Caribbean · The Greater Antilles
Casa de Campo, Samaná’s whales and a coast nobody charters: for the long trip
The Dominican Republic has the Caribbean’s biggest marina resort at Casa de Campo, humpback whales filling Samaná Bay every winter, and eight hundred miles of coast. No charter fleet is based here, so it is a stop for owners on an extended cruise or a long charter heading west, with relocation fees to match.
Where
Greater Antilles, the eastern two thirds of Hispaniola
Fly to
Punta Cana (PUJ) or Santo Domingo (SDQ), direct from the US and Europe
Best months
December to April; whales January to March
Give it
Three or four nights on a longer trip
Known for
Casa de Campo, Samaná’s humpbacks, Saona, Altos de Chavón
Reality
No fleet based here; a charter means relocation fees
Why go
The Dominican Republic, honestly
The Dominican Republic is a big country with a small yachting footprint. Casa de Campo on the south coast is the exception: a seven-thousand-acre resort with a superyacht marina, three golf courses, polo, a shooting ground and Altos de Chavón, a replica sixteenth-century village on a cliff above the river. Yachts that come to the DR come here.
Two other things are worth the passage. Saona and Catalina, the islands off the south-east tip, have the sandbars and shallows of the Bahamas with nobody on them but the day boats from Punta Cana, which leave by three. And Samaná Bay on the north-east coast fills with humpback whales from January to March, thousands of them, breaching within sight of the boat.
None of this is on a week. No fleet is based in the DR, so a yacht is brought in and taken out, with relocation fees added. We see it on owners’ trips heading west, or as the stop between the Leewards and the Bahamas on a long charter.
Where we anchor
The anchorages, in the order we use them
- Casa de Campo MarinaBerthThe superyacht marina at La Romana, with the resort around it. Clear in here.
- Isla SaonaAnchorage, daySandbars and shallows off the south-east tip. After three the day boats leave and it is yours.
- Isla CatalinaAnchorageA reef-ringed island a few miles from the marina, for the snorkelling.
- Samaná BayAnchorage, whalesHumpbacks from January to March. Anchor off Cayo Levantado and watch from the deck.
Ashore
The Dominican Republic off the boat
Not a directory. If it is here, we have sat at the table or stood at the bar.
Eat
Casa de Campo and Altos de Chavón have the tables.
- La Piazzetta, Altos de ChavónItalian in the cliff-top village above the Chavón river.
- La CañaThe resort’s classic, long and easy evenings.
- A fish shack on SaonaLobster and fried fish on the sand, with the day boats gone.
Drink and dance
The marina and the village.
- La SusannaA lounge on the marina with live music.
- Altos de Chavón at nightCobbles, a church, an amphitheatre Sinatra opened.
Do
Golf, polo, whales.
- Teeth of the DogPete Dye’s course along the sea at Casa de Campo, one of the best in the world.
- Whale watching, SamanáFrom your own deck, January to March.
- Polo and the shooting groundCasa de Campo’s other two reasons to stay a day.
Where it sits
The Dominican Republic on the chart
The Dominican Republic sits west of Puerto Rico, two hundred miles from the Virgin Islands. It is a stop on a long trip heading west towards the Bahamas or Cuba, not part of any week.
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When
When to be in The Dominican Republic
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- December to April: the dry season and the time to be here.
- January to March: the humpbacks in Samaná Bay, thousands of them.
- May to November: wet and hot, hurricane season from June; the north coast takes the weather.
- Golf is year-round at Casa de Campo, for the people who come for that.
Itineraries
Itineraries that call at The Dominican Republic
Full plans, day by day, with the boat each one runs on. Send one to the people coming with you; we reshape it around your yacht and dates.
The Leeward Islands in ten nights
Antigua7 stopsSt Maarten
Antigua to St Maarten, downwind the whole way: lunch at Nobu on Barbuda, Nevis and St Kitts, a weekend in St Barths and Anguilla's beaches to finish.
Open
A week in St Barths and Anguilla
St Maarten5 stopsSt Maarten
Three nights in St Barths over the weekend, Anguilla's beach picnic either side, and an uninhabited island in between. Six hours of cruising all week.
Open
A week in the Grenadines
St Lucia7 stopsGrenada
The Windward Islands, St Lucia to Grenada one way: the Pitons, Bequia, Mustique, the Tobago Cays and the Spice Island. Greener, wilder and far less spoken about.
Open
A week in the Virgin Islands
St John7 stopsSt Thomas
From St Thomas: St John's park, the Caves at Norman Island, the Baths, Anegada's lobster and the Soggy Dollar. The first charter we recommend to most families.
Open
St Barths then the Virgin Islands
St Barths8 stopsSt John
A weekend in St Barths and Anguilla's beach picnic, an overnight passage downwind, then a week in the Virgins. St Maarten to St Thomas.
Open
The Leeward and Windward Islands in 14 nights
St Barths13 stopsGrenada
St Maarten to Grenada, all the way down: St Barths, Nevis and St Kitts, Barbuda and Antigua, the French islands, Dominica, the Pitons and the Grenadines.
OpenYachts
Yachts in the Caribbean now
None of these is based here. Any of them can be brought in on a long trip, with relocation fees.
