Bayahibe Holidays

Bayahibe is a former fishing village on the Dominican Republic's south coast where the diving is world-class, the beaches are Blue Flag (with white sand), and the all-inclusive resorts let you switch off so completely you'll forget what day it is.

Highlights of your Holiday to Bayahibe

• Dominicus Beach - A Blue Flag beach with soft white sand and shallow turquoise water that stays calm enough for toddlers to paddle in, backed by palm trees and beach bars.

• World-Class Diving - Over 30 dive sites sitting just offshore, including coral reefs, underwater caves, and the St George wreck. Bayahibe is recognised as one of the best dive spots in the entire Caribbean.

• Saona Island - The big day out everyone talks about. A catamaran ride through turquoise shallows to a postcard-perfect island with no cars, no crowds, and rum punch served from a floating bar in waist-deep water.

• Proper Dominican Culture - Bayahibe started life as a fishing village and still feels like one. Locals play dominoes on the seafront, fishermen bring in the catch every morning, and the family-run restaurants along the waterfront serve food you won't find at the buffet.

Good to Know - Bayahibe Holidays

• ☀️ Weather - Bayahibe gets over 300 days of sunshine a year with temperatures sitting between 26°C and 32°C. The dry season runs from December to April, and the wet season brings short, sharp afternoon showers that clear in twenty minutes.

• 💶 Money - The Dominican Republic uses the Dominican Peso (DOP), but Bayahibe is almost entirely all-inclusive so your spending money stretches further than you'd think. A meal at a local restaurant costs around £8-£12 / €9-€14, and a Presidente beer on the beach runs about £2-£3 / €2.50-€3.50.

• 🤿 Fun Fact - Bayahibe sits on the doorstep of Cotubanama National Park (formerly Parque Nacional del Este), one of the largest protected areas in the Caribbean. The park covers over 400 square kilometres of tropical forest, mangroves, caves with Taino rock art, and the waters around Saona and Catalina islands.

Bayahibe is perfect for you if...

• You want a Caribbean all-inclusive holiday where you don't have to think about anything for a full week

• You'd rather have a beach that feels like a local secret than a resort strip that could be anywhere in the world

• You're a diver (or want to learn) and you've been looking for warm, clear Caribbean water with proper reef and wreck sites

• You're the kind of family who wants enough stuff for the kids to do at the resort, but you also want somewhere that's relaxing and safe, with incredible beaches

🏨 Hotels

Bayahibe's hotel line-up is all-inclusive across the board, with a mix of family-friendly mega-resorts and adults-only retreats. Every property sits on or near Dominicus Beach, so you're never more than a few minutes from the sand. See all Bayahibe hotels or browse our top picks below...

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels in Bayahibe?

• Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa. A five-star all-inclusive with a massive pool complex, kids' and teens' clubs, a lazy river, and its own stretch of private beach. The Explorer's Club keeps younger ones busy while the parents hit the spa, and the ten restaurants mean nobody eats the same thing twice.

• Dreams Dominicus La Romana. Another Dreams property sitting right on Dominicus Beach, with a water park, a choice of pools, and a proper family-friendly vibe. Slightly more relaxed than its sister resort, and the beach access is hard to beat.

• Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus. A five-star all-inclusive set in tropical gardens right on the sand, with a kids' pool, a teen zone, and enough restaurant options to keep even the fussiest eaters happy. The Hacienda styling gives it a bit more character than the average mega-resort.

💑 What are the best hotels in Bayahibe for couples?

• Secrets La Romana Resort & Spa. Adults-only, five-star, and properly romantic. Swim-out suites, a full-service spa, candlelit dining on the beach, and a poolside cocktail service that means you never have to move from your sunbed. One of the best-reviewed resorts in the area.

• Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa. Not just for families. The Preferred Club section is essentially a resort within a resort, with its own adults-only pool, private lounge, and upgraded dining. Couples who want the big-resort energy without the kids' club soundtrack will find their corner here.

👉 All hotels in Bayahibe

Local Lingo

Spanish is the main language in Bayahibe, and while resort staff speak English, having a few words of Spanish goes down brilliantly with locals. Even a dodgy accent gets a big smile and usually a free lesson in how to say it properly.

• Hola, OH-lah, Hello

• Gracias, GRAH-thee-as, Thank you

• Por favor, por fah-VOR, Please

• Una cerveza, por favor, OO-nah ser-VEH-sah, por fah-VOR, A beer, please

• ¿Cuánto cuesta?, KWAN-toh KWES-tah, How much does it cost?

• ¡Salud!, sah-LOOD, Cheers!

• ¿Qué lo que?, keh loh keh, What's up? (Dominican slang, used everywhere)

• Tranquilo, tran-KEE-loh, Relax / take it easy (the unofficial Dominican motto)

All-inclusive holidays in Bayahibe

Every resort on the strip operates all-inclusive, and the standard is high: we're talking swim-up bars, multiple restaurants, nightly entertainment, and water sports included as standard. The beauty of going all-inclusive in Bayahibe is that you can spend a full week without reaching for your wallet once (unless you fancy a trip to the village for some locally caught fish, which you absolutely should).

