Playa Bonita lies a few kilometres west of Las Terrenas along the coast, and it lives up to its name — a curving bay of golden sand backed by a low headland and palm trees, with calm water and a domestic atmosphere that contrasts with the more commercial stretch in town. Several small hotels and restaurants sit along the road above the beach, and a few beach bars operate at the sand level.
The beach is smaller than Playa Cosón and slightly more developed, but still quiet by Caribbean standards. The protected bay means the water is usually calm and the swimming is straightforward. Local fishing boats are often pulled up at one end, and in the morning you can watch them come in with the night's catch.
The drive from Las Terrenas takes about ten minutes by motoconcho or scooter. The road runs along the coast and the view back toward the village is good. Playa Bonita works well as a half-day excursion from town — take a taxi or scooter in the morning, swim, have lunch at one of the restaurants on the beach, and return in the early afternoon before the light gets flat.