Why Honeymoon in Miches
Miches offers what many couples hope to find in the Caribbean: a long, empty beach, a comfortable resort and nature close at hand. Playa Esmeralda and the beaches nearby are wide and soft, with fewer people than almost anywhere in Punta Cana.
The setting also gives you more to do than lie on the sand. You can ride a horse to a waterfall, take a boat into Los Haitises, watch whales in winter or drive up to Montaña Redonda, a hilltop with swings and views over two lagoons and the sea. Small farms grow cacao, coconuts and fruit. Some offer tours.
For couples who want a resort, Club Med's kid-free Archipelago village has beachfront suites and personal service. For couples who want something more local, the town of Miches has a working harbor, a few guesthouses and simple seafood spots. Either way, it feels like a different country from the big resort zones.
When to Go
December through April is the driest and most popular period, with warm days and lower humidity. It is also whale season. Humpbacks arrive in Samaná Bay from about mid-January through March.
May through November is warmer and wetter, with short tropical showers. Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the highest risk from August through October. If you travel in the fall, choose flexible bookings and buy travel insurance.
The Atlantic side of the coast can have strong waves and currents, especially in winter. The water inside Samaná Bay is usually calmer. Ask at your hotel about safe swimming spots.
Sargassum seaweed can wash up on Dominican beaches in some months, often in late spring and summer. Resorts usually clean their beaches, but it can affect swimming on some days.
Where to Stay
Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda is the main resort in the area and the top choice for honeymooners. Part of Club Med's Exclusive Collection, it has four separate villages:
- Archipelago is kid-free and designed for couples, with beachfront suites and personalized service.
- Caribbean Paradise is lively and colorful, while Emerald Jungle sits among tropical gardens. Both are open to all ages.
- Explorer Cove is the family village, with kids' clubs and activities.
The resort has a Cinq Mondes spa, several restaurants and bars, water sports and excursions included or bookable on site.
A few other all-inclusive resorts have opened along the coast between Miches and Uvero Alto in recent years. Check recent reviews before booking, since this area is still developing.
In town, small guesthouses and hotels offer simpler rooms at lower prices. They suit couples who want to explore on their own.
Romantic Things to Do
- Spend a day on Playa Esmeralda, one of the longest and emptiest beaches in the eastern Dominican Republic.
- Drive up to Montaña Redonda for swings, hammocks and views over the coast. Go at sunrise or sunset for the best light.
- Take a boat trip into Los Haitises National Park to see mangroves, limestone islands, seabirds and caves with Taíno rock art.
- Go whale watching on Samaná Bay from about mid-January through March.
- Visit Laguna Redonda and Laguna Limón, coastal lagoons protected as reserves, for birdwatching and boat rides.
- Ride horses through farmland and hills to a waterfall or a quiet beach.
- Join a cacao farm tour to learn how chocolate is made from the pod up.
- Book a sunset cruise or a lobster lunch at sea through your resort.
Getting There and Around
Fly into Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), which has nonstop flights from many US cities, including New York, Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Philadelphia and Miami. From the airport, the drive to Miches takes about an hour and a half on newer highways along the coast. Santo Domingo's Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) is about two and a half hours away.
Most resorts arrange private transfers. Taxis are available, but agree on the fare before you leave. Driving yourself is possible, but Dominican roads can be busy and unpredictable, with motorbikes and slow trucks. Night driving is best avoided.
Once in Miches, the resorts organize most excursions. For independent trips, hire a local driver through your hotel. Boat trips to Los Haitises usually leave from Sabana de la Mar, a short drive west, or from your resort.
Food and Drink
At Club Med, meals and drinks are included, with buffet and à la carte restaurants serving international and Dominican dishes. The Archipelago village has its own dining options and a more private feel.
In town, small restaurants serve fresh seafood straight from local boats. Try pescado frito, a whole fried fish served with lime and tostones (fried green plantains). Other Dominican favorites include sancocho, a hearty stew of meat and root vegetables. At lunch, look for la bandera: rice with beans and stewed meat.
The region grows cacao, coconuts and fruit, so look for fresh juices and homemade chocolate. For drinks, try a Presidente beer, a glass of Dominican rum or mamajuana, a local mix of rum, wine and herbs said to have healing powers. Coffee from the Dominican mountains is strong and good.
Honeymoon Tips
- The US State Department rates the Dominican Republic at Level 2, exercise increased caution, due to crime. In Miches, normal precautions apply. Use hotel transport, especially at night.
- Bring insect repellent. Dengue occurs in the Dominican Republic. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
- Drink bottled or filtered water. Ice at resorts is usually safe.
- Watch for strong waves and currents on the Atlantic beaches. Swim where staff say it is safe.
- Bring cash in Dominican pesos or US dollars for tips and small purchases outside the resort.
- Pack resort-casual clothes for dinner, with long pants for some restaurants.
- Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.