What typically comes included is generous: buffet and a la carte restaurants (most resorts have eight to twelve), unlimited drinks at bars and swim-up bars, non-motorised water sports like kayaking and snorkelling, pools, entertainment programmes, kids' clubs, and gym and spa access. Some resorts also include catamaran trips to Saona Island as part of the package.

What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Bayahibe for families?

• Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa. The full package for families: kids' clubs by age group, a water park, ten restaurants so nobody gets bored, and a private beach where the all-inclusive drinks service extends right to the sunbeds.

• Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus. All-inclusive with a proper family setup: kids' pool, teen activities, multiple restaurants, and that Hacienda colonial styling that makes the whole place feel a cut above the standard all-inclusive.

What are the best all-inclusive hotels in Bayahibe for couples?

• Secrets La Romana Resort & Spa. Adults-only all-inclusive at its finest. The Unlimited-Luxury concept means everything from top-shelf spirits to 24-hour room service is included, with swim-out suites and a spa that justifies a few days of doing absolutely nothing.

• Dreams Dominicus La Romana. Right on Dominicus Beach with a quieter, more laid-back all-inclusive vibe. The beachfront location and smaller footprint give it a more intimate feel than the bigger Dreams property up the road.

Travel Guide - Bayahibe Holiday 2026 / 2027

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a Bayahibe family holiday?

• Saona Island catamaran trip - The headline family day out. A catamaran ride through shallow turquoise water to a pristine island with calm beaches, natural pools, and starfish you can actually hold. Most trips include lunch, drinks, and a stop at the famous natural pool sandbar.

• Dominicus Beach - The main family beach in Bayahibe, with Blue Flag status, lifeguards, calm shallow water, and beach vendors selling fresh fruit and coconut water. The sand is soft, the water is warm, and the kids can paddle without you worrying about currents.

• Cotubanama National Park - Guided boat trips through mangroves and along jungle coastline to caves with ancient Taino indigenous art on the walls. Educational, genuinely interesting, and the kind of thing the kids will talk about at school for weeks.

• Snorkelling at Catalina Island - Calmer and quieter than Saona, with some of the best shallow reef snorkelling in the Dominican Republic. The coral gardens sit in chest-deep water, making it perfect for kids who want to see tropical fish without a full dive setup.

💑 What are the best things to do for couples on a Bayahibe holiday?

• Sunset dinner in the village - Walk from the resort strip into Bayahibe village for fresh-caught fish at one of the waterfront restaurants. The prices are kind, the portions are generous, and watching the fishing boats come in while the sky turns pink is properly romantic.

• Scuba diving - Bayahibe is one of the top dive destinations in the Caribbean, with over 30 sites including the St George shipwreck, underwater caves, and walls of coral teeming with parrotfish, barracuda, and nurse sharks. Most resorts have a PADI dive centre on site.

• Spa day at the resort - Every major resort in Bayahibe has a full-service spa with couples' treatment rooms, hydrotherapy circuits, and outdoor massage cabanas. The all-inclusive packages at some resorts include spa credits.

• Bayahibe Beach at dawn - The original village beach is tiny and beautiful, and at sunrise you'll have it almost to yourself. Bring a coffee from the resort and watch the fishermen head out.

🎉 What are the top things to do for groups on a Bayahibe holiday?

• Party boat to Saona Island - The group version of the Saona trip comes with a sound system, rum punch on tap, and a dance floor that happens to be a catamaran. One of those days that bonds a group for life.

• Buggy tours through the countryside - Rent buggies and blast along dirt tracks through sugar cane fields, Dominican villages, and jungle paths to natural swimming holes. Dusty, loud, and exactly as much fun as it sounds.

• Beach volleyball and water sports - The resorts have everything from volleyball nets to kayaks to paddleboards included in the all-inclusive. Competitive groups can run a full tournament without spending a penny extra.

• Rum tasting and cigar rolling - Visit a local rum distillery or cigar workshop for a hands-on session that teaches you how Dominican rum is aged and cigars are rolled. Most of these are bookable through the resort excursion desk.

More Destinations

• Dominican Republic - The Caribbean's biggest all-inclusive destination, with mega-resorts in Punta Cana, lush green mountains inland, and a nightlife scene in the resort strips that properly delivers.

• Punta Cana - The headline act on the Dominican Republic's east coast, with the longest stretch of white sand in the Caribbean, dozens of all-inclusive resorts, and a buzzy atmosphere that never really switches off.

• Bavaro - The quieter, reef-protected neighbour on the east coast, where the water is calm, the resorts are big, and the beach shacks at El Cortecito serve the best local seafood going.

• Uvero Alto - The most secluded stretch of the Dominican east coast, where the resorts are spread out, the beaches feel private, and the jungle comes right down to the sand.

• Jamaica - Reggae, jerk chicken, waterfalls you can actually climb, and a laid-back energy that gets into your bones from day one. Montego Bay and Negril are the headline acts.