Beaches in the Dominican Republic are, in theory, open to the public. Of course, that hasn’t stopped the mega-resorts from trying to restrict their beaches to just their paying guests. Many of them offer day passes for about US$40 if you would like to freely enjoy their grounds, including “their” portion of beach. By law, though, everyone has the right to be on any stretch of beach they want; if you’re not a guest of the hotel, you may have to just park yourself on the sand.

The beaches along the southeastern shoreline are arguably the best in the country. Playa Punta Cana has about 30 miles of swaying palms and very fine white sand. It is one of the finest stretches of beach in the nation and is the reason why it is such a prime resort location. Playa Bávaro is another of the wide, white-sand beauties lined with tall coconut trees and laced with resorts; it is just north of Playa Punta Cana on the eastern shoreline. They appear as one extended strip. The beach at Cabo Engaño, between the beaches of Punta Cana and Bávaro, offers near idyllic conditions for surfing and windsurfing. But be warned; the wind can be rather rough.

Playa El Cortecito is an often-crowded public beach where local fishers still bring in their boats, but more on the mark, it is a haven for souvenir shops and wandering vendors. It is a good access spot for a nice long walk along the coastline.

The beaches north of El Cortecito have shabby roads that are best traversed by trucks or SUVs. Playa El Macao is about 15 kilometers up the coastline. It is a sandy-bottomed spectacular beach that has a drastic drop-off, not the best for children. Since it is so beautiful, though, it has become a popular stop-off for four-wheeler excursions coming from the nearby resorts, taking away a lot of the peaceful charm.

The beaches at Boca de Maímon and Playa del Muerto are deserted stretches that offer seclusion at its best and are well worth the effort even if the roads are terrible.