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Most Caribbean cruise ports drop you into a resort town with a rum bar on every corner. Cabo Rojo instead sits on the edge of a national park, worlds away from the Dominican Republic most tourists know. The southwest corner of the country has been mostly off-limits for decades — too remote, too undeveloped, too far from everything.
Cabo Rojo is one of the newest cruise ports in the Dominican Republic and quickly being added to Eastern Caribbean sailings for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America and other cruise lines. If your cruise includes a stop at Cabo Rojo, here’s everything you need to know about the port, attractions, shore excursions, and how to make the most of your day ashore.
Where Is Cabo Rojo Cruise Port?
Cabo Rojo Cruise Port (Puerto Turístico Cabo Rojo) is located in Pedernales Province in the southwestern corner of the Dominican Republic, near the border with Haiti.
The port officially welcomed its first cruise ship in January 2024 as part of a major tourism development initiative designed to transform the region into a sustainable ecotourism destination.
Unlike more well-known parts of the Dominican Republic such as Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Punta Cana, Cabo Rojo sits in a relatively undeveloped area surrounded by protected natural reserves. This will change: There is already active construction for an airport, new hotels and resorts, and roads that will speed up access to the area. But for now, it’s mostly untouched.
What Is Cabo Rojo Cruise Port Like?
First off, good news: Cabo Rojo port offers direct docking, even for large cruise ships so no tender is required (at least when you’re the only ship in port, which is often the case).
The port itself is purpose-built for cruise passengers. There is no town in walking distance, so instead you’ll walk off the pier into a tourist district accessible only to cruisers.
The cruise terminal features:
- Swimming pools
- Lazy river
- Hammocks and lounge areas
- Ferris wheel, carousel, and carnival-style games
- Restaurants and bars
- Shopping
- Entertainment areas (there were no shows or programming during my visit)
Things to Do at Cabo Rojo Cruise Port
Take in the Carnival Atmosphere
Unlike other cruise ports, Cabo Rojo is one of the few that attempts to create a festival feeling. You’ll see the ferris wheel even before you leave the ship, but there’s also a carousel, pirate ship ride, and mechanical bull. All were free as of 2026, and had no line if you went first thing in the morning after the ship docks.
There were also a number of carnival games, including basketball throws and balloon pop challenges. You won’t win amazing prizes, but you might still have fun.
Relax by the Pools and Lazy River
Cabo Rojo was the last port on my itinerary (out of five ports), so it seemed like a lot of passengers were happy to just enjoy a lazy day sunbathing by the pool. The pool areas were pretty shallow, and mostly for wading, and had lots of seating and hammocks to choose from. There’s also a lazy river that I went around three or four times.
This makes an easy, cheap, low-key day ashore. If you’re looking for excitement, though, you won’t find any here. Chill is the name of the game.
NOTE: There is a dock with access to the ocean for swimming, but it’s not a “beach”. You climb directly into the water via a few steps (no sandy entry). Life jackets are available, but there is nothing special about swimming here, other than it’s deeper than the pools at the port itself (about 6-8 feet deep).
Indulge in Food and Drinks
There were a few restaurants and bars scattered throughout the port. Prices definitely included a tourist surcharge and food was more generic-Caribbean than truly Dominican (and menus were nearly identical at every restaurant in the terminal).
But there’s something to be said about having your drink served in a pineapple or coconut (budget about $16) instead of a plastic cup and sitting with your feet in the pool, so I definitely get the appeal.
Wander the Rest of the Port
At least now, the port is relatively small. You can walk parts of the shore along the Caribbean Sea, though it’s not especially scenic right at the port.
You can also peruse the shopping area. Most of it was classic souvenirs (t-shirts, shotglasses, typical Caribbean jewelry stores) rather than unique local crafts. You could pick up some cigars, or if you have a more practical need, there was a pharmacy selling over-the-counter meds and sunscreen, among other things.
Best Shore Excursions from Cabo Rojo
Though you can visit Cabo Rojo without a shore excursion, I think most people will enjoy themselves more if they make other plans and see some of the region.
Best Excursion from Cabo Rojo: Bahía de las Águilas (Eagle Bay)
This is the excursion I did.
Bahía de las Águilas is widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic and arguably one of the most stunning beaches in the Caribbean. These pristine, turquoise waters and perfect white, powder-sand are located within Jaragua National Park.
The only way to access the bay is by boat–and that’s a good thing. The ride through the national park takes you past dramatic coastal scenery. It’s gorgeous and the rocky, cactus-covered setting looks a lot different than other parts of the Dominican Republic, which are often green and lush.
Generally speaking, these are half-day Cabo Rojo excursions, featuring only 1-3 hours on the beach. At first, I was really disappointed by the prospect of this. One of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean and barely any time to enjoy it! But in retrospect, this was fine because there’s very little shade on the beach and the sun was blazingly hot.
Still, I think this is one of the top things to do in Cabo Rojo. If you like crystal water and untouched seashore, you’ll love it here. I booked directly with Rancho Tipico Cueva de las Aguilas (Spanish only) on their classic tour.
Pro Tip: Make sure you choose a tour that specifically enters Jaragua National Park and the Bahia de las Aguilas. Several tours go “near” here without actually entering and it would be a shame to be so close and yet not actually there!
Easiest Excursion from Cabo Rojo: Baby Beach
Baby Beach is walking distance from the port but there is no public access. You’ll either need to book through your cruise line or pay at the front gate (space available). At the time of my visit, it was the same price either way ($85ish).
