BailaMar Bachata Camp in the Dominican Republic Reviews 31

Maria is an excellent group leader. She is very organized and knowledgeable, and that means a lot to me for having a good experience. Bailamar is fun, relaxing, challenging, and beautiful in many ways. It was worth every penny. I learned so much about Dominican bachata and Dominican culture in general. I felt so welcomed by Maria and everyone on her team. The DR is so beautiful and I can't wait to return.

I spent two incredible weeks in the Dominican Republic this October 2025, and WOW — what an experience! From the moment I arrived, everything was smooth, exciting, and full of joy. I can honestly say this was one of the best trips of my life.

We stayed mostly in Las Terrenas, and every day felt like a perfect blend of learning, exploring, and pure fun. Our mornings started with dance classes—bachata, merengue, dembow, son, and bolero—taught by talented local teachers who made every lesson inspiring. In the afternoons we hit beautiful beaches or enjoyed our free time, and by night we were out dancing with locals. The taxi dancers in Las Terrenas were amazing—always making sure we got on the dancefloor and had the time of our lives!

Our villa was another highlight. We had our wonderful private chef Morena, who cooked delicious Dominican meals every day (I definitely came home heavier but SO happy!). And Teo, who looked after the villa and was always up for a chat, made the whole place feel like home, and Raúl our driver always with a smile on his face, made sure we arrive everywhere safe.

The trip was perfectly organised thanks to Maria and Luis. They are absolute stars—attentive, caring, fun, and always on top of everything. I felt safe, supported, and completely looked after the entire time. You can tell they truly love what they do.

We also went on several excursions. In Santo Domingo, despite hurricane season, we danced, explored the city, and even took the cable car for the most breathtaking views. In Santiago, we joined Son de Keka, a lively street party that became one of my favourite moments of the whole trip. The locals were so welcoming—it felt like we were part of the community.

In Jarabacoa, the mountain town, we stayed in a beautiful house and even went to a Merengue Típico concert. And on our way back to Las Terrenas we stopped at a chocolate farm, learned the full process of making chocolate, and made our own bars to bring home.

Looking back, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I learned so much, danced every single day, ate incredible food, and created memories, met amazing people and also made friends.

I truly recommend this trip with Maria. She is wonderfully organised, always keeps everyone informed, adapts to each person’s needs, and treats everyone as unique and special.

If this is your first time going to The Caribbeans and want to experience the culture, learn to dance, meet new people, this is your place to be. My dream came true and will definitely be back.

An unforgettable Bachata journey to the Dominican Republic – simply magical!

The BAILAMAR Bachata dance camp in the Dominican Republic was pure bliss from the very first minute! The entire organization was impressive: everything ran smoothly, was lovingly planned, and executed with a warmth rarely experienced. You could immediately feel the passion that went into it.

The true treasure of the camp is Maria. She is not only the heart and soul of the entire project and the brilliant organizer, but also an outstanding Bachata teacher. Her classes are exceptional: clearly structured, logically progressive, and full of positive energy. Step by step, she guided us through every important movement, explained techniques in a way that was both understandable and inspiring, and ensured that every hour was a tangible step forward. We didn't just dance – we grew.

The local dancers, who were also our teachers, gave the camp its unique, authentic character. They accompanied us not only during class but also at the socials in the evenings – full of energy, passion, and an infectious openness. Through them, we experienced how Bachata is truly lived in the Dominican Republic: not just as a dance, but as a heartbeat, a way of life.

Castillo Romano also deserves immense praise: The food was divine – fresh, diverse, authentic, and prepared with so much love that every meal was a delight. The entire team was incredibly friendly and always in good spirits. We felt pampered, like we were in paradise.

And then there were Luis and Raul!

Luis, Maria's right-hand man, supported us with his kindness and his dancing skills at every practice. Raul, our bus driver, was far more than just the man behind the wheel: With his warmhearted nature, he immediately became part of our dance family. Both of them enriched the camp in a wonderful way with their personalities and helpfulness.

The group dynamic was also exceptionally harmonious. People from all over the world, with diverse personalities – and yet it felt as if we had all known each other forever. While dancing, at meals, at the parties: This feeling of genuine connection was everywhere. A large, vibrant Bachata family.

