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Punta Cana holidays
Where the Atlantic Ocean joins the Caribbean Sea, soft sands trim the coastline and the sun shines bright - Punta Cana’s one of the Caribbean’s most popular tourist destinations for its beaches, golf courses and all-inclusive hotels.
- Flight time
- 9h
- From London
- Currency
- RDS
- Dominican Peso
- Time zone
- GMT -4h
Getting to Punta Cana
Punta Cana International (PUJ) is the nearest airport and has the best connections in the Caribbean, with flights from 26 countries. The resorts on the beachfront take between 15-40 minutes to reach by car.
You’ll find taxis outside airports, and hotels can arrange taxis for you (they’ll often advise you what you should be paying too – so you don’t end up being overcharged). Conchos are shared taxis that run on particular routes and cost a significant amount less than private taxis. You’ll also see Motoconchos or motorbike taxis. Hire cars are a popular way to explore the island at your own pace. A number of bus companies run between the cities, including Caribe Tours and Expreso Bávaro.
Average weather in Punta Cana
- Temperature (°C)*
- Rainfall (Inches)*
Holidays in Punta Cana
Besides most resorts holding their own evening entertainment, there’s a big party scene in downtown Punta Cana. The shows and VIP service at Coco Bongo and cave theme at Imagine draw in the crowds every night. In Bavaro, Avenida Espana’s where you’ll find the local’s favourite watering holes - Drink Point has a great mix of Latin and hip hop music and El Kan is the place to experience proper Dominican meringue and bachata. For Vegas-stylie partying, the ORO super-club has two floors and past performers including Snoop Dogg / Lion, Akon and Bob Sinclair. A lot of resorts have casinos, if not there’s a good chance of a shuttle service.
Bavaro has some terrific beach restaurants - head over to Captain Cook’s to enjoy the fresh seafood and steak on El Cortecito beach as the sun sets – accompanied by lapping waves and mariachi music. Onno’s is a good option too, with a hearty menu of tacos, fajitas and burgers.
We love the Jellyfish restaurant in the evenings, when the whole place is lit up (the cocktails and seafood aren’t bad either). Home to lots of Italian expats, Los Corales is the place to eat awesome pizzas and pasta. Huracán Café does a smashing breakfast on the beach (and lunch, and supper for that matter) – with a mix of local, Italian and international dishes (sometimes you just can’t beat a club sarnie).
For something really special, book a table at the Passion restaurant in the Paradisus Palma hotel - Martín Berasategui has collected a whopping seven Michelin starts in his three restaurants in Spain, promising greatness on your plate in Punta Cana.
Playa Blanca, on the beach of the same name, has a trendy atmosphere and fabulous menu (try their spicy goat for something deliciously Dominican).
In Punta Cana village, Mamma Luisa serves good old fashioned Italian, while Carbon’s a top spot for simple local cuisine.
The Cafeina Coffee House in Cap Cana is a great place to sit and sip Dominican Coffee in a comfy, homely environment, their mocha fraps are incredible. Little John is the perfect excuse to visit the beautiful Juanillo Beach, with good food, tropical drinks and music.
The Bavaro and Los Pinos plazas have a gaggle of tourist shops, and there’s a colourful line of stalls at Bavaro beach’s outdoor market selling the mamajuana drink, clothes and knickknacks. The San Juan Shopping Centre has all manner of shops selling clothes, jewellery, cosmetics and food. There’s also the Palma Real Shopping Village, where the shops are slightly more high-end, with brands like Armani and Michael Kors.
Activities in Punta Cana
Most resorts have an ocean of activities to enjoy without having to leave the resort, or spend any more money for that matter. Water sports like kayaking, SUP paddle boarding, sailing and diving are often part of the all-inclusive package and you’ll also find tennis, volleyball, yoga and more to get stuck into.
But it doesn’t end there - explore the wider area and you’ll find all kinds of things to do. Golf is massively popular in Punta Cana, with ten courses set along the coastline. Scape Park and the Anamuya forest have zip lines, jeep safaris and buggy trails take you through jungles and along coastlines. The Marinarium tours show you Punta Cana from the sea, with snorkelling trips and sea-life experiences. You can also book excursions to Saona Island, Santo Domingo and other Dominican destinations.
Watersports
Diving in Punta Cana
Snorkelling and diving trips and private charters will show you the very best sites on the Punta Cana coast. The ‘aquarium’ is a protected natural reef for snorkelers – spot barracuda and see how the Ecological Foundation use coral gardening to restore endangered species. Cabeza de Toro is a popular spot for snorkelling among fish and corals – some boats run hookah and DVP diving trips.
Nearby shipwrecks include the Spanish Pewter Wreck (that sunk sometime around the late 1540’s), the Astron cargo ship (that never made it to Cuba in 1978) and the remains of the wooden ship Monica shipwreck (once used by sugar farmers).
Half an hour from Bavaro, the Cueva Taina Macao is a fabulous underwater cave for freshwater diving - bring a torch and you can see incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
Further out, popular snorkelling and scuba excursions take you to the reefs of the Saona and Catalina islands – where you’ll swim amongst sponges, corals, lobsters and nurse sharks.
