pp but you also get a free buffet lunch and about two hours beach time

[neptuno]

We will be in La Romana in late September. Are debating between Dreams and Bayahibe. Love to snorkel but have our own gear. Fairly low maintenance group of 18 with varying ages. Trying to decide if it is worth $60 for Dreams or if Bayahibe will work just as well for us - for much less cost.

 

Playa Mayagan about five minute walk east of Bayahibe is recommended by tank divers right from shore. Very beautiful, small, off the beaten cruise tour path. No facilities, very rustic, one lady selling drinks in a local stand on the dirt path. Check the wind, a south wind will stir up and prevent good visibility. Typical easterly trades should leave the waters crystal clear. Our kids snorkelled right in Bayahibe town by the fishing boats because the surf was up at Mayagan. Cruise dock van is $60us RT for up to five people. Guagua from stand just west of the river bridge is only $1.50pp each way, may work for 18 people(they cram 18 locals into it) because you will have to wait in a long line for the expensive vans inside the cruise compound.