Playa Bonita, Las Terrenas.
Las Terrenas, Samaná, Dominican Republic
Playa Bonita sits between Las Terrenas town and the long emptiness of Cosón, and it gets the best of both. It is wide and properly palm-backed, quiet enough on a weekday that you will share it with a dozen people, and close enough to town that you can be there in ten minutes without planning a trip around it.
A short line of small hotels and beach restaurants faces the sand at the eastern end — which means shade, cold drinks and somewhere to eat without leaving. The western end runs on to Punta Bonita and, at low tide, all the way to Cosón.
This guide covers getting there, the surf, where to eat, and the tours and transport you can book direct with local operators in Las Terrenas.
Surf lessons, tours and transport in Las Terrenas
4.9· 56Scooter Rental — Las Terrenas
4.7· 155Humpback Whale Watching from Las Terrenas, with Cayo Levantado
4.7· 174Catamaran Day Sails, Sunsets and Lessons — Las Terrenas
4.8· 46First Ride — A Beginners' Hour at the Hacienda
5.0· 29Outdoor Lifestyle Photo Session — Samaná
5.0· 111Private Driver in Las Terrenas — Door-to-Door Airport Transfers
4.9· 319ATV Coffee Trail Cultural Tour
4.9· 56Car & SUV Rental — Las Terrenas
4.8· 86Los Haitises Caves, Bird Island & Cayo Levantado by Boat
4.8· 34Private Fishing, Boat Excursions & Wingfoil – Las Terrenas
4.8· 46Beach Horseback Ride — Canter Possible
5.0· 112Airport Transfers and Peninsula Rides — Las Terrenas Taxi
How to get to Playa Bonita
Playa Bonita is about 5 km west of Las Terrenas — 10 minutes by road, paved the whole way.
By taxi — USD $10–$15 each way from Las Terrenas town.
By motoconcho — USD $3–$5 each way, the way most locals do it.
By scooter or car — take the coast road west out of town towards Cosón; Playa Bonita is signposted on the right after the hill. Park along the road by the hotels.
On foot — walkable from the western edge of Las Terrenas in about 45 minutes along the sand at low tide, though the headland at Punta Popy has to be rounded by road.
Surf, swimming and sunsets
Surf. Playa Bonita has a punchier beach break than Cosón — better for improvers than absolute beginners. It works on the same November-to-April north swell, best in the morning before the onshore wind.
Swimming. Calm and shallow at the eastern end near the hotels. The middle of the beach picks up more shore break; there are no lifeguards.
Sunset. This is the reason to come in the late afternoon. The beach faces west-north-west and the sun drops behind the Cosón headland. Several of the beach restaurants keep tables on the sand for exactly this.
Kite and windsurf riders mostly use Punta Popy back in town, where the afternoon breeze is more reliable.
Eating, staying and what a day costs
Four or five small hotels and restaurants sit directly on the sand at the eastern end, several French- or Italian-run. A main course runs about USD $12–$25; a beach-chair-and-lunch afternoon is easy to do for USD $30 a head.
Playa Bonita is also a good place to stay rather than just visit: it is quieter than Las Terrenas, the hotels are small, and you are still ten minutes from the town’s restaurants and nightlife. You will want a scooter or a car if you base yourself here.
There is no ATM or supermarket on the beach — bring cash from town.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Playa Bonita?
Playa Bonita is on the north coast of the Samaná peninsula in the Dominican Republic, about 5 km west of Las Terrenas. It is roughly a 10-minute drive on a paved road, between the town beaches and Playa Cosón.
How do I get to Playa Bonita from Las Terrenas?
A taxi costs about USD $10–$15 each way, a motoconcho USD $3–$5. By scooter or car, take the coast road west towards Cosón and follow the sign on the right after the hill. Parking is on the road by the hotels.
Is Playa Bonita better than Playa Cosón?
They serve different purposes. Playa Bonita is closer to town, has hotels and restaurants directly on the sand, and is the better sunset spot. Playa Cosón is far longer and emptier, with the more forgiving beginner surf break. Many visitors do both — at low tide you can walk between them.
Can you surf at Playa Bonita?
Yes, though it suits improvers more than complete beginners: the beach break is punchier than Cosón’s. It works on the north swell from November to April and is cleanest in the morning, before the onshore breeze builds.
Are there hotels on Playa Bonita?
Yes — a short row of small hotels and guesthouses sits directly on the sand at the eastern end, several French- or Italian-run. It is a quieter alternative to staying in Las Terrenas town, though you will want a scooter or car to get around.
More Samaná guides.
From the Samaná travel blog.
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Playa Cosón Guide: Visiting Las Terrenas' Longest Beach
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