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Fronton and Madama Beaches: How to Reach and Enjoy These Dominican Treasures

Fronton Beach and Madama in the Dominican Republic are among the TOP 10 most beautiful beaches in the entire Caribbean. These are wild beaches, without hotels, roads, restaurants and tourists. Getting here is not so easy, especially for free. From the article you will learn all the necessary information about these two beaches, there will be a lot of photos, tips and recommendations.

what does fronton beach look like in the dominican republic
This is Fronton Beach. C grade, right? 

General points about Fronton Beach and Madama

  • Both beaches are located on the Samana Peninsula in its most remote eastern part (see map below)
  • The distance between the beaches in a straight line is only 600m. But there is no direct road between them.
  • Until a couple of years ago, Gable and Madama were accessible only by boat.
    • By the way, enterprising boaters on the beaches of Las Galeras will tell you so now. I want you to pay them money for a boat instead of walking.
  • On both beaches there is no infrastructure in principle. Be sure to bring water, drinks, and more. As well as food and snacks.

Both beaches belong to the state and are municipal, like all beaches in the country. This means that they are always open and always free. Since these are wild beaches, no one cleans them. Keep in mind that the garbage that throws the ocean on the shore is there, but does not interfere with the rest.

fronton and madama beach palm trees and sand
Fronton beach. If you look closely, you can see the garbage that the ocean throws out on the sand, and no one cleans it up. But these are small things and do not interfere with recreation and views in any way. Well, do not forget that the beach is wild.

Madama Beach in the Dominican Republic

It is a small laguna beach, with a coastline of less than 100m. It has all the attributes of a chic beach: clear warm water, white sand, rocks, palm trees with coconuts and the absence of people.

madama beach
This is the entire width of Madama Beach. Small, but so beautiful.

Useful to know:Once upon a time or tried to build or built, but the structure fell into disrepair, and now stands in the jungle 70 meters from the beach of Madama. You can’t see it from the beach, but know this: if it’s raining, it’s the only place to hide. You will find it easily, the beach is tiny.

madama beach during the rainy season
But Madama in cloudy weather. Here comes livanet. But due to the fact that there is no sun, the beach has not become worse.

How to get there: there are two options, by boat and on foot. I’ll write about the boat later, and now about walking.

There are two routes on the map above: Red Route # 1 and Green Route #2. Both are literally 2.5 km long. There we went on the Red, back on the Green and what can I say.

Please do not follow the Red Route along the ocean. There is not much of it there. We walked for 3 hours, through thickets, rocks and only by a miracle did not turn back. They scratched their feet and hands. It seems like there is a path, but in several places it gets lost and passes through completely impassable places.

madama beach road
One of the simple sections of the red route along the ocean. The field is stupid and there are no paths, it’s not even clear where to go. Fortunately, there was a navigator and we made our way by touch.

We went back along the second, green route — a smooth, straight, well-trodden path, along which it is pleasant to walk and enjoy the surrounding nature. On the green route, the whole journey took us 30 minutes to our villa. On the road, there are signs and navigation arrows. And on the red route, you don’t see anything.

madama beach navigation
Keep your eyes peeled. These signs will tell you where to turn off and which path to take.
how to get to madama beach
Banana plantations are very popular here and you will meet them on the way to Madama and Gable.

Fronton Beach in the Dominican Republic

fronton and madama beach in the dominican republic
This is the Pediment. Pay attention to the water, transparency can be seen even from this angle.

Honestly, this is my love. I think it’s the coolest beach in the whole country, that’s for sure. This is a long kilometer-long beach, with white sand, many palm trees, there are several secluded coves. And yes, this is not the Crimean beach, here 10 people is already a lot.

There is a gorgeous color of water here, and it differs from that in the south, for example in the Bay of Eagles, and even that in the north on other beaches of Las Galeras. But the most important thing that makes it so steep is the mountains like in Hawaii. Just look at the photo. A black rock in the background above palm trees adds uniqueness and steepness to the picture.

pediment beach on a cliff background
Mountains, palm trees, Gable beach and wife in the center. The scale of this photo can already be understood.

How to get there: everything is exactly the same as with Madama. On foot or by boat. If you walk, then there are two options:

  • Beautiful but in one place quite difficult road through the jungle-orange route number 3 on the map.
  • And the same beautiful road, but simple and along the ocean-green route 4
fronton beach road
Orange route #3. But such a wide road is only part of the way. The second half is a regular path.

