Cabarete Playa Cofresi Playa Dorada Playa Grande Playa Punta Rucia Playa Sosua Cabarete On the Dominican Republic's north coast, adventure seekers will fall in love with Cabarate. One of the top five kiteboarding and windsurfing beaches in the world, Cabarete's beach (often called Kite Beach) annually hosts an array of international championships. On any given day, visitors to the area will see the sky filled with hundreds of colorful kites carrying amateur and pro riders through the surf. Playa Cofresi Just a few minutes west of Puerto Plata lays one of the most breathtaking beaches in the Dominican Republic named for the pirate Roberto Cofresi. While Playa Cofresi is wonderful for bathing in the sun, the waters provide excellent bodysurfing and boogie-boarding opportunities with its choppier waters. Two lodging options serve as the backdrop to the beach: Lifestyle Hacienda Resorts and Sun Village Resort & Spa. This area also features the country's largest marine theme park, Ocean World. Here, guests have the opportunity to swim with dolphins, feed stingrays, explore an artificial reef and more. In addition, the attraction now features a substantial marina and spectacular casino. Playa Dorada Located just east of Puerto Plata at the foot of the largest all-inclusive resort complex in the world, Playa Dorada is protected by reefs and features golf sand and warm waters. While anyone can drive into the Playa Dorada complex, non-guests have to pay for a day pass. Playa Grande At 1.5 miles long, Playa Grande, located near Luperon, is one of the longest beaches on the north coast. However, the beach is impressive not only for its size but also its breathtaking beauty. While the Occidental Allegro resort is now located at one end of the beach and food vendors sit at the other, the beach in between offers plenty of room to spread out. Playa Punta Rucia West of Puerto Plata and just off the beaten path, Playa Punta Rucia boasts white sand beaches and beautiful mountain views. Popular with snorkelers due to the presence of a large coral reef just off the shore, Playa Punta Rucia offers a small selection of restaurants/bars and a peaceful lagoon that is good for birdwatching. Playa Sosua Located on a crescent-shaped bay, Playa Sosua is a postcard perfect beach. Featuring a backdrop of towering cliffs, the waters here are calm, clear and a deep shade of turquoise. Playa Sosua is perhaps one of the Caribbean's most popular beaches, which may explain the crowds. However, with so much to do - shopping or eating in Sosua, snorkeling or even taking a glass bottom boat tour - the crowds are worth the visit.