If you read our previous post about traveling to Bahia de las Aguilas, then you may be eager to book your trip. Your next question will logically be…where do I stay when I visit? 

Where you decide to stay greatly depends on how many days you have in the area and how relaxed or rushed you would like your trip to be. Many visitors decide to stay closer to Barahona and make a day trip to Bahia de las Aguilas. While this is doable, it makes for one exhausting day (and you don’t get to wake up on the beach). A more convenient option would be to stay closer to Bahia de las Aguilas. 

The options for accommodations are either in the nearby town of Pedernales, with comforts like air conditioning and a pool  OR in Cabo Rojo, camping or glamping right on the beach! 

To camp, glamp or chill: THAT is the question! 

Staying in Pedernales

If you are not into camping, glamping, or not having AC and hot water, but still want to stay in the close vicinity of Bahia de las Aguilas, staying in Pedernales is your best bet. This nearby town is a close enough drive to Cabo Rojo, so you will easily be able to drive back to your comfy and cool accommodations after a day at the beach. 

Pedernales is the westernmost town on the south coast of the Dominican Republic. It holds a border crossing to the town of Anse-a-Pitres, Haiti. Pedernales has small supermarkets, banks, ATMs, and other useful facilities. 

This area is not famous for its thriving hotel business…yet. However, there are a few places that we would recommend for accommodations while visiting Bahia de las Aguilas.  

Residencial SFA Villas

residencialsfa@gmail.com • 809.756.1697

Residencial SFA 1 & 2 are fully-equipped rental houses that sleep 10-12 people. This option is PERFECT for a large group. Even if you are a smaller group and the nightly rate works with your budget, these places offer a lot of comfort before or after a day of “roughin’ it” at the beach.  Stay an extra night or two to enjoy the amenities, or to use as a base to explore this southwest corner of the Dominican Republic. The owner recently added a convenient market, near the houses where you can find all the things you need to bring with you on your beach trip. 

Reservations at Residencial SFA Villas can be made directly with the hotel or using airbnb.com

Price: Mid-range

Perfect for: Families, large groups

Residencial SFA - Villa 1

Photo credit: Residencial SFA Pedernales

Residencial SFA - Villa 2

Photo credit: Residencial SFA Pedernales

Hostal Doña Chava

hostalchava069@gmail.com • 809.524.0332

Hostal Doña Chava is a great budget accommodation option in Pedernales! This cute spot has at least nine rooms for rent, some of which include a patio. Although we have never stayed there yet, many adventurous travelers have used this quaint, quirky hotel as a base for excursions in the deep south of the Dominican Republic. 

The rooms at Hostal Doña Chava are basic but have everything you need including a private bathroom and air conditioning (from 8 am - 8 pm). There is no hot water available. Breakfast can be provided at an additional cost. 

Reservations can be made directly with the hotel or using booking.com.

Price: Budget                                                                                       

Perfect for: Solo-travelers, couples, adventurers 

Photo credit: Hostal Doña Chava

Staying in Cabo Rojo

If you did not grow up camping outdoors (like myself), and the whole idea of it is slightly overwhelming BUT you want to be adventurous and go to sleep and wake up on the beach, glamping might be your thing.

In Cabo Rojo, near Playa de la Cueva, there are two glamping lodges located right on the beach. Both of these lodges also provide boat service to Bahia de las Aguilas for an additional charge. It doesn’t get more convenient than that!

Let’s break down your glamping and camping options in Cabo Rojo.

Glamping Ecolodge Cueva De Las Águilas

cuevadelasaguilasrd.com • info@cuevadelasaguilasrd.com • 849.245.8774

Glamping Ecolodge Cueva de las Aguilas is a full-service lodge that provides accommodations in tents. It is no luxury hotel, but the amenities and conveniences that are offered make it an enjoyable experience while still allowing you to bask in the natural experience. If you don’t have a phone with a data plan, you will really be able to disconnect as there is no wifi available here.  In many ways, this eco-friendly retreat is even better than a luxury hotel. 

