Shoreline Calm at Macao Beach
February 2016 — Along the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Macao Beach is one of the rare stretches of undeveloped shoreline in the Punta Cana region. Unlike most resort-dominated beaches of the eastern coast, Macao has remained publicly accessible, attracting both local residents and visitors for its surfing conditions, expansive sands, and panoramic views of the Atlantic. The gently rolling waves seen here are typical of the beach’s surfable breaks, shaped by offshore currents and an open coastline without coral barriers. In the distance, the low, wooded hills form the edge of the Punta Cana–Miches coastal corridor, an area where farmland, mangroves, and small fishing communities meet tourism expansion. Known historically as a landing spot for local fishermen, Macao has also been a training and gathering place for Dominican surfing youth. Today it marks a contrast between traditional coastal use and the rapid rise of resort development across the eastern Dominican shoreline.
