Altos de Chavón and the Marina: A Day in the Life at Casa de Campo®

Casa de Campo® is not just a residential resort and three golf courses. Two specific places inside the property — Altos de Chavón, a re-created 16th-century Mediterranean village built on the cliffs above the Chavón River, and the Marina Casa de Campo®, a 370-slip deepwater marina with its own restaurant and shopping plaza — define a meaningful portion of what owners actually do here on weekends, with visiting family, and as part of everyday life.

This guide walks through both, the way an owner uses them rather than the way a brochure describes them.

Altos de Chavón: A Working Village, Not a Tourist Set

Altos de Chavón was conceived in the 1970s by Gulf+Western chairman Charles Bluhdorn and designed by Italian designer Roberto Copa with architect José Antonio Caro, and hand-built by local artisans using coral stone, terracotta, and reclaimed materials. The intent was not a theme park. It was a functional village built to look and feel like a 16th-century Mediterranean hill town, with working restaurants, a working amphitheater, a working art school, and a working church.

It opened in 1982. It has been operating continuously ever since.

Walking through Altos de Chavón today, the texture is real: cobblestone streets worn smooth, stone walls weathered by 40 years of sun and salt air, vines growing through cracks in walls. The buildings are not facades. They contain a hotel, restaurants, galleries, the art school, and the Regional Museum of Archaeology.

For Casa de Campo® owners, the village functions as the resort's "town center" in a way the main resort area does not. People go there to eat, to see something, to walk, to host visiting guests.

The Amphitheater

The Altos de Chavón Amphitheater — a 5,000-seat open-air Roman-style theater carved into the cliff edge above the Chavón River — opened in 1982 with a Frank Sinatra concert. Since then it has hosted Carlos Santana, Julio Iglesias, Marc Anthony, Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Elton John, Juan Luis Guerra, and most major artists who tour the Caribbean.

The setting is the show. The river canyon behind the stage drops away to the Chavón, with the lights of Casa de Campo® flickering beyond. There is no comparable venue in the Caribbean.

The concert calendar varies year to year. Check the Casa de Campo® events page during your visits. If a major concert is scheduled during a stay, buying tickets early is worth the effort.

Where to Eat at Altos de Chavón

Restaurants in the village that are part of most owners’ rotation:

• La Piazzetta — Northern Italian, classic preparations, strong wine list. The standard pick for evenings when you want a comfortable, reliable dinner. Outdoor seating overlooks the village square.
• Casa del Río — Modern Mediterranean and Asian fusion, perched on the cliff edge with views of the Chavón River canyon. The most dramatic setting in the resort. Reservations essential.
• La Cantina — Casual, more affordable, Italian-leaning menu. The everyday option in the village.

Café cocktails, gelato, and afternoon drinks are available throughout the village from smaller cafés that vary by season.

The Chavón Art School

Opened in 1983 in affiliation with Parsons School of Design (New York), the Escuela de Diseño Altos de Chavón is a working design school. It runs accredited programs in fashion, graphic design, illustration, and fine arts. Students live and work in the village.

For visitors, the school's gallery is worth a stop — student exhibitions rotate through the year and are open to the public. The presence of working artists and students gives Altos de Chavón a texture most resort villages lack.

The Marina: Casa de Campo®'s Other Center of Gravity

Opened in December 2001, the Marina Casa de Campo® is a 370-slip deepwater marina located on the southeastern edge of the resort, with direct Caribbean access through the Chavón River mouth. It accommodates yachts up to 250 feet and is one of the most active marinas in the Caribbean.

Around the marina is a low-rise commercial plaza with restaurants, shops, a market, and the resort's main concierge and yacht-services office. Many owners spend more time at the marina than at the main resort core — the food is excellent, the atmosphere more social, and the views over the water are unmatched.

Where to Eat at the Marina

The marina restaurants are the strongest cluster of dining at Casa de Campo®:

• La Casita — Spanish-Mediterranean, with the most consistent kitchen at the marina. The reliable choice when nothing else is required.
• Le Spot — French-Mediterranean with seafood emphasis, on the marina edge. Best for lunch or sunset dinners.
• Causa — Peruvian cuisine, ceviche-forward, lighter and more contemporary than the older Italian-leaning options.
• SBG (Santo Domingo Blue Grill) — On the water, casual, easy. The default Sunday lunch choice for many owners.
• Peperoni — Pizza-and-pasta casual; family-friendly, fast service.

Reservations are recommended at the marina restaurants during high season (December through April) and especially holiday weeks. Many owners book the same regular tables across multiple meals.

