Living in the North Coast of the Dominican Republic has so many opportunities and advantages. The biggest advantage is having a wide variety of choices to some of the best beaches on the island. Cabarete, Encuentro, Alicia and Sosua Beach to name a few are located only minutes from our front door. However, we also love taking a day trip with our family and friends to a quaint fishing village in the North Western region of the island. Here, you will find soft white sand and crystal clear water with every colour of blue imaginable. Welcome to Punta Rucia.

Our Day Trip to the Pristine Punta Rucia… Bring the Camera!

Yield to Oncoming Traffic

I took this picture on one of our trips to Punta Rucia last year. This is a common site when driving through some of the small towns and rural areas of the Dominican Republic. In fact, the local farmers on our road, El Choco in Sosua, move their cattle from one field to another all the time. Typically, you will see a farmer waving at you to slow down before you see this unique Dominican cattle drive. 

Stunning Punta Rucia Beach

After a two-hour car ride we arrive to the stunning turquoise waters of Punta Rucia Beach on Isabela Bay. Since it is a bay, the water is normally calm, warm, and very inviting. It isn’t long before we are all in the water and enjoying another sunny day in the DR. You must try it!

Natural Beauty

What makes this beach so special is that it is very natural and unspoiled. The beach stretches for approximately 16 km along the north coastline. You will notice plenty of fishing boats, a variety of coastal birds,  and  when snorkeling in the coral reefs, beautiful schools of tropical fish.

The weather is usually sunny and the climate more desert-like. The reason for the desert-like climate is due to the Dominican Septentrional Cordillera mountain range (which runs parallel with the North Coast), which offers a natural barrier that prevents most clouds into the area, and consequently less rain. When we were walking along this stretch of the beach, the water was so warm and the sand so soft that we didn’t want to leave.

Boat Ride to Cayo Arena 

You will find several new and very nice hotels, lodges, and B&B’s along the way. However, we usually spend the day at the Paradise Island beach club.  As part of our day trip we will buy tickets (approx. $50 USD/person) to visit a tiny sandbar called Cayo Arena, which is a 15 minute boat trip from the beach club. Included in the fee is your dinner (fresh fish, seafood, drinks) plus your snorkel equipment, sandwiches, fresh fruit, and drinks at Cayo Arena island.

Snorkeling

Coral reefs protect Cayo Arena and attract many tropical fish. The water is crystal clear and shallow, making it very easy to snorkel. If you like, your tour guide will also take you around the coral reef where the water is a bit deeper. The colour of the ocean is spectacular.

Boat Ride Through the Mangroves

After snorkeling at Cayo Arena, your tour guide will take you through the mangrove forest along the coast. The forest is comprised by many channels and has a very dense root system which provides a habitat to many plant and animal species. You will notice atop of the trees several species of water birds such as the Egret. There is also a kayak excursion available, giving you more time to explore this beautiful ecosystem.

The last stop of the day is back to the Paradise Island Beach Club to enjoy some fresh fish or seafood. Before long, we were hopping in the truck for our drive back home to Sosua. There are many tour companies that have excursions to Punta Rucia. I highly recommend you visit this beautiful area of the North Coast the next time you are vacationing in the beautiful Dominican Republic.