Getting There

To arrive at Glamping Ecolodge Cueva de las Aguilas, follow the road to Cabo Rojo towards La Cueva de las Pescadores and drive as far as you can before the road ends. You will see the Rancho Tipico Cueva de las Aguilas sign and a parking area on your right. The lobby area of this open-air establishment is where you will check-in. There is also a small gift shop, a bar, and a restaurant with a large sitting area under a thatched roof that looks out into the most serene view of the water.

Tents

From the restaurant/lobby area, you follow the stone path to access the tent area. Cuevas de las Aguilas has a variety of sizes of tents, some on the first line (beachfront), and some on the second line (very close to the beach often with a view of the water) that sleep 1-6 people. They all come with beds, mattresses, sheets, a small table, a light, an electric outlet, and a fan. The tents have venting windows as well to open if you want an extra breeze. Outside your tent, you will find chairs or a hammock to relax and enjoy the view. 

Photo credit: Cueva de las Aguilas

Restrooms and Showers

There are multiple shower and toilet areas spread out around the property that are shared with all of the guests. These structures do provide privacy but do not have ceilings, which makes for a very natural bathing experience. The clever decor has the shower water emerging from a conch shell or coconut. The shower areas are very spacious and have hooks for your towel, toiletries, or clothes to change into. A quick-dry towel, as well as this travel toiletry bag, will come in handy here. 

Photo credit: Cueva de las Aguilas

Amenities

The restaurant at Cuevas de las Aguilas serves breakfast (included in the accommodation price), lunch, and dinner. The menu can be found here. The lodge also provides boat service to Bahia de las Aguilas (not included in the accommodation price). If you are interested in a premium or VIP service while at the beach at Bahia de las Aguilas, they have a variety of options that can be delivered to you on your beach day.  Some of these packages even include a table, chairs, an umbrella, a hammock, and snorkeling equipment. If you want luxury on the beach, this is the option for you! 

Photo credit: Cueva de las Aguilas

The view of the sunset from this glamping site is incredible. The sun descends directly in front of you over the ocean. At around 9 pm, every night, the staff will create a bonfire to warm you on those chilly nights. Sit around the bonfire and look up into the sea of stars before retiring into your bed…that happens to be in a tent.

Making a Reservation

By using Ecolodge Cueva de las Aguilas’ direct site, a reservation can be made and the balance paid for via credit card or PayPal. This method is non-refundable. Alternatively, a reservation can be made by using booking.com

Price: Mid-range

Perfect for: Couples, families, large groups, adventurers 

Eco del Mar

info@ecodelmar.com.do • 829.576.7740

If Ecolodge Cueva de las Aguilas is glamping, then Eco del Mar is high-life glamping.  Eco del Mar stands apart with its large, open-air, chic reception area. As soon as you walk in, you know this is going to be an epic experience.

Eco del Mar is a romantic, luxury property that feels upscale at every turn, even though you are walking on the sand. Make a reservation at one of their suites for the ultimate getaway where nature meets grandeur.

Getting There

Follow the road to Cabo Rojo towards La Cueva de los Pescadores. Before you arrive at Glamping Ecolodge Cueva de las Aguilas, Eco del Mar is found on the right. You can’t miss the lovely entrance gate with the lodge’s name designed in shells.  

Tents and Suites

While Eco del Mar offers normal Garden Tents (that include beds with mattresses and sheets), there is a shared toilet and shower area. However, The Touareg and Al Mare Tents are more upscale with canvas tents and have an outdoor bathroom area that is private.

Eco del Mar steps up the glamping even more with wooden cabins called Cactus Suites. These cabins come with 1 or 2 beds, a dresser, a chair as well as a porch out front to sit and relax on.  The cherry on top is the epic, open-concept bathroom. The toilet is located in the cabin (in a private room), but then open another door and walk down the stairs to a large outdoor space with high walls and no ceiling where the shower is located. Talk about a freeing experience! 

The ultimate suite at Eco del Mar is the Safari Suite which sleeps 6 people. This enormous tent with draped cloth on the ceiling makes me think of something from Aladdin, where the sultan would sleep on his travels through the desert.  The area is beautifully decorated with 3 separate areas for guests to sleep. The sleeping areas aren’t completely private, so this tent would be best for families or close friends that don’t mind sharing sleeping space. 

