Bahia de las Aguilas

Bahia de las Aguilas is what Caribbean beaches looked like before hotels: an eight-kilometre arc of fine white sand inside Jaragua National Park, backed by dry limestone cliffs and cactus scrub, with no buildings, no loungers, no music and usually almost nobody. The water is shallow, clear and calm, and the emptiness is legally protected - development has been fought off for decades. Getting there is deliberately awkward: a small boat ride from the fishing hamlet of La Cueva, or a jolting drive on a rough track, both of which are part of why the sand stays as it is.

What's there

• The empty arc of sand - eight kilometres with no development at all.
• The boat approach - the short crossing along cliffs from La Cueva.
• Jaragua National Park - dry forest, iguanas and seabird colonies around it.
• Cabo Rojo - the pale mineral-loading bay near the boat launch.

When to go

The drier winter months from November to April give the calmest water and the most reliable boat crossings. This corner of the island is hot and arid year round. Weekends bring Dominican day visitors, which is still a fraction of a normal Caribbean beach crowd; midweek can mean having kilometres to yourself.

Things to know

There is nothing here - no shade beyond a couple of shelters, no shops, no drinking water - so bring everything, including more water than you think and an umbrella if you burn. Boats are the practical access, priced per boat rather than per person; joining others splits the cost. It is a very long drive from the main resort areas, so treat it as an overnight from Barahona or Pedernales rather than a day trip.

Nearby

Jaragua National Park, Cabo Rojo and the Barahona coast road further north.

Key facts