Skip the front row and eat at side-street palapas

Hurricane season normally runs from June to November, and the sea can be dangerous when storms pass. Early fall can be quiet, but mid to late season carries storm risk. Check the forecast and the alerts from the Dominican emergency center before you travel, and ask your hotel about its cancellation terms. The drier…

The eastern end of the beach, toward the old Hamaca resort, is quieter and cleaner than the central strip, and walking east from the main access point leads to calmer coves. The center is the busiest and loudest, especially at weekends. If you want slower mornings, choose a stay at that end and walk into the center…

Calle Duarte is where Boca Chica's night music gathers, with open-air bars playing bachata and live merengue, mostly on weekends. Beachside bars also put on music through the day. Go after dinner, stay on the well-lit stretch of the street, and carry some cash for drinks. Weekends are the liveliest, and a weekday…

Late afternoon gives Boca Chica its best light, with clear shallow water, white sand and palms, and sunsets seen from the shore. Pelicans and colorful fishing boats make good foregrounds. The central strip gets littered by late afternoon on busy days, so frame wide shots toward the water or walk to a quieter stretch…

La Caleta park, just west of town, has reefs from about six meters down to deep wrecks, so it suits beginners and technical divers alike. The dive sites are a short boat ride from shore, and the calmest water is in the dry season, from December to May. Book with an experienced local operator ahead of time. It is a…

Vendors on Boca Chica's beach are many and persistent, selling food, drinks, chair and umbrella rentals, boat rides and jet skis, and some may overcharge. The public beach itself is free, and only private clubs charge for entry. Ask the price before you sit or board, carry small peso bills because vendors often cannot…

Jet skis, banana boats and short boat rides are easy to find on the beach, but the UK government warns that recreational water-sports providers in the country may not meet its safety standards and that lifeguards can be missing from beaches. Look for an operator that provides life jackets and a briefing, agree the…

The reef-sheltered water stays shallow for a long way, so people wade far from the sand, and the bottom has shells and rocky patches. Bring water shoes and a mask, or rent snorkel gear from a local vendor on the beach. Snorkel near the reef edge and keep an eye on how far you have drifted from shore. Weekday mornings…