CORAL OCEAN
Lürssen · 73m · 1994, refit 2026
12 guests | 6 cabins | 28 crew
€650k – 790k
UTOPIA IV
Rossinavi · 63m · 2018, refit 2022
12 guests | 6 cabins | 12 crew
$475k – 505k
ARAOK
Fountaine Pajot · 18m · 2018, refit 2024
6 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
€25k – 29k
VAGATOR
Fountaine Pajot · 20m · 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
€38k – 57k
BETH ANN
Westport · 34m · 2012, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 5 crew
$65k – 75k
The Peddler
Custom Line · 26m · 2019
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
$69k – 74k
OCEAN CLUB
Trinity Yachts · 49m · 2009, refit 2025
12 guests | 5 cabins | 10 crew
$195k – 250k
ENCORE
Sunreef Yachts · 18m · 2026
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
$56k – 62k
BELLA
Feadship · 45m · 2008, refit 2014
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
€245k – 255k
WHISPER
Holland Jachtbouw · 35m · 2003, refit 2019
6 guests | 3 cabins | 5 crew
Price on request
REVE BLEU
Lagoon · 21m · 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
€45k – 60k
LOOMA
Fountaine Pajot · 20m · 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
$34k – 65k
ELVIS MAGIC
Oyster Marine · 20m · 2003, refit 2025
6 guests | 3 cabins | 2 crew
$25k – 26k
SIETE MARES
Lagoon · 24m · 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
€65k – 69k
GRAND ILLUSION
Palmer Johnson · 44m · 1994, refit 2017
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
$115k – 125k
MINE GAMES
Benetti · 50m · 2023
10 guests | 5 cabins | 10 crew
$330k – 350k
QARA
Horizon · 25m · 2001, refit 2023
6 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
$37k – 42k
Avanti
Privilege · 22m · 2005, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
$51k – 55k
NORTHERN STAR
Hinckley · 23m · 1993, refit 2022
6 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
$52k – 60k
MISS CHRISTINE
Trinity Yachts · 48m · 2006, refit 2024
11 guests | 5 cabins | 8 crew
$165k – 190k
SWEET CAROLINE II
Trinity Yachts · 50m · 2009, refit 2021
12 guests | 7 cabins | 11 crew
$19k – 230k
VALINOR
Lagoon · 17m · 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
€27k – 31k
ALEXA OF LONDON
38m · 1992, refit 2025
9 guests | 4 cabins | 5 crew
€65k – 70k
RAY
Sunreef Yachts · 22m · 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
€70k – 77k
Aurelius 111
DUTCH YACHT BUILDERS · 34m · 2011, refit 2023
6 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
Price on request
YKNOT NOW
YYachts · 23m · 2020
6 guests | 3 cabins | 2 crew
€24k – 38k
Southern Belle
Johnson · 27m · 2006
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
$54k – 59k
KASKAZI FOUR
Lagoon · 19m · 2016, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
€23k – 30k
SEA BLISS
Sunreef Yachts · 23m · 2024
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
€63k – 70k
ARKTOS
Lagoon · 24m · 2026
9 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
€70k – 96k
Louder
Horizon · 27m · 2020, refit 2026
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
$85k – 95k
OKINAWA
Fountaine Pajot · 18m · 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 3 crew
$29k – 63k
IL MIO CANTO LIBERO
Nautor's Swan · 32m · 2014, refit 2026
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
€85k – 102k
TANZANITE
Westship · 44m · 2004, refit 2023
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
$145k – 160k
CALYPSO
Feadship · 38m · 1978, refit 2025
11 guests | 5 cabins | 8 crew
$120k – 135k
NO SURRENDER
Custom Line · 37m · 2022
11 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
$140k – 155k
FRENCH WEST
Lagoon · 24m · 2020
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
$55k – 72k
Lady Joy
Christensen · 48m · 2007, refit 2025
12 guests | 6 cabins | 11 crew
$199k – 225k
Just Enough
43m · 2012, refit 2024
11 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
$119k – 139k
NEVER ENOUGH
Feadship · 43m · 1992, refit 2019
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
$110k – 127k
LE PONANT
Société Française de Construction Navale (SFCN) · 84m · 1990, refit 2022
32 guests | 16 cabins | 34 crew
€540k
CROSSED SABRE
Burger · 44m · 2006, refit 2021
12 guests | 7 cabins | 11 crew
$175k – 195k
YOLO
Sunreef Yachts · 22m · 2022
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
€59k – 70k
TOP FIVE II
Royal Hakvoort · 61m · 2021
12 guests | 7 cabins | 19 crew
$600k – 650k
SHADES OF GREY
Sunreef Yachts · 24m · 2024
9 guests | 4 cabins | 5 crew
€70k – 100k
PERSEVERANCE 1
Baltic · 40m · 2021, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 6 crew
€100k – 110k
HOUBARA
Sunreef Yachts · 24m · 2012, refit 2026
7 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
€34k – 45k
Chakra
Devonport · 86m · 1998, refit 2025
24 guests | 19 cabins | 30 crew
€495k
48 yachts in rotation. The order changes with every visit so no boat is always last.
Questions we get asked
The Dominican Republic, answered
Common questions
Can we charter a yacht in the Dominican Republic?
Yes, with relocation fees, because no fleet is based there and the yacht is brought in from the Virgin Islands or the Bahamas. It makes sense as a stop on a longer trip rather than a week of its own.
What is Casa de Campo?
A seven-thousand-acre resort at La Romana with a superyacht marina, three golf courses including Teeth of the Dog, polo, a shooting ground and Altos de Chavón, the replica village on the cliff. It is where yachts in the DR go.
When are the whales in Samaná?
January to March, when thousands of humpbacks come into Samaná Bay to breed and calve. You watch them from your own deck.
Is the DR good for a first charter?
No. For a first week the Leewards, the Virgin Islands or the Bahamas are the right call. The DR is for owners and seasoned charterers heading west.
Want The Dominican Republic in your week?
Tell us the dates and who is coming. We will say which nights to give it, which berth to hold, and whether the week you want is still open.