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The
Punta Cana destination is made up of the areas (going from
south to north) of Juanillo, Punta Cana, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro,
El Cortecito, Macao and Uvero Alto.
Today,
the East Coast beach strip is one of the best choices for
those seeking the perfect beach and R&R (rest and relaxation)
vacation. Bill and Hillary Clinton in April 2001 chose Punta
Cana for their first sojourn after leaving the White House.
Punta Cana is that perfect place for a honeymoon.
This is
a place for vegging out… miles of silky-fine white sand,
deserted beaches with coconut palms. Unless you rent a car
or purchase an excursion, don’t expect much sightseeing
or outstanding shopping opportunities nearby.
This area
is made up almost completely of large all-inclusive
resorts populated mostly by couples or families. Some resorts
in the area cater to sports-minded people, others are couples
only. But most resorts
focus on family entertainment. The exception is spring break
time when groups of university students fly down from Canada
and the US. The better hotels
for this crowd are the larger complexes, where night time entertainment
is more lively.
If you
don't mind losing a day at your all-inclusive,
Punta Cana can also be for explorers. If you rent a 4x4, venture
out to discover a magnificent world of caves, mangroves, private
beaches in the nearby Hato Mayor and El Seibo provinces. Or
drive west on to Altos de Chavon, Bayahibe, and even to Saona
near La Romana. These are at least two hour’s drive
away.
| Our
Guide Book Recommendations |
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What
else is nearby
The Punta
Cana area lends itself more to those looking for the type
of vacation where the resort has everything and one never
has to go outside the gates. Note the nearest city, Higuey,
is about a 40 minute drive away. Beyond the resorts
is mostly empty countryside. You can literally walk for miles
along the beach without seeing anything but an occasional
unfinished construction project or the next hotel.
El
Cortecito, located between Punta Cana-Bavaro and Macao,
is the closest thing to a little beach town in the area. Juanillo
is a perfect swimming pool of a beach south of Punta Cana. Nearby
is Manatee Park, a wildlife ecological/adventure site, and the
Ponce de Leon house is near Boca de Yuma. Bavaro Plaza is the
largest shopping complex in the area.
Port
of Entry/How to get there
The best
airport to land at is the Punta Cana International Airport,
at most a half hour drive from the hotels. Some resorts
are barely 10 minutes away from the thatch-roofed airport.
The second best airport for this destination is the La Romana
Airport, which is about 1-1/2 to 2 hours drive away from your
hotel. If you land at Las Americas International (Santo Domingo)
you will be a four hour drive away. From Santo Domingo, a
taxi cab trip can be negotiated for about US$100, the domestic
air flight is around US$60 per person. The cheapest way to
get to and from Santo Domingo is by commuter minibus. This
will cost about US$8 but could take you almost a whole day
as you make numerous bus changes.
Getting
around
Tourists
arriving to Punta Cana will spend most of their vacation at
their hotel.
The easiest way to visit the other hotels is to take a stroll
along the beach. Or take the beach taxi to El Cortecito, or
Juanillo, a beach south of Punta Cana. To visit the Basilica
in Higuey, you can take either a taxi or public bus.
The beach
is the No. 1 attraction in the Punta Cana area, stretching
an amazing 50 kilometers.
But here are more activities to consider:
| Manatí
Park Bavaro |
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130,000
square meter preserve with permanent exhibits of birds,
reptiles, and fish. A show with parrots, dolphins and
dancing horses is included in the US$22 admission fee.
Optional possibility of swimming with the dolphins for
an extra fee. Reservations should be made as soon as
you arrive in the country if you want to swim with the
dolphins.
Free shuttle bus to and from principal hotels
in the area. |
- Address:
Higüey Punta Cana Road
- About
US$22 (221-9444, fax 221-9282) Open 9:00am - 6:30pm
- Website:
www.manatipark.com
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| 4
x 4 motorbike tour |
of the coastline. The Punta Cana equivalent to a "city
tour" is this 4-wheel motor bike tour that will
take you up the Punta Cana-Bavaro beach with a view
of the many resorts that dot the eastern coastline.
It is a full day, but most say it is worth it. The excursion
includes a visit to the Pozo Azul caverns with a dive
off rocks into the cavern's clear blue waters. Bring
swim suit, sunscreen and sunglasses to shield eyes from
bright reflective sand and water.
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| Ecological
Walk |
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...
at the Punta Cana Beach Resort,
which ends in a refreshing bath in a cool spring. You
will be walking through a real jungle.
Bring long sleeves and bug repellent. |
| Boat
trips |
| ...
to Juanillo and El Cortecito. |
| Safari
Tour |
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Open
jeep takes tourists to visit a rural school, a colmado
(country store), sugar cane fields, tropical fruit groves,
plus you’ll take a dip in a river and ride horseback
on virgin beach after lunch.
