Playa Limón

Playa Limón (often called Playa El Limón) is the wildest beach on the Miches coast. It runs for about 3 kilometers near the village of El Cedro, roughly 24 km east of Miches town, between the mouth of the Río Cedro and Punta Limón. Behind it sits Laguna Limón, part of the Lagunas Redonda y Limón protected area, so there is no development behind the sand: just coconut palms, wetlands and the occasional horse.

It is on the way. If you drive from Punta Cana to Miches on the coast highway, El Cedro and the turnoff to Playa Limón come before you reach town, close to Montaña Redonda. That makes it an easy add-on to a day trip from Uvero Alto or Bávaro.

The water is the big caveat. Playa Limón is exposed to the open Atlantic swell, and travelers and local guides consistently describe rougher waves and stronger currents here than on the Costa Esmeralda beaches. Treat it as a beach for walking, photos and sunsets, not for a casual swim. If you do go in, stay in the shallows, never alone, and stay well away from the river mouth. There are no lifeguards.

The classic way to see it is on horseback. Several tour operators from Miches and Punta Cana run days that combine a ride along the sand with a boat trip on Laguna Limón; see our Laguna Limón horseback and boat tour page. Riding along the empty beach with the lagoon on one side and the sea on the other is the main reason most visitors come.

Access: turn off the main highway toward the coast at El Cedro. The last stretch is a rural road that can be rutted or muddy after rain, so a car with some clearance helps. Facilities are minimal to none: there may be a local selling coconuts or cold drinks, but do not count on it. Bring water, sunscreen, cash and everything else you need.

Sargassum: some seaweed does reach this more exposed beach in the summer season, though it is usually less than on Punta Cana's east coast. With no cleanup crews, what lands stays until the sea takes it back.

Best for: horseback riders, photographers and anyone who wants a long, empty beach. Not for: swimmers, small children or travelers who need facilities. Best time: late afternoon for sunset, and the drier months from December to April when the access road is in better shape.