Playa Bergantín Beach

Playa Bergantín is an unspoiled stretch of sand on the Dominican north coast a few kilometres east of Puerto Plata, accessible by a dirt track off the coastal road. The beach runs for about a kilometre, backed by coconut palms and low vegetation, with the Atlantic arriving in moderate waves. The water is clear and good for swimming in calm periods, though the north coast can get rougher swells than the Caribbean-facing south.

There are no hotels, no beach clubs, and no vendors pushing jet ski rentals. A handful of informal stalls along the shore sell fried fish, grilled chicken, and cold Presidente beer. On weekdays the beach is nearly empty; on weekends it fills with Dominican families. Come early, bring your own shade and supplies, and plan to stay for the day.

things to do sight
A story
The north coast of the Dominican Republic was one of the first areas of the Caribbean to be developed for mass tourism, with large all-inclusive resorts changing the character of beaches like Playa Dorada and Cofresí from the 1970s onward. Playa Bergantín escaped this development partly because of its slightly difficult access — the dirt track approach and lack of level land for hotel construction kept the developers away. The lack of infrastructure that once counted against it now counts in its favour.