When NOT To Travel to the Dominican Republic
Photo credit: Diario Digital Barahona
There are two groups of people: the ones who love the holiday travel crowds and the ones who don’t. Traveling with crowds is a totally different kind of vacation, but some people get energy from loads of people and thoroughly enjoy the sport of people-watching. I am part of the group that enjoys a quiet beach where I can enjoy the scenery and the sound of the waves.
In this post, we highlight the beaches around Barahona, but these tips apply to all tourist destinations in the Dominican Republic.
What are holidays like in Barahona?
The main road leading to San Rafael Beach on a holiday weekend.
If you are American, then you may know what it’s like to travel to a beach town on July 4th weekend. So, holidays in Barahona are like that x 1000. The south coast of the Dominican Republic is a favorite destination for locals during long holiday weekends. The beaches are well known, and many families, communities, and travel companies hire large buses from all over the island to enjoy a day or two at the beach in the south.
There are some challenges when a rush of people comes to the area at the same time. The roads along the coast in the south aren’t made for a lot of traffic. There is often road construction going on. There aren’t large hotels in the area to host people. The areas of the beaches where people tend to go are not spread out enough for people to scatter. The visitors tend to gather in the same places in huge groups.
Another thing to know is that it's an event when Dominicans go to the beach. Like anywhere else, people work hard and want to play hard too. Often, people will bring their own speakers, large coolers, and possibly a few pot fulls of food and drinks for the whole family. So imagine hundreds of those groups at a small beach. It can get pretty crazy. If all of this sounds appealing to you, book a trip during Semana Santa (holy week, usually in March or April) and enjoy yourself!
When NOT to travel to Barahona?
Since every country has its different holidays, we wanted to let you know these important dates in the Dominican Republic, so you can plan your travel accordingly. Here are the dates for 2024:
When SHOULD you travel to Barahona?
BEST MONTHS
The ideal months to travel to the south of the Dominican Republic are December-May. The weather tends to be a bit cooler this time of year. During the summer months, the heat can be intense. Officially the hurricane season lasts from June-November. While Barahona usually doesn’t get the brunt of the storms, it’s good to keep this in mind. In the summer, there are often more tour groups visiting the area taking advantage as the children are out of school.
BEST DAYS
If you can plan a trip during the week (not on a holiday), that is ideal. Often, you can have the beach almost all to yourself. Sunday is the most popular day for the beaches for the locals, as it is often their only day off during the week.
BEST TIME OF DAY
The beaches and rivers see an influx of people in the afternoon around 4-5 PM. As the sun starts to descend, people come out to enjoy the refreshing water without the intense heat. If you want the beach all to yourself, go early in the day.
Avoid the Cruisers in Cabo Rojo, Pedernales
If you are venturing farther west to places like Laguna Oviedo or Bahia de las Aguilas, you should be forewarned that thousands of cruisers will be arriving on cruise days. Click on the button below to learn more about other Cabo Rojo-Pedernales tourism project, and also note the days that there will be a cruise ship docking in the port.
Whether you are a crowd-loving vacationer or you want to enjoy the beach all to yourself, hopefully, this information will help you plan the best trip for your personality to the beaches of the Dominican Republic!
Bahia de las Águilas (on a normal day)