Surfing in Punta Cana
Macao beach is the main surfer’s spot in Punta Cana. Thanks to an exposed beach break, there’s a consistent stream of left and right handers – not the biggest swell we’ve ever seen, but perfect for newbies or riders who want to build confidence or just enjoy the waves. The real joy of surfing here is the quintessentially Caribbean nature of the beach, with its white sands, clear waters and lines of palm trees. Surf schools provide lessons and board hire - visit in winter or spring for the best conditions.
Windsurfing & kitesurfing in Punta Cana
The hub of kiting activity’s Playa Blanca. If you’ve never set hand to bar before, the conditions are brilliant - a forgiving flat water spot with waist deep waters. For more experienced boarders, supervised equipment rental lets you kitesurf at your own pace, with someone to help with launching and landing and assist if you’re in a spot of bother. Juanillo beach is another good ‘un, with a similar school and rental set up to Playa Blanca. Punta Cana’s IKO certified Kite Clubs are your key to lessons and rental over here, and the best time to visit is November-April or July-August.
Though kitesurfing’s been winning the popularity contest over the last few years in these parts, there are still some resorts offering basic windsurf equipment and lessons (Club Med did last time we checked). Playa Blanca’s a brilliant beach for learners and freestylers, with flat waters and steady, light winds.
Sailing in Punta Cana
Sailing schools are connected to some of the big all-inclusive hotels (Club Med had one last time we checked), where beginners can learn the basics in group classes, while seasoned sailors use the equipment to hone technique. Sailing excursions tend to be more popular than bareboat charters in this neck of the woods – you can privately hire catamarans complete with crew if you’re happy with someone else at the helm. Popular sailing cruises here include trips along the coastline or to Saona island.
Fishing in Punta Cana
Home to the White & Blue Marlin Tournaments (held between March and September), Punta Cana regularly ranks among the best billfish destinations in the world. Besides Marlin, common catches include mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, barracuda and wahoo. Deep sea fishing charters (shared and private) run from the Puntacana and Cap Cana marinas. Some companies have arrangements with restaurants, who will cook up your catch and serve it on the beachfront – it doesn’t get fresher than that.
Canoeing & kayaking in Punta Cana
The coconut coast is perfect for ocean kayaking, and most resorts have a fleet of single and tandem boats for guests to use. If yours doesn’t, Playa Blanca’s Kite Club offer a similar service - and the beach here is gorgeous, with brilliantly clear blue water to paddle about on. Sign up for lessons to pick up the right technique, or if you’re a confident kayaker, ask a guide to show you the best beach stops and colourful reefs.
Land activities
Golf in Punta Cana
Punta Cana’s easily one of the Caribbean’s best golfing destinations. You could play a different course on each day of the week here, where three courses sit right on the seafront: Cap Cana’s 18 hole Punta Espada course was designed by Nicklaus and is widely considered one of the best in the world. A spectacular and challenging par 72 course, you have to factor in trade winds as you play the 8 holes edging the coast, and remaining holes looking out over the fairway and ocean. The fairway is more forgiving at the 18-hole Corales course, masterminded by Tom Fazio and featuring his signature wide fairways. Its setting is wonderfully dramatic, with bays and cliffs trimming the course. Designed by P.B. Dye, La Cana’s 27-hole course consists of three nines, with a whopping 14 holes looking out over the turquoise sea.
In Bavaro, the 18 hole Cocotal Golf & Country Club showcases six-time Spanish champion Jose “Pepe” Gancedo’s design - following the natural landscape, its rolling fairways features trees bunkers and mounds to test and challenge. The 18-hole championship course at Lakes Barceló is spectacular; redesigned by P.B. Dye in 2010, fairways feature mangroves, lakes and over a hundred bunkers. Jack Nicklaus is the brains behind the Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay, an 18-hole course bursting with Dominican flora and fauna (look out for the resident flamingos on the 18th fairway).
There’s also Punta Blanca Golf Club, which has an 18-hole course of undulating fairways, which Nick Price has designed around trees, wetland and lakes. Not forgetting La Romana’s legendary Teeth of the Dog course (designed by Pete Dye) - a true bucket list golf course, around an hour’s drive away.
Cycling & mountain biking in Punta Cana
The main roads aren’t really suitable for cycling, but there’s a lovely beach path from Cabeza de Toro and stretches of the coastal path are still in good nick. Bikers have also found some good loops from the islands eastern tip, Cabo Engaño. The Bavaro Adventure Park has a 150m pump track, kitted out with sixteen ridges, four up and down curves and awesome single tracks through forest. Mountain bike adventures are arranged from here over the Cape Engaño Plains, beaches and lagoons.
Walking & hiking in Punta Cana
We could spend days walking up and down Bavaro beach, where the market and village of El Corticito are worth stopping to explore. Paths at the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park lead to gorgeous lagoons that you can swim in. Day trips to the Parque Nacional Del Este include treks to historic Taino caves, among hundreds of species of flora and fauna. For more mountainous terrain, you might be better off staying in Samana or Puerto Plata which are within easy reach of gorgeous Dominican hills and forests.