The excursions were another highlight. We explored not only Santo Domingo, but also Santiago and the lush, nature-filled Jarabacoa – each destination a unique experience. Unfortunately, almost all the bars and restaurants in Santo Domingo were closed – but Maria, with her incredible connections, quickly arranged for an exclusive dance club to open just for us. And we danced. Despite everything. A special evening full of adventure, joie de vivre, and true Dominican spirit.

In short: BAILAMAR is far more than a dance camp. It's an experience brimming with passion, culture, community, and the joy of life. A transformative journey. Anyone who loves Bachata – or wants to learn to love it – absolutely shouldn't miss this adventure. 💃🌴🕺

What a beautiful surprise BailaMar is! Typically a solo traveler who likes to take some salsa/bachata clases independently when traveling, I joined this trip bc of the ground up instruction, merged with learning about culture and finding parties (safely) from a knowledgeable leader. I was wholly unprepared for the other gifts BailaMar provides--immersion in traditional bachata (truly, we danced and listened to bachata all day and night!) and making lifelong friends. I did not expect to get as attached to the people, the dance, the place as I did. Maria and Luis created activities that satisfied both the curious bachatero and the child in each of us! Maria is a top notch instructor, teaching from the ground up to the group, and fine tuning the skills of the individual students at whatever level they are. I've taken many classes of many kinds, but never before have I had an instructor ensure that students immerse in all aspects of their subject, from history, to culture, to the physical, food, flirting, and sound. I loved it so much I'm going back to "bachata camp" in February!
Don't miss this opportunity to immerse in all things Dominican bachata.

I participated in Bailamar in October 2025. It was like diving into another world - into the "World of Bachata". The camp was very well organized , the workshops inspiring, the different teachers very well selected. Although dancing was the central activity, we also got an interesting overview over the way of life in the Dom.Rep., the history and developement of Bachata. I very much appreciated the small group , the good food and the fun we had. Although it was a mix of very different people from different background, age and dance levels, Maria tried very successfully to meet everybodies needs and interests.
Don't expect a relaxing holiday - be prepared to be challenged
I will be back!

I knew it would be great but this experience exceeded my expectations in soooo many ways!💃 Such a rich multi-level experience. Loved the morning dance classes, the villa, the other participants, the local dance evenings, the beaches, the pool party, the trips, so many cool surprises! 🌏 Maria is an organizational genius and Edwin is an awesome attentive house leader and Luis adds a lot to the fun vibe. You know you gotta do this! 💃

Wow wow. My time with Maria, Edwin and my fellow travelers was exquisite. It was exciting. It was an adventure that exceeded my hopes.

I came to love the Dominican people and their culture. AND THE BACHATA! I learned to dance Bachata. I learned to feel Bachata rhythms and move in that way. I was a relative beginner to Bachata and to partner dancing in general.

I learned to love Melida Rodriguez, Juan Bautista, Joan Soriano...now all in my play list. I Bachata around my house and remember the fun and love.

I felt a sweet and real connection with my fellow travelers. I will do this trip again. I most certainly will.

Context: Prior to Bailamar I had done one comparable dance trip with a studio from my home city so that's my basis for comparison.

What sets Bailamar apart are

1) The focus on learning traditional bachata in the country where it originated and explaining the cultural context.

2) The carefully-chosen content and instructors. I would actually go so far as to describe it as a *curriculum.* The focus of the 2 weeks is much more on musicality and body movement, as opposed to just memorizing choreography.

3) Local knowledge. Owner Maria is from Europe but has been running these trips for years so she knows how to navigate the place. The co-organizer of the specific retreat I was on (Edwin) is Dominican-American so also had understanding of the country, particularly one of the smaller cities we visited where he had personal ties.

4) The schedule. It's enough without being so excessive that you feel rushed. Most days you take 3 hours of group dance classes, then spend the afternoon at a nearby beach (optional), and go out dancing at night. There is also a little bit of sightseeing built in, and there's time to arrange private lessons with the instructors if you want to.

5) Well-planned evenings. For example, they try to have each teacher come out with you the night before their class, so that they can assess the general level of the group, and also they serve as kind of taxi dancers to get the party started. Other members of the staff are also encouraged to participate in the dancing if they want to, and then of course you can dance with each other, with locals/expats, and with the actual taxi dancers. You won't sit unless you want to!

6) Accommodations: for the most part you're in a big house. "Like being on a reality show," they like to joke. This, combined with the small group size, is conducive to a really fun group atmosphere.

