The 12 best things to do in Punta Cana | Travel Guide

Punta Cana is a vacation paradise of white sand beaches and turquoise waters, wild nature and a spectacular climate practically twelve months of the year.

It is one of the most popular destinations in the world when it comes to sun and beach tourism. And this has caused it to have one of the best hotel range on the planet, with wonderful resorts in which everything seems carefully calculated to guarantee the maximum comfort and relaxation of its guests.

However, Punta Cana is much more than its wonderful beaches. From your hotel you can make countless excursions to connect with the wild nature of the island or visit its capital, the beautiful city of Santo Domingo, located just a few kilometers away.

Before traveling to the Dominican Republic, we advise you to check the vaccinations and health requirements recommended for tourists.

Are you ready for a holiday away from stress, schedules and full of natural beauty, adventure and relaxation in the broadest sense of the word?

Bavaro Beach

Let’s start with one of the most famous beaches in the world. It is enough to set foot on its fine white sands to realize the reason for its fame. Along more than 20 kilometers of extension, yes, you read that right, 20 kilometers of beach, palm trees, restaurants and hammock areas abound.

The crystal clear water that bathes its shores acquires different shades of turquoise as the sea approaches the horizon line and together with the intense greenery of its palm trees and the clarity of the sand, it composes a truly hypnotic palette of colors.

In addition to bars and beach bars where you can enjoy a tropical drink in front of the Caribbean Sea, in its surroundings you will also find shops where you can buy local products to always remember your stay there. However, Bávaro Beach is so memorable that material souvenirs may not even be necessary.

Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve

We warned you at the beginning of this article that Punta Cana is synonymous with wild nature at its best. The best example of this, and one of the top places to see in Punta Cana, is the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve, a protected natural reserve of more than 600 hectares, belonging to the Puntacana Group Foundation.

This reserve is a paradise of tropical forests and subway rivers that flow to the surface forming small freshwater lagoons, in which swimming is allowed.

Touring the entire reserve will take you a whole morning, but if you don’t have that much time, you can always shorten through its trails in search of these small oases to enjoy a swim in the heart of nature. Among its lagoons, we especially recommend the Laguna Guama, a magical place that if you are lucky enough to visit the reserve, you can’t miss.

Macao Beach

When it comes to Punta Cana, it is not surprising to find several beaches among the recommendations of the places that are most worth visiting.

Macao Beach is a twenty-minute drive from Punta Cana and is one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Dominican Republic.

You know those pristine beaches with white sand, lush vegetation along its shores and crystal clear waters, which often appear in movies representing the typical deserted islands? Well, that is literally Macao Beach. Despite being a popular destination for tourists and locals, the beach’s size ensures it doesn’t feel overcrowded.

One of its most distinctive characteristics are its strong winds, which make it the ideal place to enjoy water sports such as windsurfing or surfing.

Amusement Parks

Especially if you are traveling with your family, the Scape Park and Bavaro Adventure Park are two of the must-do excursions on your Punta Cana vacation.

Let’s start with the Scape Park. It is located just a twenty minutes by car from Punta Cana and is a unique opportunity to connect with nature in a different way.

Among its many attractions you will find zip lines, natural pools hidden inside deep caves, the possibility of horseback riding, buggy routes or a fantastic beach club.

Its cenote, known as Hoyo Azul, is one of the most impressive on the island and during your visit you will also have time to learn about the history of the Taino Indians, ancient inhabitants of the region.

It is best to book the excursion directly from your hotel, with pick-up and drop-off by cab or bus, so you don’t have to worry about anything else but enjoying an unforgettable day.

The Bávaro Adventure Park also offers different attractions to have fun in the depths of nature. For example, you can do zip-lining through lush forests, enjoy a swim in a pool with its own waterfall, ride a horse, walk among dinosaurs, play paintball or even practice in a flight simulator.

This is an excursion especially recommended if you are traveling with children, but being honest, it often happens that parents end up having as much fun or more than the little ones.

Imagine yourself on a zip line cutting through the air, at more than 55 kilometers per hour, while you enter a lush forest of tropical plants elevated to 800 meters high. Sounds good, doesn’t it? If you want to add extra fun and adventure on your Punta Cana vacation, you’re going to love both parks.

Punta Cana nightclubs

Let’s move away just for a moment from Punta Cana’s many natural treasures, to stop at another of its most special attractions, its lively nightlife. What better plan for a vacation than a day of relaxation on the shores of the Caribbean or an adventure in the depths of nature and a night of fun in a spectacular nightclub.

Some of the most famous discos in Punta Cana are Coco Bongo, ORO Night Club and Imagine Punta Cana. The latter, for example, is located in a set of caves, elevating any nightlife experience to the next level.

Punta Cana sounds to the rhythm of merengue and bachata, but its nightclubs play music of all kinds so if you’re not particularly a lover of Caribbean rhythms, don’t worry, because you’ll have fun anyway.

Juanillo Beach

The third beach on our list and again, the same dreamy scenery. Fine white sands, crystal clear turquoise waters and palm trees that seem to dance to the sound of the waves of the Caribbean Sea.

Juanjillo Beach is located very close to Punta Cana’s international airport and to access its shores, you will have to go through a security checkpoint, as it is located in a private residential area. Its calm waters make it the ideal place to spend a relaxing day or a family day by the sea.

Just a few meters from its shores, in Playa Blanca, you will find a small reef where you can enjoy snorkeling or diving, contemplating first-hand the many wonders of the Dominican seabed.

To travel to Punta Cana is to travel to paradise and without a doubt, Juanillo Beach is one of the best tourist attractions in this special region.