The beach itself did not look anything like the marketing pictures when I visited. It’s pretty narrow with coarse sand–not the best, in my opinion, especially if you have other beach stops on your cruise itinerary.
However, there are pools and a swim-up bar, plus kayak and paddle board rentals (included). Most packages sold through the cruise line also include open bar, so if you want the easy button with a side of rum and an afternoon paddle, it might fit the bill.
Cheapest Excursion from Cabo Rojo: Free Shuttle to Pedernales Town
Okay, this isn’t really a tour of excursion, but the port does run free shuttles from Cabo Rojo port to the city of Pedernales, Dominican Republic (about 20 minutes away). Shuttles departed port every half hour from 9am-1pm and returned from 10am-4pm–check for posted signs at the port for any updates during your visit.
Since my excursion didn’t return to port until about 3pm, I unfortunately missed out on this trip, but this would be a better way to do some truly local shopping or eating, if of interest. The town otherwise has no major sightseeing attractions.
Did you know? Pedernales, Dominican Republic is known for its larimar, a pale blue gemstone found nowhere else on earth. You can buy jewelry and other larimar souvenirs at artisan shops in town. To make sure you’re getting genuine stones, ask to see it under ultraviolet light (fake larimar will look fluorescent).
Pedernales city is not very big, so I assume you can walk from the shuttle stop to Pedernales beach but I can’t personally confirm that. Pictures of the beach look nicer than Baby Beach (below), but there are no chair rentals, umbrellas, food, or drink. Bring whatever you need for a day out.
Most Unique Excursion from Cabo Rojo: Laguna de Oviedo
Nature lovers should consider an excursion to Laguna de Oviedo, which is a large saltwater lagoon best known for birdwatching…including flamingos! In addition to a variety of birdlife, you may also see iguanas.
This is also part of Jaragua National Park (like Bahia de las Aguilas), despite not necessarily being “close” to each other since one is inland and one is a long the coast. But, since it’s a national park, you can expect scenic views and well-preserved nature. You’ll drive to the lagoon (it’s about an hour) and then explore by boat before returning to the port.
Unfortunately, I was unable to visit during my cruise since I went to the beach instead. Have you visited Laguna de Oviedo? Drop your experience in the comments to help other readers!
Not Worth Your Money: Eco del Mar “Beach Club”
My Bahia de las Aguilas tour ended at Rancho Tipico / Glamping Ecolodge Cueva De Las Águilas, which shares the same beachfront as the Eco del Mar Beach Club that many cruise lines sell beach days at. So although I didn’t technically go to Eco del Mar, I was right next door and saw the facilities.
The place is a little old and run down, but more importantly, the beach itself is disappointing. It’s a (mostly) rocky shoreline and gets a lot of wake from boats coming in and out. The combination was less than ideal: I lost my footing more than once from the strong wake, falling onto the rocks in the water and getting a bit scraped up. Not enough to be truly problematic, but enough that it isn’t the fun beach break you’re likely envisioning. If you go, absolutely bring water shoes! Here’s what else to pack for a beach vacation.
More Cabo Rojo Cruise Excursions
Since this is such a new port, and in a less-populated area, the choices for tours are much more limited than other Caribbean cruise ports. You won’t be spoiled for choice here, but there are a few other Cabo Rojo excursions I saw pop up during my research:
- Buggy Trips: Dune buggies and ATVs leave right from the port area for adrenaline-fueled rides to beaches in the area.
- Hoyo de Pelempito: This is a pretty far drive from port for a relatively short hike, so for me, that’s a bad trade-off. But if you want to see the Sierra de Bahoruco mountains and take in panoramic views, you could consider this.
I’m usually a huge advocate for booking tours directly with local operators (you save money and help support the local economy), but this is one port where booking through the ship might make sense. I originally booked with Larimar EcoTour, which is “the” name in the region, but they cancelled on me the night before because they didn’t have enough people. The cancellation itself wasn’t a problem, but the lack of notice left me scrambling. So just be aware that things in Cabo Rojo are still evolving.
Ship tours leave directly outside the main terminal, an easy walk. Independent tours and taxis require walking out to the main road and finding your driver/vehicle. At the time of my visit, it seemed like every operator had the exact same white van with no signs, so it was a game of “hide and seek” even when calling to try and find my ride.
If you’re booking independent excursions, having phone access in port makes coordinating with drivers significantly easier. I use Jetpack e-sim cards, which cost about $20 for 5GB (enough for a weeklong Caribbean cruise).
How to Spend One Day in Cabo Rojo (Cruise Visitors)
In my opinion, this is a port that requires some structure rather than just trying to wing it:
Spend the morning on a guided excursion, choosing whichever one is most appealing to you. Most are only 4-5 hours.
Grab lunch — the ship buffet might be just as fast as sitting down at a port restaurant for an hour.
Spend the remaining time in port (you’ll likely have 1-3 hours) enjoying the cruise terminal amenities. I thought the lazy river was the best part, but you can also enjoy the rides, games, and pools.
Is Cabo Rojo Worth Visiting?
If your cruise visits Cabo Rojo, I would absolutely recommend getting off the ship. The port itself is fun for a few hours, but the real highlight is Bahía de las Águilas, a postcard-perfect beach.
While the port is still developing and doesn’t have as many options, my day was a delightful combination of swimming, sunbathing, and sightseeing, followed by acting like a kid again on the rides and lazy river. I had a long day available (8am-6pm in port) but even a more standard 9am-5pm visit is enough for a balanced day out.
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