Juan Dolio

Why choose Juan Dolio?
Juan Dolio and its neighbor beach town Guayacanes are for those who seek a couples or family restful vacation but like being able to take many excursions. If you are staying in Juan Dolio, you are equidistant from the culture, shopping and dining and nightlife of Santo Domingo, great beaches, scuba diving and other attractions in La Romana, and just half an hour away from busy Boca Chica. The town of Juan Dolio is very long and thin, following the shoreline. There are only two roads: the highway and a small beach road that connects all the hotels, so you can walk, jog or cycle in safety here. This destination is perfect for those looking for a quiet escape with all the comforts of home. There is nightlife primarily at the hotels but this is not what you would call a “party hearty” destination.

What else is nearby
Almost anywhere you could possibly want to go is accessible from the coastal highway which cuts through the town of Juan Dolio and follows the shoreline. To the immediate east is an extension of Juan Dolio, called Villas Del Mar, where many restaurants and all-inclusive hotels are located.

About 15 minutes further east is the baseball city of San Pedro de Macoris, home town of Sammy Sosa.

Another hour beyond that is the La Romana/Bayahibe area.
Going west from Juan Dolio you’ll find the fishing village/beach town of Guayacanes, then the pretty cove-like beach of Playa Caribe, followed by Boca Chica about 20 minutes from Juan Dolio. Santo Domingo is about a 50 minute drive to the west of Juan Dolio.

How to Get There
Most travelers to the Juan Dolio area will arrive at the Las Americas International Airport, a 30 minute drive. However, some flights are now starting to arrive at the new La Romana airport. This airport is just over an hour’s drive from Juan Dolio.

Getting around
Everybody walks in Juan Dolio. The beach road is quiet and has very little traffic. What traffic it does have is slowed down by dozens of very large speed bumps. Good to remember if you ride a bike! Most hotels here have bicycles on loan to guests. Motoconchos (motorcycle taxis) also cruise the beach road but we don’t recommend using them or the hotel bicycles on the busy highway. Your hotel can help you get a taxi. Rates are usually posted near the entrance of the hotel.

If you’re on a budget, the public buses or guaguas travel east and west on the highway, passing every few minutes. Just stand anywhere by the side of the road and they’ll stop for you.

Attractions:
Those seeking action can head for the area's casinos, discos, 18-hole golf course or participate in the water sports programs offered by the many large all-inclusive complexes.
Go Kart Bahn is a racetrack on the highway to San Pedro where go karts can be rented for a fast spin around the track. 
Expected to be open to the general public in January 2002, the Cueva de las Maravillas is one option in the vicinity. Down under, browse at the very good collection of pre-Columbian art.

There’s a bowling alley at the far eastern end of the beach road, past the Melia Juan Dolio.
Tropical Plantation is on the Hato Mayor-Sabana de la Mar road due north of Juan Dolio. This working flower farm has a fairy-tale botanical garden and a natural green jungle with a labyrinth of paths where the fun is in getting lost and finding your way out again.

Make friends with a local and get him or her to take you to a night baseball game in the San Pedro Tetelo Vargas Stadium. The winter baseball season runs from October through the end of January. Sammy Sosa owns a disco in San Pedro city. Some big leaguers like Jose Lima and Bartolo Colon come home during the off season to play for the ‘folks’ back home. This year's baseball season is especially exciting, with Alfonso Soriano, Vladimir Guerrero and many others making up the Estrellas Dream Team.

Excursions
Guided tours are an excellent way to experience this region, since there are relatively few attractions within walking or busing distance. 
Some of the excursions available are:
Jeep Safaris
Santo Domingo City Tour and Half Day Tour
Santo Domingo Night Tour
Altos De Chavon artists village/River boat ride
Cueva Fun Fun (and its seven-kilometer long underground river)
Los Haitises
Saona Island
Catalina Island
Rancho Cumayasa: horseback riding 

Sports:

Golf
The best golf in the Boca Chica-Juan Dolio area is Los Marlins Golf and Country Club, on the coastal highway not far from the Costa Caribe Resort. 18-holes, club house, restaurant, bar, carts and equipment rentals.
See our golf page for more details at our Golf Page

Scuba
Nearly every large hotel here has a dive shop that offers PADI certification courses and open water dives. Juan Dolio is about an hour away from some of the country's best diving off Catlina Island. Or you can just get your feet wet with a free introductory lesson in the pool. If you enjoy snorkeling, you can do so right off the beach in front of your hotel. You may have noticed the long reef breaking the waves just off shore. It creates a home for the fish and keeps strong waves off the beach. Your hotel should be able to loan you snorkel gear. Dives to visit the Tanya V sunken wreck can be booked with the dive shops.

Fishing
Fishing trips can be arranged at the Metro Hotel Marina. Marlin, dorado, barracuda and others.

Horseback Riding
Crazy Horse Ranch. Juan Dolio. Jungle/beach rides. Or Rancho Cumayasa for a combined horse-riding, river trekking and Catalina island visiting day.

Accommodations
Scattered among the mammoth sized resorts are numerous smaller hotels and guest houses. Regardless of your taste in accommodation, you will find something to suit you. Most of the smaller hotels are accessed from the beach road that runs parallel to the highway. For more information on where to stay, see our Hotel Directory

Restaurants
A reputation for excellent cuisine has taken hold in Juan Dolio and Guayacanes. Sophisticated palates can choose from a variety of fine restaurants ranging from informal to casually elegant, even a few with noteworthy wine cellars. Italian restaurants and steak and lobster abound here. See our Restaurant Directory

Entertainment outside your hotel
El Batey disco, next to Decameron Hotel. Merengue, salsa and dance beat ‘til all hours.Chocolate Bar, on access road between Decameron and Costa Caribe. Pool tables and international beers on offer.

Casino at Coral Costa Caribe – new American style casino with live music. Shuttle bus picks up guests from other hotels.
Open to public.

The casino at Barcelo Decameron is older but has all the standard table games and slots. It also has its own shuttle bus and is open to the public. For an overview on casinos in the DR, read the Casino Page


Shopping
For souvenirs, many small shops line the beach front road for a leisurely shopping trip on foot. Friendly vendors ply the beaches, selling jewelry, t-shirts and crafts priced with haggling in mind. For groceries, rum, cigars and Dominican coffee there’s a large supermarket next door to the Decameron hotel. For serious shopping, take the Santo Domingo city tour or if you are an independent sort, take the public bus into the city. San Pedro is closer than Santo Domingo but most people prefer shopping amid the culture and history of Santo Domingo’s colonial zone to the chaos of San Pedro.