Boca Chica

Boca Chica

Is located just a 15 minute's drive east of Santo Domingo's major airport, Las Americas International Airport. Before Columbus arrived to the DR, this area was of major importance to the Taino civilization.

The area did not have a lot happening from then until the Trujillo era (1931-1961), at which time it became a popular resort destination for wealthy Dominicans from the capital.
The 1970's brought outside tourism and the town and surrounding area grew accordingly. Boca Chica is best known for its beautiful white sand beach located in a small cove protected by a protruding reef surrounding the cove. These geographical features create what has been described as a great big swimming pool.
The shallow depth of the cove and the outside reef keep the waters within the cove crystal clear and calm especially safe for children. In addition to swimming, watersports like snorkeling, waterskiing, paddle boating, kayaking, windsurfing and jet skiing, take place.

At night the town comes alive with incredible dining and nightlife options.

30 kilometers east of Santo Domingo, Boca Chica was developed in the early part of this century by Juan Vicini, a wealthy industrialist. In those early days, it was a favorite vacation destination for city residents. Entire families would move clothing and households here for the summer. The ladies would sip cocktails and bathe in the evening, because sun was bad for their delicate complexions.

Children would run free as the breeze, and the gentlemen would commute from the city. The old Hamaca Hotel was to become the social center of the period. A place to see others and be seen. Today, The Coral Hamaca Beach Hotel & Casino is a modern beach resort with ideal facilities.

Boca Chica offers clear waters, slow currents, a yacht club and marina, nearby golf at San Andrés and excellent seafood restaurants. The new Boca Chica is more popular than ever!

Popular excursions include trips to the capital; diving at La Caleta Submarine National Park, Saona or Catalina Island; horseback riding; deep-sea fishing; or watching one of the daily baseball games taking place at Calle del Sur

Boca Chica beach is a reef-protected lagoon of tranquil blue waters and powder-white sand. One can wade out 100 yards off shore into glassy waters and still be only waist deep with nothing but soft clean sand underfoot. It’s the perfect beach or small children because there are no waves and no deep water. Boca Chica is crowded on Sundays when capital city dwellers make the half hour commute to the beach, returning home at dusk.

The rest of the week, the sand and sun is for the tourists. One can find just about everything in Boca Chica, making it one of the most complete of the ungated beach towns in the country. There are hotels and dining for every budget, great night life, proximity to the airport and capital, yet it’s still small enough to build relationships. Boca Chica is a "shopping beach" because pleasant Dominican vendors wander the beach or sell from their shops on the main street that runs parallel to the beach. While tanning, you can haggle over silver jewelry and paintings, or get your hair braided in corn rows. No heavy pressure. Just people trying to get a few of your tourist dollars.

Attractions:

The biggest attraction in Boca Chica is the beach. That’s why each hotel offers an array of water sports and beach activities to keep you occupied. You won’t find much high culture here – there are no theaters, galleries or movie houses. Fortunately, the big hotels have their own evening shows and discos and there are many public discos throughout the town. Plus the Hamaca Hotel has a casino open to the public. Most visitors to Boca Chica spend their days either on the beach or going on excursions to see the rest of the country.