Sosúa with Kids: A Family Guide to the North Coast

Sosúa works well for families for a simple reason: the beach in town is calm, the distances are short, and there is enough to do within an hour's drive that nobody gets bored by day four. Many of the families who stay with us come back every year. Here is what they do.

The beach

Playa Sosúa is protected by a reef, so the water is shallow and calm near the shore — ideal for younger children. Rent loungers from one of the beach restaurants and you have shade, food and a bathroom for the day. Older kids can snorkel by the rocks at either end of the bay. Our beach guide covers the alternatives, but for families the bay in town is hard to beat.

Casa Linda: a resort built for families

Most of our family guests stay in a villa at Casa Linda. Each villa has its own pool and garden, so the children are in sight all day, and the resort itself has a waterpark, mini-golf, tennis courts and restaurants. A free shuttle bus runs to Sosúa beach and town, which means one adult can take the kids to the beach while the other has a quiet morning. Two- to five-bedroom villas cover everything from one family to grandparents plus cousins.

Day trips children love

• Ocean World in Cofresí, about 35 minutes west: dolphins, sea lions, a shark tank and a beach.

• Monkey Jungle near Sosúa: squirrel monkeys that climb on you, plus zip lines for older children and adults.

• The Puerto Plata cable car: a ride up Mount Isabel de Torres with views over the whole coast.

• 27 Charcos de Damajagua: jumping and sliding down waterfalls — for confident swimmers, roughly age eight and up; the guides decide how many falls each group does.

• Whale watching in Samaná from January to March: a long day, but unforgettable for children old enough for a boat.

Details, drive times and how to plan the days are in our guide to things to do on the north coast.

Eating out with children

Dominican restaurants are relaxed about children at any hour. Along Playa Sosúa and in El Batey you will find pizza, grilled fish, pasta and rice-and-beans plates that most kids accept. Fresh fruit juices are everywhere. If you would rather cook, every residence has a full kitchen and the supermarket is in the centre of town.

Practical notes

• Bring car seats if you are renting a car; they are not always available locally.

• Sun protection matters more than at home — the sun is strong even on cloudy days.

• Pharmacies in Sosúa stock the usual children's medicines; a clinic is in town and hospitals are in Puerto Plata.

• The emergency number is 911.

• Mosquito repellent for the evenings, especially in the wetter months.

Where to stay

A villa at Casa Linda for the pool and the waterpark, or a two-bedroom apartment at Rizz Suites if you prefer to walk to the beach and to restaurants. Tell us the ages of your children and we will point you to the unit that works — send us a message.