Playa El Valle — Attraction in Betancuria

Beware ##### We drive up to this beach and was waived down by an army guy who gave us a pass after we packed d voluntary 50 pesos. The fee is voluntary . You then turn right and follow the Sandra k and find a suitable place to park and the beach awaiting you is simply paradise ! Just be careful to park where you can see your car . We saw a tourist being helped to change a flat tire . I parked the car by the roadside but then decided to move it closer to where we ended up after walking on the beach . I moved the car to me new position and saw a guy with a black motorcycle parked up beside me so I greeted him in Spanish and he walked towards the beach on my left . After 15 mins he walked along the beach and greeted me in Spanish and I replied. Next to us a few yards away were a young Caucasian couple and he approached them and told the one of the tires on their car was punctured. Their car was left parked on the dirt road not near the beach . He took them to their car and helped them change the tire making some money in the process . Strange how two cars ended up with flat tires in the space of a mile . I truly believe this is a scam locals are running to make money . Always park near the beach where you can...

Off the beaten path. Less vendors. Gorgeous beach, clean, and uncrowded. Besides my family, there were only a handful of other tourists.

*We rented a sedan and drove for about 4.5 hours from Punta Cana. Since this place goes through a rainforest. There are many areas with zero wifi and potholes, so deep that you'll need a 4×4 or drive at speeds of 2 to 5 mph to avoid damage. If the car breaks down as it did ours, you might not find help for a while.

Also, since the surrounding area in El Valle is remote, there are fewer tourists. Watch out for Airbnbs catfishing customers. I won't say exactly how much we paid for a 5-star rated beauty of a house, but it was over USD$260 for 1-night. The gorgeously photographed home, aided by a truly breathtaking backdrop of rainforest, felt as a mausoleum. Almost no amenities, electricity that relied on a flickering generator, and poor or no wifi connection. The experience taught me to choose places with lots of current reviews, not just a few reviews from years ago.

The area is gorgeous and well worth the trip if you're staying in RD for several days. We stayed in Punta Cana...

This remote beach can be a little tricky to reach if the stream is high. You can get there in a small rental car, but do not try it if you have no experience driving off road, or if the water is high. You will find it by taking a left outside of Samana toward the ziplines. Keep going past the zipline and the small waterfall and over the stream. Once you get over the stream go left for about a mile. You will find a beach with very few people and striking mountains that jut up from each side. On both sides you will find freshwater streams that empty into the ocean. Be careful because the undertow is very strong. Do not venture to the right if the water is up high. All my guests have enjoyed the Dominican cooking there. Great place to relax and enjoy nature. This is not well traveled beach, especially off season.

UPDATE!! UPDATE September 2018. The road has been paved all the way to the beach and a bridge now crosses over the small river. You can access El Valle with any car. Also, the small restaurant at the Zipline place is now private so you cannot just walk back there...