La Preciosa, Dominican Republic
Also within 20 km of Río San Juan
- La Punta Surf spot · 7.5 km from Río San Juan
Watch this spot We email you when La Preciosa is worth the trip.
About La Preciosa
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces N (2°), so it takes swell from the N. The wind blows offshore from the S (182°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up, because of a steep sea floor. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very steeply: 10 m deep about 100 m out (1 in 9). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would break hollow. The sea is about 26°C in March, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 29°C in August, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, September, October and November, with about 2 good days in 7; in June and July, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Río San Juan. Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 29°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 12 h door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to PUJ, direct.
See flights MDW → PUJ · Skyscanner from about £235 returnAdGetting there. 3 h 55 from the airport to La Preciosa.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Río San Juan, 10 km (about 20 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer La Preciosa: plan on the drive each day you surf.
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Río San Juan, 10 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Río San Juan 18 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 11 places to stay · where La Preciosa stays
Places to stay in Río San Juan · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Río San Juan · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Río San Juan · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
La Preciosa on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
La Preciosa does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 28, too small | 2 ft9 shollow | 62kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 8 knots | 29°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 37, fair | 3 ft12 shollow | 195kJ | wind from the east, 8 knots | 29°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 54, good | 5 ft10 shollow | 584kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 5 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 63, good | 4 ft9 shollow | 294kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 6 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 65, good | 4 ft9 shollow | 219kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 2 knots, offshore | 28°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 71, good | 4 ft9 shollow | 218kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 7 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 60, good | 3 ft9 shollow | 174kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 9 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 39, fair | 3 ft8 shollow | 80kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 8 knots, offshore | 27°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 63, good | 4 ft9 shollow | 266kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 8 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 64, good | 4 ft9 shollow | 211kJ | wind from the north-east, 2 knots | 29°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to PUJ, then 3h 55 by road. About 12h door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf La Preciosa
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 5 ft at 10 s, offshore wind.
- Wed 21 OctSurf La Preciosa
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 4 ft at 9 s, offshore wind.
- Thu 22 OctSurf La Preciosa
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 4 ft at 9 s, offshore wind.
- Fri 23 OctSurf La Preciosa
Best 16:00 to 19:00 local time: 4 ft at 9 s, offshore wind.
- Sat 24 OctSurf La Preciosa
Best 07:00 to 10:00 local time: 3 ft at 9 s, offshore wind.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to PUJ, then 3h 55 by road. About 12h door to door
Rough cost
About £725–£1,340 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to PUJ, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £235–£485 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £70–£115 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £165–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £725–£1,340 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Río San Juan
- La Casona0.3 km from the centre
- Restaurante Estrella Rio San JuanFrench · 0.3 km from the centre
- Amilcar Empanadain the centre
- Cafe de Paris0.2 km from the centre
- Pollo Guillermo0.3 km from the centre
- D'Oscar0.8 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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