Catalina Island

The excursion to Catalina Island is one of the favorites among the thousands of tourists who choose Punta Cana as their vacation destination every year.

This small islet was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1494 during his second voyage to what was called the New World. As a curiosity, its shores served as a refuge for groups of pirates who awaited the arrival of European ships in order to plunder them before they made landfall.

But nowadays, life in Catalina Island is much quieter. Its paradisiacal beaches will help you connect with nature and discover levels of relaxation that you probably didn’t even know your body was capable of achieving.

The island is surrounded by a shallow coral reef, which concentrates hundreds of different species of marine life in just a few meters. Fortunately, as its bottoms are at a short distance from the surface, between 4 and 5 meters approximately, you can enjoy the colorful fish simply with the help of a tube, goggles and fins. Of course, if you are also a diving lover you can do a dive near the shores of the island, we assure you that the experience is amplified a hundredfold. Not in vain, we are talking about one of the best places to see in Punta Cana and to dive in the world.

Saona Island

The other great excursion you can’t miss on a Punta Cana vacation. In fact, it’s the number one in terms of attendance and when it comes to the island’s spectacular natural beauty, it’s easy to see why.

But Saona Island is not only postcard beaches and wild nature. Very close to its shores it is possible to visit a sea star sanctuary or marvel at the amazingly colorful coral reef.

To reach the island, you will need to travel to the town of Bayahibe, located about an hour’s drive from Punta Cana, and from there take a private boat that will take you to its shores in about 45 minutes. It is also possible to visit it by catamaran with an organized excursion. They will tell you how to get to the dock where the boat leaves for the island, the schedules and the itinerary you will take.

Santo Domingo

The Punta Cana region is located a few kilometers from the capital of the Dominican Republic, the ancient city of Santo Domingo. This offers the perfect opportunity to shift the focus of your vacation for a day and immerse yourself in the cultural and historical heritage of the area.

Among the places of interest and monuments that you should not miss, the Ozama Fortress, the Dominican Convent, the Church of Santa Clara, the Plaza de España and the Plaza de Colón.

Santo Domingo is also the ideal place to try the different delicacies of Caribbean cuisine in any of the local restaurants in its historic center.

Los Haitises National Park

Once again, a proposal in which nature becomes the undisputed protagonist. Los Haitises National Park, located in Samaná Bay, is one of the most recommended day trips from Punta Cana.

Its lush jungles will allow you to discover what the island was like before it became one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, showing its wildest side.

One of the peculiarities of this spectacular natural park are the so-called mogotes, geological formations typical of the soil of the area, which rise around 30 or 40 meters, as a result of the passage of time and the prolonged action of wind and rain.

Excursions to Los Haitises are made by land and by sea, and include a boat ride through its mangroves and the exploration of the caves that hundreds of years ago served as a residence for the Tainos, the ancient inhabitants of the area.

In addition to its abundant flora, the park stands out for its varied fauna, which includes all kinds of reptiles, pelicans, owls, parrots, manatees, sea turtles and gannets.

Are you up for a buggy tour?

It is one of the most attractive plans to discover all the attractions of the region in one fell swoop, while you enjoy a fun sporting activity and get some adrenaline.

If the landscapes, beaches and jungles around Punta Cana are usually impressive, touring them in a buggy makes them even more attractive.

You can make a route of 3 or 4 hours in these small off-road cars that have between two and four seats.

Especially if you are a lover of driving and motor sports, driving these vehicles along the island’s trails, crossing rivers and discovering virgin beaches on your own, is something you will remember for the rest of your life.

To make this excursion, book it online with pick-up service at your hotel and guide in Spanish. So, once there, you will only have to worry about enjoying it to the fullest.

Hoyo Azul

The last stop on our list of recommendations and undoubtedly one of the most special.

Among the many cenotes you can find in the vicinity of Punta Cana, the one known as Hoyo Azul is our favorite. Located right next to a cliff with a drop of more than 75 meters high, it is a 14-meter deep cavity, whose crystalline and cold waters come from a subway river.

The route to this natural wonder is simply worth it. Along the way, you will have to cross an elevated suspension bridge over the lush Caribbean vegetation. Once there, you decide whether you dare to jump into its waters or descend to this beautiful natural mirror through the access stairs.

Frequently Asked Questions Punta Cana

What are the must-see places in Punta Cana?

You will probably have to choose among the many excursions offered, so we recommend the places you should not miss in Punta Cana: Catalina Island and Saona Island, Los Haitises National Park, the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve and, of course, all the beaches included in the list.

Where to eat in Punta Cana?

The luxurious hotels and resorts in the region are undoubtedly the best choice if you are thinking about where to eat in Punta Cana during your vacation, especially if you are traveling on an all-inclusive basis. But if you feel like trying some of the typical dishes of Caribbean cuisine, the restaurants in the center of Santo Domingo are always a good choice.

What currency is used in Punta Cana?

The official currency of the country is the Dominican peso, but practically all stores on the island accept the U.S. dollar as a form of payment. However, if you use the local currency, you will always have access to better prices, so if you can change before traveling, we recommend you do so.

What is the best time to travel to Punta Cana?

The best time to travel to Punta Cana and avoid the rainy and hurricane season is between December and May. That does not mean that if you travel out of season you will encounter bad weather. Most days of the year in Punta Cana are dominated by sun and heat. But it is true that from June to November you are more likely to have a rainy day.

When is it more likely to find Sargasso in Punta Cana?

The most probable months to find Sargasso in Punta Cana are between May and November. In case you didn’t know, sargassum is a natural accumulation of algae, which during these months of the year, can occur on the beaches of the island. It is not harmful to the skin, but it is true that it worsens the great experience of bathing in its beaches of crystal-clear waters.