Operated by Bavaro Runners. |
| Rancho
Jonathan |
|
... has caving excursions to Boca de Diablo, a large cave system
south of Los Haitises. |
| La
Otra Banda |
| If
you take the Saona, Catalina, Altos de Chavón, Higuey
or Santo Domingo excursions, on your way west ask your guide
to point out the small town of La Otra Banda, with its pretty
little houses, right out of a Caribbean architecture book and
perfect for picture-taking. |
| Higüey
|
 |
The
city has no tourist attractions other than its Basilica,
a large modern cathedral that honors the Virgen de la
Altagracia, patron saint of the Dominican Republic.
If you wind up in Higüey with time to spare, take
a walk down the small streets, look at the local businesses,
eat the local cheese, go into a colmado (grocery shop)
and buy a Presidente beer or a Coca Cola, go to the local
market and buy some local fruit, change your dollars in
the banks or exchange houses (next to the central park),
try to communicate with the locals, have your shoes shined
for 5 or 10 pesos by a small child, give the child a few
sweets and your best smile. |
Visit the largest supermarket in Higuey and purchase Bon Marmalade,
Santo Domingo coffee in a can, top of the line Brugal, Bermudez
or Barcelo rum, or stop by a Bon ice cream shop for tropical
sherbets.
Place
to stay in Higüey:
- Hotel
El Naranjo, Av La Altagracia 23 (554-3400, fax 554-5455)
- Hotel
Topacio, Calles Cambronal & Duarte (554-5892)
- El
Millon, Av de la Libertad
- Basilica
de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia. Open
Mon-Sat 8:00am - 6:00pm Sun 8:00am - 8:00pm
- Events:
January 21
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One
to two hours away
| La
Romana/Altos de Chavon |
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Past
expansive fields of shoulder-high sugar cane, visitors
will come to La Romana, a city built and maintained by
the sugar mills.
The incessant production of sugar fills the air with the
sweet smell of molasses. But the principal attraction
of the region is Altos de Chavón, a re-created
15th century Italian-Spanish village beside the mesmerizing
Chavón River.
At its founding in 1981, Altos de Chavón was declared
“an artists’ village” by its creators
who dedicated it to the service of the fine and applied
arts. |
Its
old world cobblestone streets and quaint architecture
conceal charming shops, fine restaurants, intimate bars,
artisans workshops, a church, a vast amphitheater, an
archaeological museum, and a university specializing
in design. The Parson's School of Design of New York
City has a branch right here. Lovely architecture, restaurants
with great views and international cuisine, and a small
but superb museum. It’s adjacent to Casa de Campo,
one of the most famous and expensive resorts
in the Caribbean.
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| Los
Haitises National Park |
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Several
hotels offer excursions to Los Haitises National Park,
a sanctuary for nature lovers and those interested in
natural history.
The underground rivers flow through caves replete with
pre-Columbian drawings and petroglyphs, silent testimony
to the Indian population who dwelled there peacefully
for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans.
Be sure to visit the Cueva de la Linea (Ferrocarril) and
the Cueva de las Arenas. |
| The
boat trip to get to these caves that are off San Lorenzo Bay
will take you through the largest system of mangroves in the
Caribbean. Another option to visit and a place to have lunch
in the area is the Paraiso Caño Hondo river center, a
short drive from the National Park Los Haitises departure point.
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| Rent
A Car |
If
you are renting
a car, and consider yourself an explorer, head south
from Sabana de la Mar (Los Haitises) to Miches. Discover
the white sand and little frequented but very lovely
Playa Miches or the further south Playa Esmeralda.
Avoid Playa Esmeralda if you are not driving a four
wheel vehicle as if it has rained the night before there
may form a puddle in the sand road that 4 x 2 vehicles
cannot pass.
Note that if you are staying in Punta Cana this will
be a whole day trip.
This really is a trip for those who book a stay in one
of the small hotels
in Sabana de la Mar.
| Rent
Your Car Online |
| Travel-Junky
in coöperation with AutoEurope |
For
over 50 years, Auto Europe has been a leader
in worldwide car rental services. In recent
years, we have expanded our services to
include over 4,000 car rental locations
worldwide. |
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| Isla
Catalina |
| Boat
trip to Isla Catalina, an environmental reserve
located just offshore from La Romana with a coral reef perfect
for diving or snorkeling and a nice beach. |
| Isla
Saona |
...
a larger island off the coast of La Altagracia province.
It has a quiet fishing village with friendly locals who
now cater to thousands of day trippers. You can go by
catamaran, big tourist boat or small motor boat.
The boats generally leave from Bayahibe. If you are lucky,
dolphins will swim along with you. Some excursions use
speed boats that take tourists to visit the village of
Mano Juan and Palmilla beach with its white sands.
This is the most-booked trip of tourists visiting Punta
Cana but if you plan on returning to the DR, consider
leaving it for a time when you stay in one of the La Romana
hotels when you will be about a half hour boat trip away,
instead of the almost three hours it will take to get
there from Punta Cana. |
| Plantación
Tropical |
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A
memorable side trip north from San Pedro de Macorís
to Hato Mayor will reward the entire family with one
of the largest horticultural centers in the Caribbean.
