This is the resort-swimming spot of your dreams, complete with stunning views, a pool overlooking the ocean, your own private cabana, and the bluest water you've seen.
We love love love the Fricolandia Resort. It's just around the corner from Puerto Plata and could not be prettier. The owners have turned a picturesque overlook into our favorite swimming spot, complete with a row of thatched-roof cabanas that wind down the cliffs to the ocean below. There are little stairways that lead you down the rocky drop-off for a salty swim in the waves and a coastal grill so you can stay all day long. Make sure you bring your camera for a visit here; this place is the stuff Instagram dreams are made of.
The best way to see this island is to live here
All about volunteering in the DR for a semester with ILP
For our ILP volunteers who are living around Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic for their semester abroad, this is one of the favorite spots that's close enough for a fun little day trip adventure.
We love all the beaches with sand you can swim at while in the DR, but the cabanas just give this more of a tropical, resort-like feel. If you visit during a busy time of year, you can reserve a spot to have your own cabana platform to store your towels and to eat at. If your cabana is higher up on the cliffs, the whole area is connected by a walkway that leads you down into the warm water.
The water here is amazingly clear and perfect for snorkeling if you want to bring your mask. Sometimes, there are floating platforms in the water that you can swim to, but others mention how fun it is to bring floaties with you for a relaxing soak in the calm water.
Plus, there's a terrace pool, which we just can't get enough of. It's the perfect place to relax with the best ocean views.
There is a grill available on the property, which pulls in fresh seafood if you get hungry for lunch. Find other favorites on their menu like freshly caught fish, pasta dishes, sodas, grilled chicken, and more. Just FYI, in order to use the cabanas, you have to buy something from the grill or reserve them beforehand. Some visitors don't recommend the food after some underseasoned or overpriced fish experiences, but others say they loved snagging lunch here.
In any case, you can bring your own food and drinks onto the property if you'd rather not eat at the grill, but it may mean you don't get to chill out at the cabana tables during your stay.
Make sure to bring your camera to Fricolandia — the whole area is rather picturesque, with a set of covered platforms that wind their way along the cliffside. There is also a swing set that overlooks the ocean, which makes for a prime photo op. At the entrance of this whole place, you can see the word "Fricolandia" spelled out in big, colorful, block letters on a wooden sign. The sunset views from the cliffs are also top-notch. Same with the boardwalks. All give you quite the opportunity for a mini-photo shoot!
Fricolandia is always adding more photo ops, so make sure to check out all the nooks and crannies and be prepared to take lots of pictures.
Fricolandia is divided into two parts, each with a fee. We usually recommend visitors pay for access to both because the first half is great for photos, but the beach area is better for relaxing and hanging out in the sun.
This half of Fricolandia is where you get access to the warm pools that overlook the cliff sides, the iconic cabanas, and 80% of the photo-op locations. This is basically where you get all of those Instagram photos that made you want to come in the first place. It's extremely photogenic and decorated head-to-toe with some of the most random items. It's the face of Fricolandia!
You are able to jump into the ocean, but there is no beach. It's strictly rocky cliffs (no cliff jumping) and some boardwalks that Fricolandia built so you can get in and out of the water easier.
This half is where you get access to the sandy beaches. It has plenty of beach chairs, some with shade and some without, a roped-off area to go swimming (bring water shoes because the sand is still a bit rocky), swings that you can stand on, hammocks, and some beach games!
This half still has plenty of places to take cute pictures, but this is also where you will likely spend a lot of your time when the cameras are tucked away.
Follow their Instagram for more photos and information (it acts a bit like their website).
They can be reached via WhatsApp, and their number is listed on their Instagram profile. In the past, when we reached out to them over WhatsApp for questions, the person answering spoke Spanish. If you're not able to speak Spanish conversationally, it's probably best to text them over WhatsApp so that you can translate their answers. Or grab a Spanish-speaking friend to help you out!
Some visitors mention that the card machines were kind of hit and miss during their visit, which meant they couldn't pay by card. There's supposedly an ATM on the property you can use, but it's a ways down the road. It's best to be prepared with pesos to pay for the entrance fee and any food you'd like to purchase on the property.
The cabanas are a nice place to hang out and get out of the sun for a bit. As we mentioned above, however, you must order a meal to use the cabanas, so keep that in mind.
There are certain times of year when Fricolandia gets busy and there's the potential that the cabanas will be full for the day. It's a good idea to try to reserve one ahead of time if you'd like to make sure there's one available for you. Just message them on WhatsApp. We were here in August and there actually weren't many people at the resort, so it was easy to get a canana on the spot, without reserving ahead of time. It really just depends on when you're coming, but know that when it's busy, the cabanas tend to get full (especially later in the day).
There aren't lockers where you can store your things, so take that into consideration when deciding what to bring with you. We recommend bringing a day bag that is waterproof so that you can keep your items safe with you when you get in for a swim. And pack light since you'll be carrying everything with you for the day — you'll essentially just need cash, sunglasses, a water bottle, some snacks (unless you're planning on ordering lunch there), a small towel, and your phone!
From Puerto Plata, the drive is around 90 mins or so, depending on where you're coming from. It's the perfect day trip over the weekend!
For our ILP volunteers, it's often easiest to hire a driver, whether that means you're booking a taxi or a larger van to split with your group.
Find the resort here on Google Maps.