Guide to Bavaro

"If the Robinson Crusoe lifestyle appeals, this well-off-the-beaten-track resort is just the place."

You can't get much more 'away from it all' than Bavaro. Set on the eastern tip of the island, the journey there takes you through winding country roads bordered by sugarcane fields and mangrove thickets. The town itself is everything you'd expect from a Caribbean hideaway – the dinky hacienda-style homes and tin shanty huts are painted in a rainbow riot of tropical colours. Sand-floored bars spill bachata music into the street. And in the shops and stalls, souvenirs hang from doorways and fill every available surface. But with all the hotels set on the silvery sand, it's Bavaro Beach that takes centre stage here. The moment you get an eyeful of that amazing 15-mile-long white sand beach and brilliant blue sea you'll know you've found a little corner of holiday heaven. This is the place to come if you're looking to cocoon yourself in pin-drop peace and quiet. It's simple, it's unspoilt and it's so relaxing you'll never want to leave. Days here revolve mostly around sunbathing on that spectacular beach, and cooling off with a range of watersports. That said, there are a few interesting places to visit in the area, like the Manati Ecological Park. Here you can swim with dolphins and immerse yourself in local culture at the reconstructed Taino village. Come sundown, it's a relatively low key affair kept mainly to the hotels. But if you are venturing out and about, you can spot the handful of popular hangouts a mile off. In essence, though, Bavaro, is a place to sit back, feel the warmth of the Caribbean sun and enjoy a generous dose of the famous Dominican 'R and R' - rum and relaxation.

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