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Dominican Republic

Punta Cana Travel Tips: Resorts, Attractions, Weather

Punta Cana beach
Punta Cana beach. Credit: Pixabay license

A Punta Cana beach vacation emphasizes all-inclusive resorts that give visitors many reasons for never leaving the property.

Punta Cana is the top vacation destination in the Dominican Republic in large part because of the reputation of its resorts and 21 miles of soft, white-sand beach shaded with coconut palms. More than 35 resorts line the beaches.

It’s also an occasional port of call for eastern Caribbean cruises, especially smaller ships. They dock at Cap Cana, which is a resort and marina development outside of Punta Cana.

Resort visitors typically arrive at Punta Cana International Airport, about a half hour away. La Romana Airport is about 1.5 to two hours away. Santo Domingo International Airport is about four hours away.

They travel through the largely empty countryside to reach the resorts. Once there, most visitors stay on the resort properties because of the wide array of activities on the properties including watersports, classes, entertainment and restaurants.

We spent 10 days there and left the resort property only once to visit a nearby craft flea market.

All-Inclusive Resorts

Punta Cana Map

Punta Cana has many all-inclusive resorts that range in quality and price.

Among all of the Caribbean destinations, Punta Cana may have the most resorts and some of the best.

They share some common characteristics—one price pays for everything including food, entertainment and beverages. The beaches have soft white sand, the color of the sea is remarkable and there is so much to do that people rarely go anywhere else during their stay.

Prices that include everything often range as high as $600 to $700 a night per person. Some resorts will show prices in the range of $200 to $300 a night, but they usually include free breakfast but not drinks, lunch and dinner.

Attractions and Things to Do

Typical watersports on the properties include snorkeling, kayaking, catamaran sailing, scuba, banana boats, fishing, party boats and speed boats.

People wanting to leave the property for a change of scenery can visit El Cortecito, a small beach town between Punta Cana-Bavaro and Macao. Higuey, the nearest city, is about 28 miles away. Ponce de Leon House was home of the famous Spanish explorer from the 1500s.

Other nearby attractions include the village of Bavaro, where tourist can go shopping for local arts and crafts.

Marinarium is a marine park that allows visitors to go snorkeling with stingrays and nurse sharks. It also has a wide variety of other excursions. Dolphin Experience is where visitors can swim with dolphins.

Other attractions near Punta Cana include Manati Park, a nature preserve with permanent animal and sea life exhibits and a show with parrots, dolphins and dancing horses.

Punta Cana Ecological Reserve offers a short guided tour through tropical flora and a real jungle.

Vacation Weather

Punta Cana monthly rainfall
© Scott S. Bateman

The average high temperature in Punta Cana ranges from the low 80s Fahrenheit or high 20s Celsius to the high 80s Fahrenheit or about 30 Celsius year-round.

Rainfall is lowest from December through May and hits a high point in October during one of the most active months of the Caribbean hurricane season.

However, the most popular months to visit are March and July, while the least popular is September followed by October.

Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera.
December 26, 2023

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