Beyond the beach, tropical beauty and numerous Day Trips for exploring the southeastern Dominican Republic, I've often asked myself what would make a traveler want to come and stay in a village like Bayahibe - little alone return? Entries cover the "everything", but my highlights also refer to the relaxation of doing "nothing"; an entire other activity worth mentioning.
Chances are you'll have a lot of free and down time while staying in Bayahibe so be prepared to indulge in that book you've been dying to read or by bringing any other project you've been putting off...provided its not work related. Most hotel rooms and cabanas have balconies or patios perfect for passing the time of day or an evening. A random motor scooter, crowing rooster, distant music or locals' conversation will be about the only potential distraction....if you find it even much of that!
While we can sometimes crave and yearn for a simpler way of life, adjusting to it once we've found it is not always our natural mode of operation which too often leads to boredom. If you find this, I highly suggest walking the residencial area of the village to help with your adaptation. The streets are unnamed and somewhat of a maze (leaving me baffled that letters/packages sent from the States still always get delivered), but the area is too small for you to get lost in. Enjoy the colorful sites of the small houses and shacks with their fluttering laundry hanging in the breeze, the smells of something always cooking in the kitchens, and the sounds of village life. Many smaller shops and businesses, such as barbers, seamstresses, and vendors, operate in open-air facilities giving you full view and experience whether in friendly conversation or a warm smile. And don't be suprised if you're invited for coffee!
You'll also come across homes which still don't have indoor plumbing or electricity or you might possibly find someone discreetly bathing in one of the many sinkholes. Poverty plays a large part in these appearing "backward" elements as does the potential for having everything blown away annually in a hurricane. But even the more modern homes are greatly lacking when it comes to worldly standards - no television, telephone, computer and about any of the other things we'd consider ourselves lost without.
So on a stay in Bayahibe, would you be missing all your props and daily essentials? If so, then you might consider looking elsewhere to spend your time. If not, then be prepared to relax and enjoy the luxury of nothing the way the locals have for years without all our distractions - they only have time and each other.