Cayo Arena — Attraction in Monte Cristi

We went on a Monday and there were only 2 other families there the whole time! So gorgeous! I deducted 1 star because the fish are pretty domesticated (following the guide and his plastic bread bag) and because it was crazy windy and we got sand in our eyes and pelts on our legs. The pictures turned out incredible, but if you listen to a video, you can tell how windy it is!

Note this is not a place to look for shells. Coral, shells and sand are not allowed to be taken from the area (and there aren't many shells anyway). I just share this because my daughter was looking forward to finding shells and bringing sand home!

I heard if I drove myself to Playa Rucia, I would save a lot on the Paradise Island tour. I chose to go to Paradise Island beach club and got there after a crazy drive from Sosua, and they said it was $80. I thought that quote was per person (and still a discount compared to the $120 pp I saw online on Viatour). But it was $80 for all 3 of us!! Score! We had a private speed boat and a wonderful guide - Jose. He made the 20 min ride fun, led me out to the deep area to snorkel, and took amazing photos for us.

Minus the wind, it was amazing!! I suggest driving yourself so you can save more then 50% and stay at the dreamy beach club afterwards as long as you want and not be part of a big tour. But know that there are numerous speed bumps, pot holes and gravel roads, so I only recommend with an SUV and for people who don't...

A must see if you are staying on the north coast of DR in the Puerto Plata area. My wife and I did the excursion from our resort and paid about $80 each. Included in that reasonable price was the air-conditioned bus ride out to Punta Rucia, the speedboat ride to the island, snorkeling gear, as many Cuba Libres as you could drink while on the island (!) and lots of fresh fruit, a speedboat stop back along the mangrove forests on the shoreline, return to the port, buffet lunch on the way back and a final stop at a cigar makers facility. The coral reef around Cayo Arena is beautiful and there were loads of tropical fish, sea urchins - all kinds of wonderful things to see. It does get a little crowded as the tours come in but there's plenty of space for everyone. The speedboat ride is bumpy but this would also be suitable for little kids. What a great day out at a very...

This place is like something out of a postcard—a stunning sandbar in the middle of the ocean with the most transparent and crystal-clear water you can imagine. There are plenty of colorful fish around, so be sure to bring an underwater camera for snorkeling pictures. This area is protected, so the tour guides are very careful about minimizing the impact on the ecosystem. Please follow their advice while at the sandbar and refrain from taking any sand. The Dominican Republic is leading the way in eco-friendly and sustainable tourism, preserving places like this for generations to come. It's quite a ride to get there, but as a couple from Boston we met said, it was all worthwhile. We will definitely return and highly recommend this beautiful attraction that the Dominican Republic...