Altos de Chavón: Visiting Casa de Campo’s Hilltop Village

Altos de Chavón is a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village, built of stone on a bluff above the Chavón River inside Casa de Campo. It is home to artisan workshops, galleries, restaurants, a church, a museum and a 5,000-seat amphitheatre, and for many guests it is the evening highlight of a stay.

What Altos de Chavón is

The village was designed by Dominican architect José Antonio Caro and Italian designer Roberto Coppa, and its details were handcrafted by local artisans. It looks centuries old but is a modern creation, which is part of its appeal: cobbled lanes, arches and terraces with views over the river and out to the Caribbean Sea.

What to see in Altos de Chavón

• St Stanislaus Church: consecrated in 1979. The resort notes that it holds relics presented by Pope John Paul II.
• The Archaeological Regional Museum: more than 3,000 pieces from the island’s Indigenous cultures.
• The amphitheatre: a Grecian-style venue inaugurated by Frank Sinatra in 1982, which has since hosted many international performers.
• Workshops and galleries: pottery, weaving and screen-printing studios alongside boutiques.
• The school of design: affiliated with Parsons School of Design in New York.

When to go

Late afternoon is the best time to arrive. The light is softer, the river views are at their best and the restaurants are opening for dinner. Check the resort’s events calendar for concerts at the amphitheatre, which can be worth planning a stay around. The museum is closed on Mondays, according to its published hours.

Getting there and access

Guests usually drive their golf cart from the main part of the resort, a trip the resort estimates at 20 to 25 minutes, or use the evening shuttle. The resort says access is limited to hotel guests, residents and their guests, and that photo shoots and educational museum visits require a reservation.

Opening hours and fees, as published in September 2026

There is no entrance fee for the village, but its buildings keep separate hours. The resort’s page lists the Regional Archaeological Museum open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays and public holidays; St. Stanislaus Church open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the art gallery open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Workshop classes cost US$65 for adults and US$47 for children under 12. Concert-goers not staying in the resort show their ticket at the property entrance and again at the amphitheatre; for transfers that fit a concert night, read getting to Casa de Campo. Golfers see the village from the Chavón nine at Dye Fore, covered in golf at Casa de Campo.

Eating in the village

Several restaurants, from Italian to Mexican, sit around the village lanes, and some host live music in the evening. Reserve ahead in high season and on concert nights.

Practical tips

• Wear comfortable shoes; the cobblestones are uneven.
• Bring a light layer for the evening breeze on the bluff.
• Check your golf cart’s lights before driving back after dark.
• Combine a visit with a round on Dye Fore, whose holes sit on the cliffs nearby.

Altos de Chavón is best enjoyed slowly, with sunset over the river and dinner in the village. For the wider resort, read what is Casa de Campo.