Overview
Bahia de las Aguilas on the southwestern coast of the Dominican Republic. Bahia De Las Aguilas (Bay of the Eagles) is one of the most beautiful and most isolated beaches in the Caribbean. It is near the southern end of the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, a few kilometers southeast from the town of Pedernales, or 320 km from Santo Domingo.
Unlike most beaches in the Dominican Republic that have experienced an explosion of tourism, Bahia De Las Aguilas is completely isolated and has no construction near it. The bay is also considered part of the Jaragua National Park and its waters contain an abundance of wildlife, from a wide variety of fish to star fish and Caribbean lobsters. Fishing is illegal within the national park but is done on a small scale by the locals (hence the abundance of sea life). The nearest town is Perdenales, and there are a couple of small motels that are generally used by truckers. It is recommended that visitors making the 6-8 hour trip from the capital Santo Domingo, stay in the town of Barahona. From Barahona visiting Bahia De Las Aguilas can be done in a day.
It is not tourism-oriented as are other Dominican Republic sites: there are no luxury hotels, and you'll have to get to the beach either by boat, or with an all-wheel-drive vehicle through the National Park (either way it's a 15-20 minute ride). There are signs stating that you can't camp, but nevertheless, you can rent the tents or bring your own.
As of 2026, a contract has been signed to initiate construction of a major all-inclusive resort in the area, and visits are already being made by several of the major cruise lines, with a port exclusively for these companies to be completed within the year. The highways are being improved daily, and they will start opening the airport for international flights. If you want to see one of the last truly beautiful virgin beaches left in the world before it's too late, now is the time to go.
History Bahia de las Aguilas is part of the Jaragua National Park (Parque Nacional Jaragua) in the Pedernales Province in the extreme southwest of the Dominican Republic. Established as a National Park in 1983, it is now a UNESCO-recognized natural reserve. The beach is recognized by many Dominicans as "the most majestic beach in the world".
Landscape It is a great representation of the Hispaniolan Dry Forest Ecoregion's coast. The entire area is an extremely arid landscape, much like many parts of Arizona or Baja California. There are no palm trees as in much of the rest of the country, hence there is no shade and extreme caution should be taken against exposure to the sun.
Flora and fauna On the way to the beach, if you're going through the park, iguanas and several species of cactuses are common sightings. There are many caves and water holes in the heavy coral rock formations.
Climate Climate is semi-arid, as this part of the Dominican Republic is the driest. Skin protection is strongly recommended.
Get in
The road from la Cueva to the beach has been improved and while still being unpaved and steep in parts, it is now easy to go to the beach by any vehicle with high ground clearance or by walking a couple of miles (think carefully before attempting that).
You can also get to the beach with a boat at Cabo Rojo (Spanish for Red Cape or Point), which is near the entrance to the park. The ride takes about 10-15 minutes.
There is no public transport to La Cueva. If you do not have your own vehicle. you will need to negotiate with a motoconcho from Pedernales, as cars are infrequent and it is very difficult to hitchhike here in the blinding hot sun. Personal experience in 2026 was 2500 pesos pickup from the guesthouse for the one hour trip to La Cueva, waiting at La Cueva all day, and return back to the guesthouse. Attempts at further negotiation with multiple motoconchos in town was not successful. Blogs from 2019 state 1000 pesos one way, but all the way to the beach.
Fees and permits
If you are traveling by yourself, simply tell one of the boat operators that you are looking to join a group and they will help you.
Get around
Once on the beach, you'll enjoy some of the whitest and softest sands on any beach in the world. Snorkeling is also highly recommended in Bahia de las Aguilas, although if you don't bring your own gear you will not find any there, as there are no stores or services.There is nothing but the beach, the bay and the surrounding extremely arid landscape, so caution is advised and drinking water should be brought along for the time spent. If arriving by boat, an agreed-upon pickup time will be made.
See
The millions of sea shells on the shore of the beach as well as the abundant sea life just feet into the water.
Do
Swim, snorkel, walk, explore. It is like going back in time and very likely that you will not encounter a single soul.
Eat
The locals will go out, catch a fresh red snapper and cook it on the grill for you. There are also a couple of restaurants in Perdenales. A delicious local specialty is langosta a la criolla (lobster local style) with plantains and rice.
Sleep
There are no facilities in the park to spend the night.
Lodging The nearest hotels are in the town of Pedernales. They're not luxury hotels, but have enough to be comfortable.
There are also a couple of small hotels in Barahona, and it is recommended that visitors from the capital Santo Domingo stay in Barahona, before venturing on to Bahia De Las Aguilas.
Camping Camping on the beach is no longer allowed.
Make Bahia de las Aguilas your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5258878 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-04-11. This is not a date of field verification.
For current entry conditions and travel advisories, consult your government and destination authorities. We do not determine visa eligibility.