Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Sun, Surf and History All Rolled Into One!
Punta Cana is a resort area on the eastern end of the Dominican Republic. Here you'll find beautiful white-sand beaches, all-inclusive resorts and plenty to see and do.
Gorgeous and relaxing, the beaches of Punta Cana attract thousands of visitors every year. Here's what you need to know to be one of the lucky ones:
How to Get There
Punta Cana has its own airport, with many daily flights leaving daily for cities all over the world. The airport can see as many as 300 weekly flights during high season. Punta Cana is particularly popular with European and South American travelers, but many flights go there from North America as well. If you’re staying in an all-inclusive resort, the flight is often arranged for you.
Where to Stay
There are literally dozens of all-inclusive resorts and hotels lining Punta Cana’s fine beaches. An all-inclusive price includes lodging, transport to and from the airport, all meals (generally large buffets), all drinks, tips and in some cases even cigarettes. The resorts generally have swimming pools, offer shows at night and organize fun things like beach volleyball tournaments. Most also include limited use of high-demand activities, such as an hour per visit of para-skiing. The larger resorts have their own discotheques and clubs in them. Several resorts have golf courses. Prices vary greatly, and the level of service goes up and down accordingly. If you’re on an extremely tight budget, there are some inexpensive hotels in the nearby town of Bávaro, which is where most of the hotel workers call home.
What to See and Do
Once you’re sick of lounging on the beach and by the pool, you’ll find there is a lot to see and do. There are water sports such as snorkeling, skiing, SCUBA diving, and deep-sea fishing, most of which can be arranged through your resort.
Punta Cana is only about two hours away from the historic city of Santo Domingo, and tours are popular. Tours to Santo Domingo usually include stops at the home of Diego Columbus (Christopher’s son) which was built in the early 1500’s, the beautiful Three Eyes Cave, the Amber Museum and other sites of historical interest.
The Dominican Republic is also a good place to shop. The locally made cigars are considered to be almost as good as the ones from Cuba, and they’re for sale everywhere. You can often get a free tour of a cigar factory if you ask, but expect the tour to take you through the gift shop on the way out!
Shoppers will also want to stock up on other fine Dominican Republic products such as coffee, cocoa powder and rum. There is a lot of amber in the Dominican Republic, and fine amber jewelry is sold everywhere. Naturally, there are little gift shops selling t-shirts, coconuts carved into monkey heads, painted seashells and other assorted tourist junk. There are little tourist “malls” in town, but be warned that the vendors and “helpers” who hang around outside are extremely aggressive and will follow you around to close a sale.
For families, there are some zoos and water parks in the area, most of which will pick you up at your resort. You can also arrange to go see a baseball game: the sport is hugely popular in the Dominican Republic.
When to Go
There is no bad time to visit Punta Cana, which is why it’s the perfect place for a resort. The weather is generally warm to hot and it seldom rains. The months from April to November are warmest. Prices can vary greatly depending on whether or not it is considered high season, which generally runs from December-April, cold months in North America and Europe.
What to Bring
Bring beach clothes, of course. You may also want something fancy for going to a club, and comfortable shoes for walking around the resort. Travel necessities such as film, sunscreen and basic medicine like antacids and aspirin can be bought easily, but tend to be much more expensive than back home, so be sure to pack what you think you’ll need. Save some room in your suitcase for a bottle of rum or some cigars for your friends back home!
