Río San Juan

Río San Juan is a small fishing and farming town at the eastern end of this stretch of coast, about 75 minutes by car from Puerto Plata's airport and roughly an hour from Cabarete. Technically it sits in María Trinidad Sánchez province rather than Puerto Plata, but most travelers visit it as part of a north coast trip. It is far quieter than Cabarete or Sosúa, with a modest town center, a few guesthouses and small hotels, and very little nightlife.

The town's main attraction is right on its edge: the Laguna Gri-Gri, a mangrove lagoon where small boats leave from a dock at the end of town for short trips through the mangroves, past a swallow cave and out to the coves along the coast. A short walk or motoconcho ride east is Playa Caletón, a shaded, sheltered cove that is the safe family swim in this area.

About 15 minutes further east are Playa Grande and Playa Preciosa, two of the most photogenic beaches on the north coast: wide golden sand under green cliffs, big surf and powerful currents. Above Playa Grande are a clifftop golf course and the Amanera resort, which is closed for a major refurbishment and due to reopen in summer 2027. Until then, Río San Juan's small hotels and guesthouses are the main places to stay in the area.

Beyond Playa Grande, the road continues to Cabrera and on toward the Samaná Peninsula, so Río San Juan also works as a stop between the north coast and Samaná.

Practical notes: there are fewer ATMs, restaurants and services than in the bigger towns, so bring cash. English is less widely spoken. Getting here without a car is possible by guagua (shared minibus) along the coast road, but it is slow; a rental car or private driver makes it far easier to combine the lagoon and beaches in one day. Motoconchos handle short hops around town, and transport thins out after dark.

Who it suits: travelers with a car who want a quieter base, surfers, photographers, and day-trippers from Cabarete or Sosúa. Who should look elsewhere: anyone who needs resort facilities, nightlife or a big choice of restaurants. For most visitors, a long day trip from Cabarete is the easiest way to see it.