14 Best Sights in North Coast, Dominican Republic

This dramatic mile-long stretch is widely considered to be one of the top beaches in the world. Many a photo shoot has been staged at this picture-perfect beach with off-white sands and turquoise water. Just east of the famous golf course of the same name, Playa Grande's drama comes from craggy cliffs dropping into the crystalline sea. Shade can be found in the palm trees that thicken into Parque Nacional Cabo Francés Viejo, a jungle preserve south of the beach.

Vendors sell from cutesy, brightly painted Victorian-style huts and have relocated to one end of the beach, where a large parking area was constructed. Security is present, and there are clean restrooms. Surfboards, paddleboards, and boogie boards are for rent—although the surf can swell, it can also be smooth. Two luxury resorts can be found nearby: the Playa Grande Beach Club, just behind the beach and screened by a palm-frond fence, as well as the newer Amanera. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

Named for all the kitesurfing that goes on here, Kite Beach is therefore fairly hazardous for those who just want to swim. On the sand you'll see instructors teaching new students how to work the lines that hold the wind foil—the colorful "kite." Experienced kiters are like poetry in motion, and it's mesmerizing to watch them. The windy month of March is prime time. Kite Beach passes a sandy peninsula at its east end and becomes Playa Cabarete. There are restaurants and bars on the beach for "fuel." Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; surfing; kitesurfing; windsurfing.

Named for all the kitesurfing that goes on here, Kite Beach is therefore fairly hazardous for those who just want to swim. On the sand you'll see instructors teaching new students how to work the lines that hold the colorful "kite." Experienced kiters are like poetry in motion, and it's mesmerizing to watch them. It is windy most of the year, but September through the beginning of December tend to have the lightest wind days. Kite Beach passes a sandy peninsula at its east end and becomes Playa Cabarete. There are restaurants and bars on the beach for "fuel." Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; kitesurfing; stand-up paddleboarding

Orchid Bay Beach is the large public beach within Orchid Bay Estates. It's seldom used by anyone but the residents of Orchid Bay villas, but there is a public road just to the left of the "Orchid Bay" sign. Very picturesque, it's swimmable in a couple of choice locations. The beach is named for the wild orchids that grow on the cliffs and drop to the sea, and almond trees growing in the sand emit a lovely aroma. This is the good life. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

This is the main business district of Cabarete. If you follow the coastal road east from Playa Dorada, you can't miss it. The beach, which has strong waves after a calm entrance, and ideal, steady wind (from 15 to 20 knots), is an integral part of the international kitesurfing circuit. Segments of this long beach are strips of sand punctuated only by palm trees. The regeneration of Cabarete Beach was a massive engineering project that made the beach some 115 feet wider, adding an infusion of white sand. In the most commercial area, restaurants and bars are back-to-back, spilling onto the sand. The informal scene is young and fun, with expats and tourists from everywhere. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming; windsurfing; kitesurfing.

This small, 500-foot-long beach about 2 miles (3 km) east of Río San Juan has virtually no waves in its shallow water. Its clear, protected water and nearby caves make it superb for snorkeling (though the caves shouldn't be entered for safety reasons). The beach is off-white and protected by rocky cliffs. It's a good family beach for just playing around in the water. Look for the whimsical human-head statues in the cliffs overlooking the water that give the area an Easter Island feel. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

This long stretch of golden sand is good for swimming, and a bit of wave action provides an opportunity for surfing. Locals mainly use the public area, particularly on Sunday. To the immediate north are Ocean World and its marina. To the south, a five-minute walk in the sand, is a semiprivate beach for the Cofresí Palm Beach resort. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

Playa Diamante is an estuary, formed where an underground river delivers freshwater into the ocean bubbling up through the clayish sand. The result is a shallow, protected area with virtually no currents, making it the perfect beach for families with children. The protected inlet points toward the southeast, so there are no waves. A striking beach, Playa Diamante is broad and shallow for up to 200 feet into the ocean. A narrow, paved road off the highway makes for easy access. Vendors rent beach chairs and sell beer and some food. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Playa Dorada is one of the island’s most established resort areas. Each hotel has its own slice of the beach, which is covered with soft nearly white sand. Reefs for snorkeling are right offshore. Gran Ventana Beach Resort, which is on a point, marks the easternmost end of the beach, followed by Casa Colonial and Blue Bay Villa Doradas. If you're not staying at one of the resorts in the Playa Dorada complex, then it's best to enter the beach before this point. Zealous hotel security guards try to keep you off "their" stretch of beach, but by law they cannot if you walk along the water's edge. They can, however, keep you off the chaise longues and the resort's property. This is a good swimming beach with mild wave action. Amenities: none (though resorts on the beach offer full service). Best for: fishing; swimming; walking; kitesurfing; windsurfing.

Close to Cabrera within Parque Nacional Cabo Francis, Playa El Bretón is near a perfect beach for swimming, playing, searching for seashells, and snorkeling. It's tucked back into an east-facing cove and is better protected than many North Shore beaches. It has no facilities, and is unspoiled, quiet, and uncluttered. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Playa Encuentro is the area's main surfing beach as the shoals here create massive waves. Bodyboarding is big, too, with a less steep learning curve. It's recommended to be a strong swimmer, for currents are mighty, and you must be careful of the rocks. However, there are parts where beginner surfers take lessons in chest-height water. For general beaching, the other two in town are the ones to visit. Just down the beach is Natura Cabana with its oceanfront restaurants. Amenities: none. Best for: surfing; walking.

At almost 2 miles (3 km) long, northeast-facing Playa Entrada is one of the North Coast's longest beaches. and one of the least visited. However, that means the beach is exceptionally pristine and unspoiled, and the site of several movie location shoots. Though technically in La Entrada, it's part of Cabrera. You'll find some shade under the trees. A few beach shacks might be selling cold drinks and Dominican snacks on weekends, but don't depend on it. Near the middle of the beach you'll see a small island that's close enough to swim to; however, the currents here can be fierce, so why chance it. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: solitude; surfing; walking.

Just east of Playa Grande, Playa Preciosa (formerly Playa Navio) is a local favorite due to its beauty. You have to descend a sandy bank to reach the completely open beach, which has excellent conditions for break surfing. These same conditions can make for some dangerous currents, so be extremely careful of undertows and riptides when swimming here. There are no lifeguards, so don't go in alone. It is nearly deserted on weekdays, and the views are stunning. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; surfing; walking.

This long stretch of beach on Sosúa Bay, renowned for its coral reefs and dive sites, is a 20-minute drive east of Puerto Plata. Here, calm waters gently lap at a shore of soft, golden sand. Swimming is delightful—except after a heavy rain, when litter floats in. But beware of sea urchins in the shallow water—beach shoes are definitely recommended—and bring your own mask and snorkel if possible. You can see mountains in the background, the cliffs that surround the bay, and seemingly miles of coastline. Snorkeling from the beach can be good, but the best spots are offshore, closer to the reefs. The beach is backed by a string of tents where hawkers push souvenirs, snacks, drinks, and water-sports equipment rentals. The weekend scene here is incredible—local families pack the beach, and the roar of Dominican fun fills the air. Don't bring valuables or leave your belongings unattended. There is a small parking area on the beach's north end at the south end of La Puntilla Street. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.