CAYO ARENA

Cayo Arena, originally known as Cayo Paraíso, is a must-see on the north coast. Located 20 minutes by boat from Punta Rucia, it's a small, isolated sandbar in the middle of the Atlantic, protected by a coral reef. Its size varies according to the tides; it's advisable to go there at low tide, when the island is larger and the beach more beautiful. On the beach, a few cane roofs provide shade. The surrounding water is calm, turquoise and crystal-clear, and the seabed spectacular. The name Paraíso has never been more justified! With the help of a mask (usually supplied with transport), you can admire the perpetual ballet of tropical fish in an explosion of colors. The corals are not to be outdone, forming a veritable underwater forest of astonishing diversity. The corals are (for the moment) in a good state of preservation, but the increasing number of visitors does not bode well for the future. During the high season, up to 500 people cram onto an islet barely larger than a tennis court. Our advice: sleep at Punta Rucia and negotiate an early morning departure, so you can have the island and its seabed to yourself, and the feeling for a few hours that you've reached paradise.

The Astrapuca fishermen's association (+1 809 931 8626) offers tours to Cayo Arena (1,000 pesos/person - minimum 3 people). Approx. 2-hour trip with mangrove tour and snorkeling stop.