Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CABRERA
East of Playa Grande is Cabrera, a sleepy town of stone houses with colorful shutters,
flower boxes and well-kept gardens, as well as lavish vacation homes owned by Dominic-
ans and expats. Because electricity and hence nighttime lights are scarce, stargazing is ex-
cellent.
Nearby
Playa Diamante
is a small, fairly ordinary-looking beach with shallow water good
for children;
Playa El Breton
, within Parque Nacional Cabo Francis, has excellent snorkel-
ing; most noteworthy of all,
Playa Entrada
is one of the longest, most picture-postcard-
worthy beaches in the country. Privacy is easy to come by. A couple of informal shacks sell
seafood and drinks (these might be abandoned on weekdays).
Nearby
Laguna Dudu
, a unique site for divers, is a waterfilled limestone cave that runs all
the way to the ocean! Non-divers can access the landscaped picnic area (RD$100) for cliff
jumping and rope swinging.
The area has been colonized by a collection of spectacular, private, high-end, fully
staffed villas for rent, part of a development called Orchid Bay Estates; these include
Mediterranean-style Villa Castellamonte and the 35,000-sq-ft ultramodern Casa Kimball
(all have eight bedrooms). Otherwise travelers can head to
Hotel La Catalina
(
809-589-7700;
www.lacatalina.com
;
r incl breakfast US$100; )
, perched on a lush hill several
kilometers inland and west of town. It offers charming and airy rooms with fresh white lin-
ens and wicker furniture, as well as spectacular views from the restaurant and pool area.
Free shuttles take guests to and from Playa Grande.