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Fodor's 2008 Dominican Republic Guide
Fodor's 2008
Dominican Republic

Boca Chica - The Dominican Republic

Boca Chica Dominican RepublicBoca Chica is located on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic . It is the place to be when you want to combine beach time and touring of Santo Domingo into one trip. The town of Boca Chica has a history of being a retreat for the wealthy families of Santo Domingo and many of these people built summer homes in Boca Chica in the 1960s and 1970s. The area's use declined until the 1990s when public transportation made the beach accessible and the are grew in popularity to become the most inhabited beach in the country.

Now it is a popular vacation spot for adventurous people, people who want to enjoy both the beach and the city of Santo Domingo , and singles. It has an active air about it and offers fun and excitement day and night. The beach is definitely the main attraction, but there are many other things to do for those willing to go out of Boca Chica. You can find diving, boogie boarding, golfing, horseback riding, and so much more.

Boca Chica offers something for everyone and suits every type of traveler. This means that while you vacation in Boca Chica, you will meet many different types of travelers who have come to Boca Chica for many different reasons. This makes it one of the most interesting destinations in the Dominican Republic.

WHY VISIT BOCA CHICA

Boca Chica gives vacationers and travelers a beach vacation while still offering the city of Santo Domingo up close. You can have the best of both worlds whether you are traveling to the city for business, you are on vacation, or you are attending a sporting event at the Mirador del Este Sports Park facilities that were built for the 2003 Pan American Sports Games.

Boca Chica is a lively place to go if you are single or if you are a student. Many students attending college in the city live in Boca Chica and the town is a hot spot for single travelers. The town is also a great destination for families, especially if they have young children. The Boca Chica Beach is protected by a reef which makes the water shallow for a long way out. Thus it is a safe environment in which children can play and it is also pleasant for anyone who wishes to enjoy the turquoise waters.

HOW TO GET THERE

The best and most usual way for travelers to come to Boca Chica is by flying into the Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo . Boca Chica is only 15 minutes from the airport. There is also the option to cruise ships and many all-inclusive guests choose to do a combination trip of cruise and resort stay.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

The main attraction in Boca Chica is the beach. This beach offers white sands and tranquil shallow waters far from shore. The bottom is sandy and it is safe for children with no waves and no deep water. If you enjoy shopping on the beach, then you will enjoy Boca Chica where vendors come to you with their wares. Because the beach is such an attraction, the hotels and resorts offer a wide variety of water sports and beach activities in which to partake. At night the main attractions are the local restaurants, discos, and a casino at the Oasis Hamaca Hotel.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

If you want a livelier beach, then you can take short 10 minute drive east to Embassy Beach . Here you can experience fabulous boogie boarding and surfing. You can go further east and visit the small towns of Guayacanes and Juan Dolio, each with their own charm and fabulous beaches.

If you drive further east on the highway, past Juan Dolio, you will find yourself in the city of San Pedro de Macoris, which is the home town of Sammy Sosa and is world famous for producing great baseball and great baseball players. Continuing from there brings you to La Romana and Bayahibe.

In the winter season, October to late January, you will be able to catch some fantastic baseball games in San Pedro de Macoris. Some big league players such as Jose Lima and Bartolo Colon come home to play for the winter. Sammy Sosa also owns a disco in town.

While visiting San Pedro de Macoris, a place not to be missed is the Cueva de las Maravillas. This is a spectacular cave system that lies 25 m under ground and contains cave art, many drawings left by the Taino natives who used to inhabit the island. The stalactites and stalagmites are incredible and it is well worth the trip.

Of course, just to the west of Boca Chica you have the incredible city of Santo Domingo with all its dining, shopping, historical sights, and its very animated nightlife.

It is most useful in this area to take guided tours because everything is far enough away that you must drive. Some excursions include:

•  Jeep safaris
•  Santo Domingo City Tour and Half Day Tour
•  Santo Domingo Night Tour
•  Altos De Chavon artists village/River boat ride
•  Cueva Fun (and its 7-kilometer long underground river)
•  Los Haitises and the mangroves park
•  Saona
•  Catalina Island


GETTING AROUND
When in Boca Chica it is easy to get around on foot and most people do. If you want a taxi or a motoconcho, then you can arrange for one at your hotel or resort. If you want to go out of town, then it is best to go to the Shell gas station and catch the local guagua (public bus) to take you east or west.


ACCOMMODATIONS
Boca Chica is home to all-inclusive resorts as well as many small hotels and guest houses. There is something to suit any tastes and any budget. Visit our Boca Chica hotel and resort guide for more information >>


DINING
When you want to dine in Boca Chica you will have to go to the beach. This is where most of the restaurants are located. Visit our Boca Chica restaurant guide for more information >>


NIGHTLIFE
Boca Chica has a fairly lively nightlife. There are a number of discos that play various types of music such as dance pop, house music, and salsa and merengue. The large hotels and resorts usually have their own discos and nightly shows. The smaller hotels often attract single people, especially men, and they usually frequent the local establishments at night.


SHOPPING
In Boca Chica the place to shop is on Duarte Street . It is here that you will find everything you need from rum, cigars, artwork, and crafts to practical items such as sunscreen and sandals. The prices here will be better than in the hotel shops and you will be able to experience shopping Dominican style. Most of the shops will accept US dollars, traveler's checks, or credit cards.

There is also shopping available on the beach and you don't have to look for it because it will come to you. Vendors wander the beach and bring their wares to you, often in a briefcase. These are friendly people who will haggle with the best of them. Everything is available from hair wraps to amber jewelry and more.

If you want to do some serious shopping then you must go into Santo Domingo , which boasts a wide array of establishments including craft markets, designer shops, and discount stores. You will find anything in Santo Domingo.


GOLF
For the golfer who comes to Boca Chica there are a couple of options. If you are not a really serious golfer, you might prefer to stay close to Boca Chica and play a the San Andreas Golf Club, which offers a 9-hole course. However, if you want a full golf course then you need to go to Juan Dolio, just 20 minutes away. There you will find the fabulous and professionally designed Los Marlins Golf and Country Club. This course was designed by the award-winning golf course architect Charles Ankrom. It offers 18 holes, a club house, restaurant, bar, carts, and equipment rentals. Juan Dolio is also just 45 minutes away from the wonderful golf courses near La Romana.


SCUBA DIVING
Scuba diving is so popular anywhere in the Dominican Republic and Boca Chica is certainly no exception. Most of the large hotels offer PADI certified diving courses and there is some of the most fabulous diving in the country off the nearby Saona or Catalina Islands . If you enjoy seeing old wrecks or would like to do it for the first time then w reck dives ( Hickory and El Limon) can be arranged in La Caleta National Underwater Park, which is close to Boca Chica. If diving is too adventurous for you, then snorkeling is a great alternative. With the reef off the beach, there are calm waters and plenty of fish to enjoy.


FISHING
If you love to fish or want to see what deep sea fishing is like, you can book a trip through your hotel.


HORSEBACK RIDING
This is one of the most spectacular ways to see the countryside and the beaches. You can ride along the beach or through the jungle and take in all the sights at a leisurely pace. Near Juan Dolio is the Guavaberry Equestrian Center where you can experience trail rides, horseback riding lessons for the entire family, or you can watch a polo match. There is also Rancho Cumayasa on the way to La Romana, which offers a combined horseback riding, river trekking, and Catalina island visiting day.
see also: Sosua Dominican Republic Hotel & Vacation Travel

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