Cabrera offers its visitors a wide variety beaches all within easy reach of the town and this is one of the major attractions of this part of the Dominican Republic. Here you can find beaches with large expanses of sand with palm trees almost to the water’s edge or small secluded coves nestling between the towering cliffs. There are beaches for surfing, beaches for snorkeling and beaches where the water is calm and shallow and exceptionally safe for small children. For the most part all the beaches here are not commercialized and where there are restaurants or gift shops they are located discretely away from the beach itself so as not to spoil the views or desecrate the landscape.
The beaches listed below are by no means not the only ones which can be reached from Cabrera as there are several others, some without even a name, to be found along this coastal area, but these beaches are all within a few minutes’ drive from the town and relatively easy to find and gain access.
Playa Entrada provides some three kilometers of golden sand fringed with palm trees and is totally unspoilt. There are safe coves here as well as good surfing and windsurfing areas. The beach is fairly narrow so when the tide is in there is very little space left. To one side there is a deserted village and a picture postcard island so close to the shore it is swimable, however the undertow here is quite strong so unless you are a particularly strong swimmer trying to reach it is not recommended. Playa Entrada beach has virtually no commercial vendors except in the area known as “La Boca” where a river reaches the beach, so take a large cool box with you filled with your favorite drinks and something to eat while you are there.
Enclosed between two headlands Playa Diamante beach offers very safe bathing for all the family. Protected from the Atlantic and with water merging with the sea from an underground river the beach is a wide expanse of sand where the depth of water is very shallow for up to 100 meters from the shore. The water in this enclosed bay is normally completely calm and crystal clear making it extremely safe for even very young children to enjoy. There is a small bar/restaurant on the beach serving drinks and meals with the specialty being fresh fish or lobster and it is also possible to rent a small boat to explore the water’s edge further from the shoreline. This beach is popular with the locals at the weekends, especially with families who can enjoy a drink and a meal whilst watching their children playing safely in the water.
The ½ kilometer long golden sand beach at Orchid Bay is home to some of the most beautiful villas in the Caribbean and it is easy to understand why the owners have chosen to build their properties above this beach. Dotted with coco palms and tropical plants it is very picturesque and swimmable at some points. Although publicly accessible (as all Dominican Republic beaches are), the beach at Orchid Bay is largely unused except for residents or guests staying in one of the villas and therefore very pristine and enjoyable. If you are renting one of the villas the staff will happily serve drinks or food to you on the beach but if you are visiting you will need to bring these with you as there are no facilities here.
Playa El Breton beach is one of the hidden treasures of this area known only to the locals. Located inside the Cabo Francis Viejo National Park in Abreu-Breton, just outside Cabrera, and enclosed by towering white sea cliffs, this secluded beach offers great scenery and is a perfect destination for beachcombing. You never know what may have been washed up onto the beach here and children will love collecting seashells. At times the force of the sea crashing between the cliffs can make swimming here risky so unless it is a calm day best left to strong swimmers.
Playa Preciosa Beach is frequently overlooked by people as they make their way to the better known Playa Grande which is both a pity and a big mistake. Playa Preciosa, the Precious Beach, fully lives up to its name. This is a beautiful expanse of golden sand surrounded by some of the most picturesque palm trees you could imagine. Completely unspoilt it remains today exactly as it would have been when first discovered centuries ago.
Just off the headland between Playa Preciosa and Playa Grande is regarded as one of the best board surfing locations in the Dominican Republic. If you are a surfing enthusiast, or just like to watch, this is an excellent beach to visit. Playa Preciosa is also listed by kite boarding enthusiasts.
Playa Grande is, without doubt, the most well known of all the beaches in the Cabrera area and a must see and visit for any visitor here. Voted one of the world’s top ten beaches by Conde Nast Travel Magazine Playa Grande is 1.5 Km of soft powdery sand fringed by tall coconut palms enclosed by cliffs formed from corals. Depending on conditions the sea can be flat calm or with large waves and sufficient surf for surf or body boarding.
Playa Grande does have some small restaurants discretely located at the back of the beach and out of sight. The vendors will entice you with cold refreshing drinks, fresh seafood platters and salads served either in front of their local or brought to you on the beach along with tables and chairs of course. Busier at weekends, as this is a popular beach with the locals, it is still possible to find a quiet spot to sit and relax, enjoying the view and listening to the soothing sound of the waves lapping the shore.
Strictly speaking Playa Caleton beach is a Rio San Juan beach but is still only 15 minutes or so away from Cabrera and is well worth the journey. Locally referred to as La Playita or The Lovers Beach it is a delightful cove of white sand surrounded by mangrove forest. The water here is calm and clear making it safe for children and ideal for snorkeling. Enclosed between two forest covered headlands it is a sheltered and romantic beach which the locals enjoy at the weekends. There are some facilities on Playa Caleton so cool drinks and fresh fish meals are available along with other traditional Dominican foods.