Tropical Plantation displays scores of exotic species
-- bromeliads, anthuriums, orchids and others along
challenging labyrinthine paths.
Complementing
their intense colors, fragrance and beauty is an aviary
with the island's native birds and a vast butterfly
enclosure. It is an entertaining cross between a botanical
garden, an amusement park and a working plant nursery
that will captivate all for an entire morning or afternoon. |
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| Hato
Mayor |
Also
in Hato Mayor, adventure lovers may book
an underground excursion to the Rancho Capote and its
Cueva Fun Fun, that is the longest underground cave in
the Caribbean.
This is a shallow cave running seven kilometers. Experience
the darkness down under, the giant corridors, the cave
art, and the magic whisper of the subterranean rivers.
This thrilling excursion begins with a ride on horseback,
then a walk through the jungle and the cave, and ends
with a well-deserved lunch. The owners of the ranch are
one of the country's leading orange growers so expect
delicious fresh orange juice with lunch. |
Four
hours away
| Santo
Domingo |
 |
If
you don't think you will ever make it back to the Dominican
Republic, then definitely take the Santo Domingo city
tour, in spite of the distance.
It is the first city in the New World settled by the
Europeans, and boasts a charming colonial zone and some
of the best nightlife and dining in the Caribbean.
Note that this city of over 3 million people will host
the Pan American Games in year 2003.
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There
are about 18,000 hotel rooms in East Coast hotels.
Not all are created equal. They may offer similar-sounding
all inclusive plans, but there are major variations. When
booking your hotel,
check out what is included in the plan. Note that many hotels
will not include premium liquors in their price package. Some
offer better sports packages than others. Some have better
plans for the family while others cater to couples.
Some are smaller operations, others are large and better options
for those seeking to mingle with lots of people. This is important
especially regarding night life entertainment for those who
will not be traveling as a couple.
If rest
and relaxation are important to you, request a room away from
the night show area or the pool area where some hotels keep
their guests energized with what many may otherwise feel is
too loud music.
For a listing of Punta Cana hotels,
see
the Hotel Directory
Dining
outside the hotel
Punta
Cana is resort territory. Tourists staying at resorts that
are partnered with other hotels
can enjoy more dining options at the sister properties than
those staying at independent hotels. Of course, this will
depend on your hotel plan. Either way, the hotels
will feature an ample variety of food, with menus that change
daily and are not duplicated for 14 days straight!
Outside of the
resorts, dining establishments can be found in the El Cortecito
area and close to Bavaro Plaza.
Places
to shop
Bavaro Plaza
is the largest shopping area in Punta Cana. But each hotel features
stores where arts and crafts can be purchased.
Golf
There
are three 18-hole golf courses and one 9-hole course in operation
the area: El Golf de Bavaro (Barcelo hotels),
Cocotal (Melia hotels),
Punta Cana Golf (Club Med, Punta Cana Beach Resort,
Marina, Corales hotels),
and Catalonia Golf course. For more information on these,
see our Golf Page
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Snorkeling
Punta
Cana features the longest coral reef in the whole island
- about 30 kilometers long.
Snorkeling is so-so from shore, decent out at select
areas near the reef.
200 meters from the coast there are corals and colorful
fish at the 1-2 meter depth. (One of the best places
for snorkeling is near the Rio Taino hotel.)
An excursion will take you to the corals just off the
Cabeza de Toro yacht club.
If
you are planning on snorkeling, find one of the locals
on the beach with their own boat. They will take you
snorkeling for about $US10-15 for about 1 hour. Or conveniently
book an excursion, more expensive, at your hotel.
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Scuba
Diving
Diving
is good, not great, because right off shore from the Punta
Cana side the water is riddled with barrier reefs. The area
though is most appropriate for beginning divers. It is a great
place to learn since the waters, even far out, are so shallow.
Excursions will take you to discover a shipwreck and lots
of nice coral formations, channels and tunnels. Not a large
variety of fish, due to the spear fishermen you pass on the
way out. Water temp 75 F.
If
you are serious about scuba diving, but still want to vacation
in the Punta Cana area you may participate in dive excursions
to Catalina and Saona islands, a two hour drive away. These
dives are attractive to both beginners and advanced scuba divers.
Fishing
In this
region, big game fishing is unsurpassed and tournaments draw
international participants in the summer. You can look forward
to catching blue marlin, barracuda, and dorado among others.
Best fishing is in the summer. Arrangements can be made at
hotel front desks or at the Cabeza de Toro Yacht Club or Punta
Cana Marina for a full day or half day of fishing. The Cabeza
de Toro Yacht Club is the site of the World Light Tackle Tournament.
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Windsurfing
and parasailing
At
the point where the Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans meet,
the winds are powerful so this is a good area for windsurfing
and parasailing.
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