The next big holiday destination in the Dominican Republic: Travel Weekly

Omar Perez

While Punta Cana, with its wide range of all-inclusive offerings, continues to be a major attraction not only for tourists from the Dominican Republic but from the entire Caribbean, a region to the west is gaining increasing interest among tourists and resorts.

About 90 minutes west of Punta Cana, separated by highways that cut through banana fields and grazing cattle, lies Miches. It is a rural region known for its pristine, palm-lined beaches, nature reserves such as Salto de La Jalda (the Dominican Republic’s highest waterfall), the Lagunas Redonda y Limon Nature Reserve, and the hilltop Montaña Redona. Historically, it is a region whose population is mostly made up of farmers and fishermen. Leatherback turtles come ashore each year to lay eggs, and humpback whales make a migratory visit to the region at the beginning of the year. You’ll soon have plenty of human company.

Some were convinced that Miches could one day serve as a sustainable tourism destination. The regional non-profit Fundacion Tropicalia, founded in 2008 by Tropicalia (the sustainable tourism and real estate development company Cisneros Real Estate), has promoted socioeconomic and environmental development in Miches through various initiatives.

The pioneer

Club Med took the first step into Miches, opening Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda in 2019. The brand was already successful at its Punta Cana location and the Dominican government encouraged Club Med to explore the idea of ​​opening a Miches resort.

“The region’s lush landscapes, pristine beaches and vibrant local culture perfectly align with Club Med’s vision of providing a haven that combines relaxation with adventure,” said Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean.

Initially, there were concerns about infrastructure and accessibility because Miches was a relatively underdeveloped area, Doyon said. However, the highway connecting Punta Cana to Miches greatly improved accessibility and mitigated those initial challenges.

“To address these concerns, we invested in building and developing the necessary infrastructure and worked closely with the government to improve connectivity,” she said. “Sustainability was also a key factor, both in construction and in day-to-day operations, as was hiring people from within the community.” Club Med partnered with a local organization to set up a training center and hired more than 900 locals.

Follow the leader

Club Med was the first, but will soon have a lot of company.

Upcoming resorts include the December opening of Viva Miches by Wyndham, a Trademark all-inclusive resort; Marriott Miches Beach (a remodel of Sunrise Miches Beach, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025 and will be the brand’s first all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic); Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton on February 1; and two Hyatt Inclusive Collection properties: the adults-only Secrets Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa and the family-friendly Dreams Playa Esmeralda, both scheduled to open in April.

The Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia (owned by the Cisnero family) is scheduled to open in 2026. It will be located on a 60-hectare stretch of beach on the south coast of Samaná Bay.

Playa Esmeralda beach in the Dominican Republic. Photo credit: Omar Perez

Simon Suarez, vice president of institutional relations and projects for Grupo Puntacana in the Dominican Republic, said public and private initiatives introduced in 2012 boosted the region’s tourism growth. (The opening of the highway between Miches and Punta Cana in 2015 also helped make Miches more accessible.) After some adjustments and revisions, the initiatives were implemented starting around 2018 and have since sparked unprecedented growth in the region, Suarez said.

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Miches is an extension of the Punta Cana region and offers “experiences that don’t exist in Punta Cana and it diversifies the (tourism) product in the market,” said Suarez, whose past roles include serving as president of the Dominican Republic Hotel and Tourism Association and as a hotelier. He also sees a future in which resorts and other tourism offerings will stretch the entire stretch between Punta Cana and Miches.

An environmental impact study is required for each resort development project, which is conducted under the supervision of the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. Projects must comply with environmental protection requirements, which include, for example, the mandatory use of appropriate lighting for sea turtle nesting sites.

“Our goal is to ensure that the region’s enormous potential is used responsibly by creating a competitive tourism offer that meets the environmental and social inclusion demands of today’s travelers,” said Gustavo Roman, executive director of the El Seibo-Miches Hotel and Tourism Association (ProMiches). “We have developed a comprehensive tourism development plan for Miches, which we are implementing in partnership with the Dominican government, local authorities and community leaders.”

Erika Sordo, marketing and public relations director for Viva Resorts by Wyndham, said the pristine nature of the Miches region will attract guests seeking a pristine, authentic stay.

“It’s unexplored, off the beaten path, clean and pure,” Sordo said. “It’s truly a new destination in the Dominican Republic.”

Carolyne Doyon couldn’t agree more.

“The future of tourism in Miches looks promising,” said Doyon. “As the region continues to develop, it will become an important destination for travelers seeking natural beauty and unique experiences.”