What to See in Bahia de las Aguilas

The Dominican Republic is located on the island of Hispaniola, the biggest island in all of America. This means that Dominicans and tourists alike can enjoy extensive, paradisiacal beaches throughout the country, highlighting their incredible shores with crystal clear waters and fine white sand, which offer different options depending on your personal tastes and circumstances. 

The best beaches in Punta Cana

Punta Cana is characterised by its wonderful warm waters and white sandy beaches, spanning over 50 kilometres across the eastern part of the Dominican Republic, where you can do many different water activities and enjoy the waves of the Caribbean Sea or the incredible coral reefs that surround the coast.  

Thus, you can find beaches that are easy and quick to access from your hotel resort, such as Playa Bávaro or Saona Island, where you can visit the Sea Turtle Sanctuary, or Bahia de las Aguilas (literally, “Eagles Bay”), one of the best kept secrets in the country and one of the most highly valued destinations by tourists and locals alike. 

Next, we’ll provide all the information you need on one of the best beaches in Punta Cana: Bahia de las Aguilas. 

What is Bahia de las Aguilas?

Bahia de las Aguilas is a natural space that is located within the Jaragua National Park, with a total area of 37 kilometres of virgin beach that’s protected by UNESCO. Within the bay, it’s beach stands out, covering more than seven kilometres and which has some of the most transparent waters in the world. In addition to its extensive length, the Bahia de las Aguilas beach is also known for being one of the few virgin beaches in the Dominican Republic. 

It’s a protected area that can only be reached by very few roads and doesn’t have any type of facilities, the perfect natural environment for people who love adventure and nature tourism. 

Activities such as camping are prohibited, but you can do other things like hiking, rural cycling or simply go for a refreshing swim in some of the most crystal clear waters of the entire Caribbean Sea. 

Outing to Bahia de las Aguilas

Since it’s a protected area and a nature reserve, you need to plan your visit to Bahia de las Aguilas, as it won’t have some of the facilities that are available on other beaches, like food, drink or the clothing needed for practicing certain activities. 

How to get to Bahia de las Aguilas

It’s located in the southeast of the country, two hours by road from the most important city in the south, Barahona, and a stone’s throw away from the border with Haiti, the other country that is located on the island of Hispaniola. 

What stands out about Bahia de las Aguilas?

Its beach is considered one of the most beautiful in the Dominican Republic, with highlights including its karst landscapes, due to the action of the sea against the cliffs. 

At the same time, its waters are also characterised by the incredible coral reefs that can be seen throughout the crystal clear waters, just like a lot of the Dominican coast, in addition to starfish and the beds of seagrass, meaning diving is another activity that will make your stay at the bay unforgettable. 

What to eat in Bahia de las Aguilas?

Since the area has been left untouched, there aren’t many options to choose from, but you can still try some of the rich delicacies, such as the fish of the day or lobsters that are caught using traditional methods, through the use of “nasas” or handmade cages that have a way in, but no way out.  

Plants and wildlife in Bahia de las Aguilas

Founded in 1983, Bahia de las Aguilas is located in one of the most important natural parks in the country, made up of an enormous amount of flora and fauna, forming a very diverse and heterogeneous ecosystem. 

This area stands out in particular for being the national park with the largest number of sea turtles in the entire Caribbean, especially during the spawning season. 

In addition to sea turtles, in this park you can also find endangered animals such as the rhinoceros iguana or other exotic animals, such as flamingos. 

In the waters on its coast, you can see animals such as the hawksbill turtle, manatees or native birds such as the plain pigeon or the white-crowned pigeon, animals that usually inhabit the typical vegetation found in they bay, which is mostly formed by plants such as canelilla, guanito, guayacán or guayuco. 

Activities in Bahia de las Aguilas

The types of activities that stand out in this location are those activities directly related to nature. 

First, the calmness and transparency of its waters will allow you to do activities such as snorkelling or diving, and thus enjoy one of the most impressive coral reefs in the entire Caribbean, in addition to getting a look at the beds of seagrass that characterise the coasts of the Bay. 

On the other hand, you can also organise routes that explore the virgin forest that surrounds the coast, after getting past some of the surrounding arid areas. 

Likewise, since it’s a natural area, it’s very important that you plan your trip accordingly and are properly equipped to go on the outing. 

Tips before visiting Bahia de las Aguilas

The vegetation in Bahia de las Aguilas is arid and dry, therefore there are no palm trees that can provide shade if you want to take a break, since it only rains twice a year. Thus, it’s very important to take items with you such as a hat and sunscreen. Due to the relentless sun that nourishes this hot land, it’s important to be especially careful if you’re travelling as a family with children, and to take extra precautions so that no health problems arise.

Likewise, if you travel to the Bay on your own by car, since it’s an area located far away from the larger cities in the country, it’s a good idea to set your departure time for before 4 pm in order to avoid driving at nightfall for your own safety. 

The equipment you need to take with you to enjoy a quiet day in Bahia de las Aguilas consists of the following items: 

• Water
• Food
• Bags for rubbish
• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Sportswear
• Water shoes
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunglasses and a sun hat
• Swimsuit

For all of these reasons, Bahia de las Aguilas is one of the must-see places during your trip to the Dominican Republic, and by planning a day trip to the area in advance, you can enjoy a magnificent day out in nature.