Bayahíbe

---

title: "Bayahíbe" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-la-altagracia-province", "tourist-attractions-in-la-altagracia-province"] description: "Town and municipality in the Dominican Republic" topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-la-altagracia-province" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayahíbe" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town and municipality in the Dominican Republic ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
official_name	Bayahíbe
native_name
settlement_type	Distrito Municipal
motto	Pueblo Encantado
image_caption	Bayahibe city, Dominican Republic
flag_size	125
dot_x
pushpin_map	Dominican Republic
pushpin_relief	1
pushpin_label_position	top
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Dominican Republic
subdivision_type1	Province
subdivision_name1	La Altagracia
established_title
established_title2
established_title3
unit_pref
area_total_km2	215.2
population_as_of	2022 census
population_total	5,618
population_density_km2	auto
timezone	Atlantic
utc_offset	-4
elevation_footnotes	tags--
postal_code_type	Postal code
postal_code	23000
area_code	809
::

|official_name = Bayahíbe |other_name = |native_name = |nickname = |settlement_type = Distrito Municipal |motto = Pueblo Encantado |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = Bayahibe city, Dominican Republic |image_flag = |flag_size =125 |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |city_logo = |citylogo_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Dominican Republic |pushpin_relief = 1 |pushpin_label_position = top |pushpin_map_caption = |pushpin_mapsize = |coordinates = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Dominican Republic |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = La Altagracia |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title =
|established_date = |established_title2 =
|established_date2 = |established_title3 =
|established_date3 = |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 215.2 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2022 census |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 5,618 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |timezone = Atlantic |utc_offset = -4 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |elevation_footnotes = tags-- |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = Postal code |postal_code = 23000 |area_code = 809 |blank_name = |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes =

Bayahíbe is a town in the Dominican Republic, located about 10 mi east of La Romana on the shore of the Caribbean Sea with 5,618 inhabitants (2022). Founded as a fishing village in 1874 by Juan Brito and his family, who came from Puerto Rico, the town is now a tourist destination.

Etymology

Bayahíbe is an indigenous word. Its meaning is not known for sure, but there are many names that include the Tainos word "Baya." "Baya" is the name given to a bivalve mollusk, like clams that are glued to the rocks or roots of mangrove trees. "Jib" (or "hib") is the name of a sieve manufactured from sticks used to sift cassava flour.

Tourism

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Atardecer_bayahibe.jpg" caption="Sunset in Bayahíbe beach"] ::

Bayahíbe Beach, a public beach, is located less than a mile from the town center, and Dominicus Beach is in about three miles' distance. Bayahíbe serves as an embarkation point for boat trips to Saona Island, a thinly inhabited island with extensive beaches located in a national park. Numerous large resorts are located in the vicinity of Bayahíbe. The town has an Albergo Diffuso named Bayahibe Village, founded by Fabrizio Annunzi.[[File:Sahil - panoramio (3).jpg|thumb|right|Bayahibe beach.]] Scuba diving is practiced in Bayahíbe—Bayahíbe. There are three shipwrecks in the area including the Atlantic Princess, St George and Coco.{{cite web |url=http://divingdominicanrepublic.com/scuba-diving/dive-sites/|title=Dive Sites|author=Diving DR|accessdate=2010-09-24}}

The natural caves

Chicho's cave, an exceptionally impressive cavern, may be accessed at Bayahibe by following the Padre Nuestro trail. Cueva del Chicho is a cave in the Cotubanamá National Park, that has Taino petroglyphs. The park's location, with its deep and immaculate blue oceans, attracts a significant influx of tourists annually. Moreover, it contains a wealth of petroglyphs that provide as evidence of the enduring existence of the Tainos people.

Padre Nuestro, which used to be inhabited by only 180 families, was converted into a reserve in 2003 following their compulsory relocation to the outskirts of the park. Visitors can currently explore caves and springs embellished with petroglyphs and Tainos art along a 2-kilometer walk that meanders through the forest.

The Bayahibe rose

Pereskia quisqueyana is a species of plant endemic to Bayahíbe.{{cite web |url=http://rsta.pucmm.edu.do/ciencias/arboretum/intro/website%20sub%20pages/Arboretum/area_2/pereskias/1-pereskias/body_1-pereskias.html |title=Pereskia Quisqueyana |author=PUCMM |language=Spanish |accessdate=2010-09-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526185119/http://rsta.pucmm.edu.do/ciencias/arboretum/intro/website%20sub%20pages/Arboretum/area_2/pereskias/1-pereskias/body_1-pereskias.html |archivedate=2011-05-26

The heart of Bayahibe

A beautiful natural jacuzzi nestled among rocks on the outskirts of Bayahibe town center is the "Corazón de Bayahibe," or "heart of Bayahibe" in Spanish. Nature has bestowed it to us. Wearing tennis shoes or other shoes with strong rubber soles will let you reach it more easily. The reason behind this is the abundance of rocks, which may make walking rather unpleasant.

Death of Audrey Mestre

On October 12, 2002, Audrey Mestre, French world record-setting free-diver, died while attempting to free-dive to a depth of 171 m off the coast of Bayahíbe.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/19/news/19iht-diver_ed3_.html|title=A free-diver's death : Tragic plunge to the limits|author=Christopher Clarey|accessdate=2014-10-08}}

References

References

1. "Bayahíbe (Municipal District, Dominican Republic) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location".
2. "Bayahibe".
3. "About Us".
4. "Natural Caves".
5. "Natural Caves".
6. "Bayahibe Rose".
7. "Heart of Bayahibe {{!}} Bayahibe".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::