EXCEPTIONAL ANCHORAGES
There are a great number of reasons to go cruising in a sailboat. One of them is the natural beauty that we come upon from time to time. Of course everyone’s definition of the perfect anchorage is different, and that in itself makes it worth the effort to sail on to find the next really great anchorage.
The Dominican Republic is a very large island. It also is an island that has not had a great deal of traffic from the cruising community. Most yachtsmen use the DR as a stopping place on their way to the “Caribbean Islands” down south. This is unfortunate because the DR is exceptional and should not be missed.
Sailors leaving the US route for the Virgin Islands, and those that do pass through the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos, then take the north shore of the DR to make their easting. The north shore of the DR is a very difficult and very dangerous coast and really should not be transited unless one is going west. The south coast of the DR is in the “lee” of the island which offers a great deal more protection. In addition there is one fine harbor after another on the south side.
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THERE ARE MANY FINE ANCHORAGES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. THIS ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS THREE OF THEM.
BAHIA DE LAS AGUILAS 17.50.246N, 071.37.982W Bahia de las Aguilas (YOU TUBE LINK in Spanish-GREAT VIEWS)
BAHIA DE SAN LORENZO (Los Haitises National Park) is located at the Northeast end of the island. 19°.05.79N 69°29.19W cave drawings
Isla Saona is located at the Southeast end of the Dominican Republic. 18°11.98N 68°46.72W Saona Island
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BAHIA DE LAS AGUILAS 17.50.246N, 071.37.982W Bahia de las Aguilas (YOU TUBE LINK in Spanish-GREAT VIEWS)
The bay is large (more than a mile across) and has an average depth of 10′. It is pristine and well protected from all winds but SW, which is a very rare occurrence. This bay has no residential homes, there are no clearance facilities and in fact there are virtually no roads to access the beach. If you do not like being alone, this is not your anchorage. However, if you like solitude, and an absolutely virgin anchorage this is it. You can swim, fish and walk along the beautiful beach. Your sense will be that you have gone back in time 50 or more years.
BAHIA DE SAN LORENZO (Los Haitises National Park) 19°.05.79N 69°29.19W
At the northeast side of the DR is a bay called Samana. Many sailors know it because they stop there after leaving Luperon on their way east. The town where most sailors call is known as Santa Barbara de Samana. Just south and slightly west of Santa Barbara is the Los Haitises national park. It has nothing to do with the country of Haiti and is not located anywhere near Haiti. What it is is a bay within Samana bay. The bay is called Bahia de San Lorenzo .This harbor has been overlooked by cruising sailors and most often you will find you are the only boat there. It is an anchorage that is protected on all 4 sides. You anchor in 7 to 10 feet of water. The views from the anchorage have few equals in the world of cruising boats. It is also exotic in that ancient Native American caves are available to be entered and explored. The walls of the caves have authentic pictographs. This anchorage is one of the best kept secrets in the Caribbean. Actually it is not even a kept secret; more like no one is interested because most cruisers are in such a hurry to go “down south”. cave drawings (follow this link to see more cave drawings)
The natural beauty of the anchorage at ‘Los Haitises” defies verbal description. Rock formations, fauna, flamingos are all here for you to see in their natural habitat.
And what is really remarkable, is that most often you will find yourself alone at this anchorage.
ISLA SAONA 18°11.98N 68°46.72W
Isla Saona is located at the Southeast corner of the Dominican Republic. It is an island and also a national park. One can spend a week or more here, swimming, buying local fish, exploring the cays and the island and never grow tired. Everyday, boats leave from Bayahibe with tourists who visit the island for the day. They will pass your anchorage in the morning and pass you again as they return in the evening.
Saona Island (YOU TUBE LINK to see a day at Saona island)
Cruising is an art and a big part of the art is getting somewhere. The above anchorages are exceptional “somewheres” to get to. Don’t miss the opportunity, for one day when everyone wakes up, the opportunity to see these harbors in their natural state will no longer exist.
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