Anchorage· Luperón· Other Caribbean

Luperón Harbor Anchorage

19° 54.1′ N · 70° 57.0′ W · approximate

Bahía de Gracias, the mangrove-ringed bay Columbus named and cruisers call Luperón: the classic hurricane hole and first DR landfall for boats on the Thorny Path from the Turks & Caicos. Dozens of cruising boats swing here for weeks or whole seasons.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Position approx: a point in the open water of the inner harbor east of the Puerto Blanco Marina pier, derived from OpenStreetMap (checked to be in water); not a surveyed anchor spot. Soft mud, good holding once dug in; protected from every direction, which also makes it hot, humid and often windless. Water in the bay is foul and brackish: do not swim or run a watermaker, and expect a hard calcium-like growth on hull and intakes (Virgintino guide, ~2015). Shallow mud banks catch boats inside, and many unknown, unserviced private moorings (some holding derelicts) litter the bay; cruisers on Noonsite advise anchoring on your own gear with plenty of chain rather than trusting a mooring. Noonsite (clearance page updated March 2024): one-off bay entry charge US$10; harbor fee after 7 days at anchor US$15/month under 35 ft and US$20/month over 35 ft, any part month counts. History of dinghy and outboard theft: lock and lift the dinghy at night. Cruiser net VHF 72 at 9am (see Luperón cruiser net entry).

Best for

Hurricane-season refuge and the cheapest long-stay base on the DR north coast

Season

Year-round; a recognized hurricane hole Jun–Nov

Nearby