7) Finally, it just seems to be a very well-run company. They have instructors who have been with them for multiple camps/multiple years, which to me speaks highly of them. They also work closely with a development program for up-and-coming local dancers. So it's the type of business you feel good about supporting.

Overall, I can't recommend Bailamar highly enough. Will absolutely return!

Bailamar is the perfect destination if you enjoy dancing, making new friends and having fun. Teachers are talented dancers abd good people, abd you will be surrendered by an incredible atmosphere around the bachata world that will make this travel one of the most remarkable experiences of yor life.

Attending BailaMar’s June 2024 camp was nothing short of unforgettable. Beyond the intensive classes, we got to dive deep into Dominican culture and explore the breathtaking island. My dancing has improved in ways I didn’t think possible, thanks to the BailaMar team’s focus on bachata fundamentals and musicality. They also equipped us with that extra touch of flair and flavour that makes all the difference on the dance floor. And the best part? Meeting amazing, like-minded people who quickly became family. Maria and Edwin, thank you for two incredible weeks of pure joy. I’ll carry those memories close to my heart forever. I’ll be back!

Unforgettable! I enjoyed not only the dancing and world of Bachata, but also the local culture, nature, weather, food, breathtaking beaches and most of all the beautiful souls that were organising and attending this camp. Full programme of this camp is intense but at the same time it is so well organised that there is a possibility to rest between dances and events. Definitely I recommend to join this worldwide Bachata family!

Every day spent with this group was absolutely amazing! Maria and Edwin were our hosts when I went, and they were so great at teaching us about not only the dances of the Dominican Republic, but also the culture and history. If you are thinking about travelling to this country for the first time and have an urge to learn bachata, you have to go with this amazing experience.

If you love dance, music and caribbean culture this trip is a must for you! I went there by myself and left with so many genuin connections and great experiences. It's probably the best thing i've ever done for myself. Edwin, Maria and Alex were great instructors but also made the castle feel like home for us. Filled with new knoledge, love and energy!

I had the best dance-, music- and cultural experience together with great people from many different countries, celebrating Bailamar Bachata Camp’s 10 years anniversary. So much energy, laughter and love. The trip was very well organised and the people behind it really put their heart in to every thing they do. I also appreciate how Bailamar support the kids at Bachata Academy and collaborate with local people.

Highly recommend this beautiful experience. I have been twice in this camp, and I trurly enjoy it each time. Its a lot of fun and a lot of dance. Maria, Edwin and Alex are just great hosts and take care of everyone. If you want to explore the dominican culture and dance and learn bachata from them and the locals, thats the place to be.

The best holiday ever!! I've been twice in this camp, each time I enjoy it to the maximum. Maria, Alex or Edwin will take care of you, answer your questions, direct you in your best interest. Very well organised, I felt safe and I had every time lots of fun. Plus it make you fall in love with the Dominican culture by showing you its true side. I highly recommend this camp for the culture, the music, the dance (lots of it), food, beach, trips, rum, ice cream, friendship, sun etc.

Can’t recommend this tour enough! Maria is such a great host and very knowledgeable and I truly got to learn not just how to dance but also the amazing culture in Dominican Republic, this tour covers all bases! Get involved you won’t regret it 🙂🕺🏾

Wow! Thank you Bailamar for such a joyful, intense experience. If you are hesitating to join this dance immersion, JUST DO IT! You will dance and laugh and work hard and party harder. I look back at this crazy, challenging trip with such joy. ❤️❤️❤️

If you’re genuinely interested in Dominican dances such as bachata and meringue, this camp is for you. The organizers are very experienced, and while they teach quite of few workshops themselves, lots of workshops are taught by local instructors, which is what you want: learn directly from the source. Add to this daily beach excursions and nightly dancing at local venues and you got an action packed ,impossible to get bored of schedule. As an added bonus, the partners in crime are interesting people from all over the world who share a passion for dance.

Bailamar is the most wonderful experience on every level! It’s a brilliant way to learn Dominican Bachata from THE BEST teachers, both Maria and the local team she has grown there. You learn so much about the dance and its history, see some of this stunning island and experience a lot of local dancing, the whole thing is a privilege to be a part of. My dance has massively elevated, along with my confidence and being with such a wonderfully diverse group from all over the world made the experience rich, expansive and so much fun! The beaches are paradise & the trip all perfectly put together. You need energy for sure but it’s worth every second. I wholeheartedly recommend it and will never forget it 🙏♥️