Playa Santo Domingo's 4 km long sand beach is one of Ometepe's favorite vacation spots. Situated on the island's north-eastern side Santo Domingo faces the predominant wind direction and the constant, strong onshore breeze keeps you cool. The water is always choppy but nicely warm and shallow so that it's safe for bathing and swimming.
Playa Santo Domingo has a well-developed hotel infrastructure. Within easy walking distance you find scenic lakeside restaurants, cabinas and hotel rooms, some equipped with AC and TV.

On the beach you often see egrets and ibises. The birds have their nesting sites in the swamp land of the Rio Istian whose intricate water jungle extends behind the strip of dry forest, parallel to the beach. In dry season you can walk on a path a few hundred meters into the swamps to watch birds - around 40 different species have been counted on the isthmus of Ometepe. From Merida you can also make a kayak tour on the Rio Istian.
To see birds and monkeys you can also walk the 1.5 km hiking trail of Roca Inculta (see Map of Playa Santo Domingo), a winding path through the dry forest, part of it leading through primary forest with huge old trees. Early morning is recommended for wildlife watching.

4 km north of Playa Santo Domingo you can spend a lazy afternoon by the pool of El Ojo de Agua, fed by clear spring water.
Looking south on the beach of Playa Santo Domingo you look upon the jungle-covered volcano Maderas. Hotels in Playa Santo Domingo arrange volcano hikes or tours to the petroglyphs on slopes of the Maderas.

At the southern end of Playa Santo Domingo comes the beach of Santa Cruz from where you can see both of Ometepe's volcanoes.