Aside from spectacular day trips to the surrounding countryside, the beach, which stretches uninterrupted 2km in either direction from town, is the focus of daytime entertainment. Just west of the Carretera is the less lively beach area, which stretches a full 2km to Playa Las Ballenas - a section of the beach named for three oblong islands in the waters just beyond it that resemble breaching humpback whales - before ending in a patch of swamp. The beach east of the intersection has just recently been built up, and has a slightly funkier feel, dominated by low-end cabañas and bars until the construction peters out entirely. Hotels in Playa Dorada |