What Owners Actually Do at the Marina

Beyond eating:

• Day-charter a boat for a beach run. Most owners charter occasionally — half-day or full-day charters from the marina to nearby Caribbean beaches (Catalina Island, Saona Island, or the eastern coast). Boats range from sport-fishing setups to catamarans to mid-sized yachts.
• Sport fishing. The marina supports an active fishing community. Charters available daily for marlin, mahi, tuna, and the local pelagic species.
• Walk the docks and the plaza. The marina is a social space. People walk. The mix of locals, owners, visitors, and yacht crews is one of the more distinctive scenes in the resort.
• Anchor visiting friends' boats. Owners with social networks of boaters often have friends arrive by yacht. The marina handles arrivals professionally, including customs and immigration when needed.

How to Move Between the Resort, the Village, and the Marina

The three destinations — main resort, Altos de Chavón, the marina — are all inside Casa de Campo® and connected by paved internal roads. Most owners use:

• Golf carts for short distances and casual trips
• Resort shuttle service for evenings or when not driving
• Personal car if you have one shipped down (some owners do; most don't)

A typical evening progression for owners: golf at one of the courses in the late afternoon, drinks at the marina or in the main resort, dinner at Altos de Chavón.

A Sample Owner Weekend

Friday evening: Arrival, dinner at the marina. Saturday: Morning round at Teeth of the Dog or Dye Fore. Late lunch at Minitas Beach Club & Restaurant. Late afternoon at Altos de Chavón — walking through the village, drinks before dinner in the village. Concert at the amphitheater if one is scheduled, otherwise dinner overlooking the Chavón canyon. Sunday: Brunch at SBG at the marina, water — either pool time at home or a chartered boat to a nearby beach. Casual evening, dinner at La Piazzetta.

This is what owners do. It's not aspirational — it's the practical rhythm of being on property.

Why This Matters to Buyers

For prospective Casa de Campo® buyers researching the resort, the things that distinguish it from other Caribbean destinations are mostly here: a real cultural anchor (Altos de Chavón), an active marina with strong food, three Pete Dye golf courses, and a residential community of homeowners who actually use these amenities.

Resorts that have only beach, only golf, or only nightlife lack the texture Casa de Campo® has from being all of them at once. When buyers compare Casa de Campo® to Cap Cana or Punta Cana, the breadth of the cultural and social infrastructure is the key differentiator.

Plan a Scouting Trip

If you're considering Casa de Campo® and haven't yet been, we can build a scouting trip that includes time at Altos de Chavón, the marina, the golf, and the neighborhoods most likely to fit your needs — paired with property visits.

Schedule a conversation or email info@caribbeanparadisehomes.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Altos de Chavón open to non-resort guests?

In general, the village is accessible to visiting day-trippers as well as resort guests and owners. There is no gate dedicated to Altos de Chavón itself, but you do pass through Casa de Campo®'s main resort gate, which controls entry to the property.

Can I host events at the amphitheater?

Yes — in fact, the amphitheater is available for private events, weddings, and corporate gatherings on dates not booked for concerts. Pricing varies by event size and date. Contact the resort's events office for details.

Do I need a boat to enjoy the marina?

No. In practice, most owners who use the marina don't own a boat. Day-charter availability is strong, and many owners use the marina primarily for the restaurants, walking, and the atmosphere.

What’s the dress code at the Altos de Chavón restaurants?

Smart casual at dinner. Collared shirts for men, no swimwear, no athletic wear. Lunch is more relaxed.

Is there parking at Altos de Chavón?

Yes, and there's a parking area at the entrance to the village. From there, walking is required as the cobblestone streets and stairways are not vehicle-accessible. Golf carts cannot enter the village center.

How far is Altos de Chavón from the main residential areas?

5 to 15 minutes by car or golf cart depending on the neighborhood. From Dye Fore, Altos de Chavón is very close; from Punta Aguila it's the longer of the trips.

Caribbean Paradise Homes is a real estate agency specialising in Casa de Campo®, La Romana. For a scouting trip that includes the resort's cultural and lifestyle anchors paired with property visits, contact us at info@caribbeanparadisehomes.com.

When did Altos de Chavón open?

In 1982. The amphitheater opened that year with a Frank Sinatra concert, and the village has operated continuously ever since.

How big is the Marina Casa de Campo®?

It has 370 slips, accommodates yachts up to 250 feet, and has direct Caribbean access through the Chavón River mouth. It opened in December 2001.