Restaurant

The restaurant at Eco del Mar offers a wonderful selection of food for breakfast (included in the rate), lunch, and dinner. The dining area is uniquely separate, each table on its own platform on the beach.

The bar, that is built around a tree, right on the beach can’t help but grab your attention. Enjoy a variety of refreshing drinks and cocktails here. The vibes that this area gives is everything a beach vacation is about! 

Amenities

Eco del Mar provides boat service to Bahia de las Aguilas as well as packages that include lunch and beach equipment that can be brought to you at the beach in Bahia. There is also an outdoor spa on site that offers massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, and more! 

Making a Reservation

You can reserve a tent or room on a variety of booking sites, such as airbnb or hotels.com. The best way to make a reservation is to contact the lodge directly to make a reservation. In this way, you will find the best prices. Use the phone number above to call or text via Whatsapp to contact Eco del Mar. You will then be directed to pay a 50% deposit via Paypal to complete the reservation. 

Price: Mid-range - Luxury

Perfect for: Couples, families, large groups, adventurers 

DIY Camping at Cabo Rojo

If you think glamping is bougie, you have your own camping gear and you want to sleep in your own tent . . . by all means! Past Glamping Ecolodge Cueva de las Aguilas, there is an area where you can pitch your own tent near the Cueva de los Pescadores.  The only cost that you will incur here is the entrance fee to the national park, which everyone must pay, $150 DOP (approx. $3 USD).

In this camping area, there are no other amenities. If you would like to use the restroom and/or showers at the nearby Glamping Ecolodge Cueva de las Aguilas, you can for a small cost. They charge $100 DOP (approx. $2 USD) to use the showers and $50 DOP (approx. $1 USD)  to use the toilets. You can also dine at the restaurant at the glamping lodges for your meals, which are within walking distance.

Price: Budget

Perfect for: Solo-travelers, couples, adventurers

Plan a stay near before it’s too late

As we mentioned in a previous post, Cabo Rojo and Bahia de las Aguilas will not remain this out-of-the-way, magical destination for much longer. Large, all-inclusive hotels are coming to the area. While that may be good for the local economy, the experience will not be the same. 

Take advantage and plan your trip to Bahia de las Aguilas now. Watch the stars outside of your tent and wake up to the sound of gentle waves or stay in the local town of Pedernales, that’s filled with local character. Whether you choose to camp, glamp, or chill, come now and enjoy your stay before it all changes.  

TIPS FOR CAMPING & GLAMPING:

• Try not to go in the summer. From July-September, the heat can be brutal, even at night. 

• Plan a midweek stay. The middle of the week is better for a stay at the campsite or even a day trip to the beach, rather than the weekend. The prices are less expensive and the area can get VERY crowded on the weekends. 

• Do NOT go on a holiday in the Dominican Republic (see the infographic for those dates), the crowds are insane. 

• Bring mosquito repellant and bug spray. The mosquitos and no-see-ums can be ruthless at the campsites. A few bad bites from these critters and your trip can be ruined! Wear plenty of mosquito repellant, especially in the evening and the morning. You may choose to fumigate your tent for other creepy crawlies before you move in.

• Bring your own snacks and alcohol. There are restaurants in the area, but when those munchies set in, there are limited options. Bring chips, nuts, trail mix, whatever your heart desires. A bottle of wine to enjoy by the bonfire isn’t a bad idea either. 

• Stay hydrated! The sun is powerful in the deep south and can dehydrate you without you even knowing it. Drink plenty of water with some added electrolytes if possible. 

• Protect yourself from the sun. Whether you are at Bahia de las Aguilas, or relaxing at the beach near the camp and glamping sites, the sun is strong! Apply and reapply sunscreen (that is safe for the reef) and wear a hat when you can.

• Choose the right dates. Holidays and cruise port days are NOT the days to choose to stay in Cabo Rojo. Check out more info using those links on when those dates are.

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