AMERICAS CARIBBEAN TRAVEL

10 Best Things to do in Punta Cana

Punta Cana is situated on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic and best known for its 32km of beaches, all-inclusive resorts, palm trees and Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve. 

The Bávaro is an area of beach resorts in Punta Cana, where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean on the Dominican Republic’s east coast. Tourism in Punta Cana is on the high, with over 3 million people visiting each year.

On holiday here you can find palm trees and a long coral reef that creates family-friendly calm waters. You can also play golf, go paddleboarding, go kayaking, go on a jeep safari, go snorkelling and much much more. 

And if you fancy a spot of shopping head to The Boulevard in Bávaro.

punta cana beach

Photo by Gianluca Grisenti from Pexels

What is the best time of year to go to Punta Cana

The best time to visit Punta Cana is from March to May, after the winter peak season, but before any storms arrive, or hurricanes. The weather is warm all year-round with an average temperature of around 25-30 degrees Celsius.

 

Is it safe to go to Punta Cana?

Like most places in the Caribbean, all tourist areas are reasonably safe, but it isn’t recommended that you stray much further away from the resorts. There are areas on the island that have high rates of crime so be careful, and be aware. 

punta cana pexels

Photo by Leonardo Rossatti from Pexels

Where to stay in Punta Cana

Lopesan Costa Bavaro 

Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort Spa & Casino is a hotel located at Playa Bavaro, in the Dominican Republic. 

The beach with its white sand and turquoise water, the island’s tropical climate which is warm all year round, and the abundance of lush greenery all come together to create a truly unique spot and a real treat for the senses.

Spread over more than 1,184,030 sq ft and boasting 5 stars, the Lopesan Costa Bavaro Hotel has many green areas and 7 freshwater swimming pools. 

One of these is the popular infinity pool, which has two levels – one at the height of the hotel and the other connected to the beach itself, thus linking the beach and hotel. 

The hotel also has an adults-only area with futons, hammocks and Balinese beds, allowing guests to completely unwind during their stay with us.

The Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort Spa & Casino also stands out thanks to its impressive all-inclusive range of culinary options, which cater for all tastes. 

In addition to 2 buffets which offer international, national and regional cuisine, guests can also take their pick from Mexican, Mediterranean or Asian food, or head to the Steak House, a typical Italian trattoria or an American Grill.

punta cana dominican

Photo by Abel Ojeda from Pixabay

10 Best Things to do in Punta Cana

1. Bávaro Beach

The town of Bávaro was once developed only for resort workers, but over the years it has become popular with tourists and locals. The beach is around 10km long and offers visitors beautiful white sands. Bávaro beach has close proximity to Punta Cana so it’s location is great.

The beach can often be busy due to its popularity, but it’s worth a visit, and you can also feel like you are immersing yourself in Caribbean life.

2. Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park

One of the best things to do in Punta Cana is to explore an untouched portion of the Dominican Republic at Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park. 

It is a private protected nature reserve maintained by the PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation and the park allows visitors to experience cultural exhibits, a petting zoo, a sugarcane exhibit, five different swimming holes and an iguana habitat. 

3. Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures

I love snorkelling and Punta Cana is one of the best places in the world to see the underwater world. I would recommend going on a tour with Hispaniola Aquatic Tours, as they take visitors to the very best dive and snorkel sites there are on the island. 

You can jump aboard a private or semi-private four-hour excursion on a catamaran, and tours include drinks, a meal, transport to and from your hotel, snorkelling equipment and professional photos.

4. Hoyo Azul

Among all of the natural attractions, there is to see in Punta Cana, the best has to be Hoyo Azul. It is a cenote with crystal clear blue fresh water, formed at the bottom of a giant cliff that is half-hidden in the jungle. 

It is an incredible natural pool among primitive tropical forests, located at the far south of the Punta Cana coast in Cap Cana.

5. Canopy Adventures Zip Line Tours

If you love being amongst the trees, then you’ll love Canopy Adventures Zip Line Tours. Their tours take place in the forest surrounding Punta Cana and take visitors on an exhilarating adrenaline-inducing ride that spans over 4,300 feet.

During the tour, you can take in the spectacular Dominican scenery from a completely different angle. 

dominicana punta cana

Photo by sawaxe of Pixabay

6. ChocoMuseo Punta Cana

The Caribbean is well known for its chocolate production and produces some of the best in the world. A visit to ChocoMuseo is a must-do! Here you can learn more about the process of chocolate making in the exhibit and even make your own in their ‘bean to bar’ factory. 

And the best bit? You can also try lots of samples of various chocolate products, and buy some to take home at their gift shop.

If you love food, I would also recommend checking out the best dishes to try in Punta Cana.

7. HorsePlay Tours Punta Cana

I am not always a big fan of yours, but HorsePlay tours are amazing. With these guys, you can receive a cultural tour of local villages and learn about Dominican customs and traditions, as well as learn about the history. 

Plus you can go zip lining, horseback riding, sample locally produced coffee and chocolate, and enjoy a traditional Dominican meal.

It’s a great way to see a lot of the area and find out more about the culture in a short amount of time. 

8. Go surfing

If you are anything like me, you’ll love the ocean, and therefore surfing is just part of the obsession. Punta Cana is a great place to go surfing, or even learn to surf. 

The Hispanola’s windward Atlantic side provides the perfect conditions to surf, offering some amazing waves and wind. Check out an array of surf schools in the area, to find the best for you. 

9. Isla Saona

The beautiful untouched beaches of Isla Saona are perfect for visitors who want a quieter way of life during their holiday. The entire island is a government-protected nature reserve, so you won’t find gift shops, high street restaurants or high rises here. 

Isla Saona offers visitors pure white-sand beaches and walkways lined with palm trees. Many resorts offer day trips to Isla Saona that include a ferry so it’s worth a visit. 

10. Altos de Chavón

Altos de Chavón is a re-creation of a Mediterranean style European village located atop the Chavón River in La Romana, Dominican Republic. It is the most popular attraction in the city and hosts a cultural centre, an archaeological museum, and an amphitheatre. 

The project was conceived by the Italian architect Roberto Copa, and the industrialist Charles Bluhdorn. The Concert for the Americas was held here in August 1982. Performers included Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich, Heart and Santana.

*This is a sponsored post.


My Travel Tips and Recommendations

FlightsTravel

To book flights, I always use flight search engine, Skyscanner, I regularly use the Everywhere tool to find the cheapest places to travel. It’s how I get to travel so much all around the world. I find it the easiest way to compare flight prices across airlines and get the best deals. 

Accommodation

For accommodation, I usually book most of my hotels or hostels through Booking.com. I love using this platform as it provides me with some amazing deals for accommodation all around the world. Or if you prefer, I also recommend using Airbnb. If you haven’t signed up with Airbnb already, you can use this link to get £25 off your first visit!

Photography and Technology

Here is a list of the technology I always travel with:

Travel Insurance

Picking travel insurance that covers you in all eventualities is an essential part of planning a trip for every single person. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. You never know what’s around the corner. 

 

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Thank you for reading and as always happy adventuring! If you have any questions about the destination please leave these in the comments below.

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Sophie X

 

 

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