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Province · Costa Leste: Punta Cana e La Romana
El Seibo
El Seibo is the province of Miches and the Costa Esmeralda, on the southern shore of Samaná Bay: Playa Esmeralda, the Montaña Redonda viewpoint, Laguna Limón and, inland, cattle and cacao farms.
In the photo: Playa Esmeralda, in Miches (El Seibo)
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know El Seibo
The province of El Seibo occupies the eastern part of the Dominican Republic between the Caribbean coast to the south and Samaná Bay to the north. Running through the middle is the Cordillera Oriental, a low, green mountain range, and around it stretch pastures, sugarcane fields and cacao plantations. The capital, Santa Cruz de El Seibo, is one of the country’s oldest towns, founded in the early 16th century, with a colonial stone church at its center.
For travelers, the most interesting area is to the north, in Miches, the town of the so-called Costa Esmeralda, which the guide treats as a destination on its own. Playa Esmeralda has light sand and coconut palms with hills behind; Montaña Redonda, an isolated hill between the sea and Laguna Redonda, has become a famous viewpoint for the swings over the valley; and Laguna Limón is a mangrove reserve with waterbirds, connected to the sea by a channel.
El Seibo is land of cowboys and cattle ranches, the hatos, and of traditional festivals linked to rural life. The cuisine is eastern: rice with beans, stewed meat, fried fish on the coast and chivo (goat) in the inland villages.
The province has become more accessible thanks to new roads linking Miches to Punta Cana and Santo Domingo. Even so, it remains quiet, with few hotels and lots of open space, which is exactly the draw for those who want beaches without crowds.
When to go
From December to April it usually rains less and the skies are clearer for views of Montaña Redonda. From January to March humpback whales enter Samaná Bay, in front of Miches. The region is rainier and greener than Punta Cana, with quick downpours year-round. Hurricanes are possible from June to November, and rainfall increases from August to October in El Seibo.
Getting there
The most used airport is Punta Cana (PUJ), about an hour and a half from Miches via the new road that crosses the Cordillera Oriental. From Santo Domingo the road goes through Hato Mayor and El Seibo and reaches Miches in about two and a half hours. There are buses from Santo Domingo to El Seibo and Miches. For Montaña Redonda and Laguna Limón, east of Miches, a car or an organized tour is recommended.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about El Seibo
What to do in the province of El Seibo?
The main attractions are in Miches: Playa Esmeralda, Montaña Redonda and Laguna Limón. Along the way, the town of El Seibo has a colonial church and the everyday life of an eastern ranching town.
Is Miches far from Punta Cana?
About an hour and a half by car via the new road. Many tours depart from Punta Cana hotels for Montaña Redonda.
Can you see whales in El Seibo?
Humpback whales enter Samaná Bay from January to March and pass in front of Miches, but most whale-watching trips depart from Samaná, on the other side of the bay.
Do you need a car in El Seibo?
It helps a lot, because the beaches, Montaña Redonda and Laguna Limón are spread out and public transport is scarce. Without a car, use hotel excursions or local mototaxis.
What do you eat in El Seibo?
Eastern Dominican food: rice, beans and stewed meat, fried fish on the Miches coast and, inland, cabrito (goat), the chivo, prepared with country-style seasonings.