Things to do in La Romana
Welcome to La Romana
La Romana’s city streets are bustling with locals scooting around on motorbikes and lined with restaurants serving international cuisine travelers won’t likely find elsewhere in the Dominican Republic. The resort city serves mostly as a convenient departure point for trips further afield, such as excursions to the idyllic Isla Catalina or Saona Island, both optimal spots for sailing, swimming, and snorkeling. Just 15-minutes down the peninsula sits Bayahibe, bordered by both the Caribbean Sea and the protected Parque Nacional del Este, an easy day trip from La Romana.
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Top 14 attractions in La Romana
#1
Saona Island (Isla Saona)
Saona Island (Isla Saona) is the Dominican Republic's largest coastal island, clocking in at 15 miles (25 kilometers) long and three miles (5 kilometers) wide, with a population of little more than 300. Part of the National Park of the East, the island features plenty of photo-worthy white sands, swaying palm trees, and turquoise waters.More
#2
Catalina Island (Isla Catalina)
Tiny Catalina Island (Isla Catalina), just 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) off the Dominican Republic’s mainland, is an idyllic sandy speck in the turquoise Caribbean waters. Known for its well-populated coral reefs, Catalina is a peaceful respite for those looking to escape bustling Punta Cana and La Romana.More
#3
Altos de Chavón
Sculpted in stone, the Mediterranean-inspired village of Altos de Chavón showcases how the Dominican Republic might have looked in the 16th century. Built in 1976 by a team of local artisans, the La Romana village houses restaurants, shops, an archaeology museum, and a 5,000-seat amphitheater.More
#4
Higuey
In the Dominican Republic's easternmost province of La Altagracia lies the city of Higuey. A busy, bustling area that has rapidly grown over recent years, Higuey is also home to some must-see historical and religious sites like the Basilica of Altagracia. Though the city may not have the footprint of neighboring Punta Cana, visitors can explore its charming streets, restaurants, and markets.More
#5
Bayahibe
Once a sleepy fishing village, now a beach town, Bayahibe has maintained its laid-back vibe and distinctive Dominican flavor despite rapid development on other parts of the island. The walkable downtown area features a colorful collection of seafood restaurants and craft shops, while the beach is known for white sand and clear water.More
#6
National Park of the East (Parque Nacional del Este)
The National Park of the East (Parque Nacional del Este) is one of Dominican Republic’s most biologically diverse land reserves. From the sandy beaches of Saona Island to the tropical forest and limestone landscape of the mainland, the park is home to more than 500 species of plant and hundreds of species of bird, insect, and fish.More
#7
Chavón River (Río Chavón)
Follow the same winding waterway as popular films like Jurassic Park, Rambo and Apocalypse Now along the Chavón River (Río Chavón), arguably the most picturesque river in the country. The best way to see the river is aboard one of the river cruises that pass through steeps gorges, up to 250 feet tall in places, and offer glimpses of the unique wildlife that lives along the riverbank, including freshwater turtles and hawks. The Chavón River also passes by the interesting and beautiful Altos de Chavón, an artist’s colony perched high on a hill above the river that was designed to look like an ancient Mediterranean village, complete with cobblestone streets and an Greek-style amphitheater.More
#8
Cueva de las Maravillas
Cueva de las Maravillas is a natural attraction near La Romana that takes visitors underground into a deep cavern. This cave is estimated to be more than 100,000 years old but wasn't discovered until 1926. Inside its walls, you'll find fascinating rock formations, elongated stalactites, and stalagmites resembling icicles. These were formed due to mineral buildup caused by the cave's constant moisture.More
#9
Caleta Beach (Playa Caleta)
A small, rocky beach frequented by locals, Caleta Beach (Playa Caleta) gives visitors an authentic view of beach life in the Dominican Republic compared to other touristy beaches in La Romana. Convenient for cruise passengers, this remote beach area features stunning scenery with an excellent view of Catalina Island, local cuisine, and a small bay ideal for swimming.More
#10
Tabacalera de Garcia Cigar Factory
When Fidel Castro marched into Havana and seized the Cuban government, he took the island’s tobacco industry and hand-rolled cigars along with it. Knowing their age of prosperity was over, Cuban cigar makers fled the country in search of factories elsewhere. One of those places was La Romana in the neighboring Dominican Republic, and what began in 1971 as a grassroots escape from Cuba, has grown today into the largest hand-rolled cigar factory in the world. Here on the palm-lined Caribbean coast outside of Casa de Campo, visitors can view the impeccable care that goes into making a cigar. The majority of tobacco is sourced right here from local Dominican plantations, and then hand bunched and individually inspected for quality, craftsmanship, and care. Many of the cigar world’s biggest names—from Montecristo and H. Upmann to Romeo and Julieta—are processed, rolled, and packaged here on the island’s southeastern coast. Even travelers who don’t smoke cigars can appreciate the meticulous attention to detail that goes into crafting what some might argue are the world’s best premium cigars.More
#11
La Flor Dominicana Cigar Factory
La Flor Dominicana produces some of the Dominican Republic’s most well-known cigars at their factory in La Romana. Visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at how tobacco plants are transformed into cigars, from leaf sorting and stripping to hand-rolling, aging, fermenting, and packing.More
#12
Altos de Chavon Regional Museum of Archaeology
Located in Altos de Chavón (a re-creation of a 16th-century Mediterranean–style village) in La Romana, this archaeology museum showcases artifacts and artwork from the days when the Dominican Republic and Haiti were known as Hispaniola. It houses thousands of pieces from this pre-Columbian era, many of which were excavated from the nearby region that borders the Chavón River.More
#13
Minitas Beach (Playa Minitas)
Minitas Beach(Playa Minitas) is the perfect island paradise and an ideal destination for travelers who want to relax among the ocean views, white sands and towering palm trees of Dominican Republic. Visitors will find turquoise blue waters filled with colorful, tropical fish, quiet stretches of beach lined with comfortable chairs for unwinding and impeccable views that are easy to get lost in.And while Minitas Beach(Playa Minitas) offers up endless options for tired travelers who want to really relax and let go, it’s also the perfect spot for slightly more adventurous souls, thanks to kayaking, snorkeling, swimming and paddle boat options that offer up-close encounters with nature. This private, unspoiled destination is one of Dominican Republic’s finest.Travelers can explore Minitas Beach(Playa Minitas) as part of a Catalina Island and Chavon River cruise with snorkeling from the resorts of Punta Cana.More
#14
Boca de Yuma
Boca de Yuma is a small fishing village on the northeastern tip of the Dominican Republic’s National Park of the East (Parque Nacional del Este). The village is off the beaten path for tourists, meaning you’ll find a peaceful place to hang among the locals here. The harbor boasts many small restaurants and bars, similar to an Italian seaside town.More
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Number of Attractions | 14 |
|---|---|
Number of Tours | 104 |
Number of Reviews | 901 |
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