SANTO DOMINGO.– The Dominican Republic continues to strengthen its position as one of the world's leading sun and beach destinations, after five of its beaches were included during the first half of 2026 in prestigious international rankings prepared by renowned publications, travel platforms and tourism sector experts, according to information released by the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur).
The awards extend to Canto de la Playa, Bahía de las Águilas, Playa Bávaro, Playa Bonita and Playa de Los Patos, which this year were highlighted by specialized media such as Lonely Planet, Tripadvisor, National Geographic, Travel + Leisure and The World's 50 Best Beaches, consolidating the diversity of natural attractions that the country offers.
Canto de la Playa is among the best in the world
According to Mitur, Canto de la Playa, located on Saona Island, achieved one of the most relevant recognitions by occupying position number 20 in the ranking The World's 50 Best Beaches 2026, which brings together the best beaches in the world.
Furthermore, this beach, along with Bahía de las Águilas, Playa Frontón and Cayo Levantado, is among the five best beaches in North America, according to the same specialized publication.
Bahía de las Águilas maintains its international prestige
The Ministry highlighted that Bahía de las Águilas, in Pedernales, once again appeared among the most recognized beaches on the planet, being included by Lonely Planet within the 25 best beaches in the world, occupying the 25th position.
The Australian guide also rated it as one of the best white sand beaches and included it among the 50 best beaches in North America.
Bavaro Beach gains recognition in the Caribbean
Another of the outstanding destinations was Bavaro Beach, in Punta Cana, selected by Tripadvisor among the 15 best beaches in the Caribbean within the Travellers' Choice: Best of the Best 2026 awards, where it occupies the fifth position.
According to information published by the government entity, Bávaro also appears among the most relaxing beaches in the world in a study shared by Travel + Leisure, in addition to being included in the list of the 20 essential beaches of the Caribbean and the Bahamas prepared by that specialized magazine.
Samaná and Barahona also receive recognition
The province of Samaná also gained a presence in these international lists thanks to Playa Bonita, recommended by National Geographic as one of the best beaches in the world and also selected by various specialized portals as one of the most attractive coastal destinations to visit during 2026.
Meanwhile, Playa de Los Patos, in Barahona, was included by Lonely Planet among the 13 best beaches in the Caribbean, reinforcing the tourist appeal of the southern region of the country.
More Dominican beaches gain international visibility
The Ministry of Tourism reported that other Dominican destinations also managed to position themselves in international rankings during this year.
These include Playa Frontón, in Samaná, and Cayo Levantado, both included among the 50 best beaches in North America.
Lonely Planet also recommended eight Dominican beaches among the most outstanding to visit in the country: Cayo Levantado, Playa Bávaro, Playa San Rafael, Playa Encuentro, Bahía de las Águilas, Playa Cometa, Playa Frontón and Las Dunas de Baní, highlighting the variety of coastal landscapes that the Dominican Republic offers.
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