Important to know:If you have a car or scooter, then I’m probably in favor of route 4. You need to get to the parking lot, indicated on the map by the corresponding icon. And then about 1 hour walk along the Atlantic Ocean. This is a fairy tale. In some places, waves break on rocks and spray rises 20 meters. Lots of palm trees, coconuts, a flat path. Enjoy your walk for sure.

If you don’t have a scooter and live in Las Galeras, take the orange route. From eco-vila, where we lived and it is marked on the map, exactly 2 hours on foot or 6.5 km. And the full report about the villa, with a crazy view, where we lived at the link.

las galeras ocean view from the villa
This is the view from the bedroom of our villa. If you want the same one, read the report about it.
las galeras villa for rent
And this is the view from the terrace of the eco-villa mentioned above. Ahead of us are the Atlantic Ocean and the beaches of Las Galeras. It seems like a long way to the beach. And in fact 8 minutes on foot.

Fronton important

From the important thing: you need sneakers on your feet. 90% of the way is nothing complicated, but the last 300 meters before the beach, there will be a steep descent from the mountain. Actually, the mountain that is visible in the photo. The descent is not extreme, but very unpleasant. By the way, going back up the mountain is easier and not so scary :). 

This route also offers beautiful views!

fronton beach and palm trees
There were already many photos above. The number of tourists on them pleases yes?

Fronton and Madama Beach by boat: price, timing

If for any reason, hiking is not your option. Then you can visit both beaches in one day by boat.

You can easily find a boat on the beaches of Las Galeras, such as Rincon Beach. Read more about this village in a separate article. There are regular motorboats on the beach that take tourists to Madama and Gable. The boatmen themselves will find you and offer to take you here. Or you go to the boat and say the cherished words “Madama and Gable”.

fronton beach recreation area
Here is such a recreation area on the beach Gable.

Timing of the entire boat event:

  • Take a boat ride from Las Galeras beach.
  • The first Madama beach can be reached in 20-30 minutes.
  • There you are dropped off and given an hour of time to swim/sunbathe/take photos.
  • Another 5-7 minutes and you will be taken from Madama Beach to the Pediment
  • Here the beach is large, there is also a place to walk. Usually, the Pediment is given 2-3 hours.
  • And then back again. In total, the entire tour takes about 5 hours, plus or minus.

Price for a boat to Fronton and Madama Beach

The price strongly depends on many factors: oncoming wind, waves, but most importantly on the number of tourists. Gasoline is expensive here, and the consumption of such engines is not small. The fewer people in the boat, the more expensive.

By the way, about prices in the Dominican Republic for everything that interests a tourist, read the article at the link.

The standard price for the entire excursion to both beaches for one person is about$40. In this case, it is not only possible, but also necessary to bargain. With a successful combination of circumstances, you can reset the price to$20. Below is unlikely. But this price is possible if the ocean is calm and there is no wind. And most importantly, there will be at least 6-8 people in the boat. But here everything is individual and according to circumstances.

fronton and madama beach
This is the boat that will take you to both Madama and Gable. Even a sunshade will be,$ 40 for a reason:)

Tips and Tricks

  • Take your drinks and food with you
  • It is advisable to have coral slippers, there are a lot of rocks in the water, sometimes with hedgehogs.
  • All the palm trees are wild, no one knocks down coconuts here. Do not lie down to rest directly under a palm tree 
    • Remember, in the world, about 500 people die every year from falling coconuts on their heads.
  • If you go through the jungle, there are many fruit trees on the road. You can collect directly on multifruit juice.
fruit on the way to Fronton and madama beaches
We picked them up on the way. The main thing is to know what you are collecting. But the Dominican Republic doesn’t seem to have any poisonous fruit 
  • If you are walking, you must have a navigator with a map. Above I wrote what a good one, we use it ourselves. Because without a navigator, just following the navigation arrows will be very difficult. Especially on the orange route.
  • It is technically possible to walk both beaches in one day, but I recommend that you divide them into two different days. Well, by boat, you will visit both in half a day.
  • If there is a chance that you can return after sunset, it is better to have a flashlight with you. You won’t get very far in the dark without it.
  • And if there is no time and there is a choice to visit only one beach of some kind: then definitely Gable is number 1 for me.
how to get to the beaches
In one place, if you go through the jungle, there is even such an information board. I indicated its location on the map at the beginning of the article.

In conclusion: Fronton Beach and Madama in the Dominican Republic are definitely on the list of the best beaches in the country. And if Madama is a small cozy beach, then the Pediment breaks the brain from the landscape and landscapes. These are places that package tourists, and indeed tourists in general, rarely reach. This is a piece of heaven on Earth. I recommend it to everyone.

We wish you good weather and cool photos from Fronton and Madama Beach!

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