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Punta Cana
Trip Planning & Itineraries
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If the Dominican Republic's southeast has the best beaches in the country, the very best beaches in this region can be found at Punta Cana. Ground zero of DR tourism, it's no wonder Punta Cana is the name many travelers recognize. Postcards don't do justice to those white-sand beaches and warm aquamarine waters, the coconut palms reaching up into cloudless blue skies.
Punta Cana is shorthand for the region as a whole, but it's actually something of a misnomer. The majority of resorts are scattered around the beaches of Bavaro, really nothing more than a series of small commercial plazas, and Cortecito, a short strip of shops along a "town beach." Punta Cana (Grey-Haired Point), the easternmost tip of the country and where the airport is located, has some of the more luxurious resorts and Caribbean-hugging golf courses.
Best of Punta Cana: Top 3 Most-Do Experiences
Best of Punta Cana: Suggested Itineraries
Whether touring by land or by sea, Punta Cana is holiday central for visitors to this piece of Caribbean paradise. All beaches in the Dominican Republic are open to the public by law. Although hotels can and do restrict the use of their beach chairs and umbrellas to hotel guests, it is perfectly okay to walk along the water and set up your towel on the sand wherever you like.
Can't resist that crystal-clear Caribbean water? We've got oodles of cruises and activities to float your boat. For starters, the most relaxing way to ease into the leisurely island lifestyle is on a cruise. Board the "Tropical Storm" for a cruise to Bavaro, following the stunning white coastline from Punta Cana. Relax, swim or snorkel, and enjoy lunch onboard. Or sail to Catalina Island to snorkel or dive off coral reefs. If you've never gone snorkeling or diving before, learn how to get up close and personal with the Caribbean's aquatic life on our introductory snorkel adventure or scuba dive. And when you've got your sea legs, become a certified diver on our PADI open-water diver course. For three times the fun, ride an underwater Scubadoo (kind of like a submarine crossed with a motorbike!), view marine life through a glass-bottom boat then cruise the Caribbean in the afternoon.
The fun doesn't stop when you leave the water in Punta Cana. Climb aboard the Monster Truck Safari to take the most outrageous "road" tour in the DR. Travel where tour buses can't go, on back country roads, across streams and sugar cane fields. The Monster Truck also takes you to colorful villages to see how the local people live, providing a tasting of the locally brewed Dominican Coffee, one of the country's most famous products, and offering a chance to cool off with a swim in a river. Or go on a Country Adventure Safari to learn about the culture and history of this wonderful country. You'll get to visit a typical rural house and taste the local specialties at a local cafe, mingle with locals and visit an elementary school. But if you'd rather just lie back and relax, go for the ultimate indulgence of a Renova Spa package, including a purifying wrap, hot stone massage and manicure, or maybe a little reflexology and a facial.
Best of Punta Cana: Top Hotels
If you've ever wished you had your own private resort, wish no longer and book yourself into Tortuga Bay. Designed by fashion couturier Oscar de la Renta, the private beach villas at this exclusive resort are in an exquisite away-from-it-all location. Choose from nine on-site restaurants and cruise around the grounds in your own golf buggy.
Five-star luxury awaits at the Majestic Colonial, along with golf, a casino and spa. Balcony suites surround a sky-blue pool, and a swag of restaurants mean you never need to leave this relaxing resort hotel.
Kids, parents and couples alike will think their dreams have come true at this multi-star resort and spa. Luxurious suites have stunning ocean or jungle views, and an enormous pool winds its way from the lobby down to the beach! Kids and teens have their own entertainment zones, making Dreams a perfect family-friendly destination.
Best of Punta Cana: Top Golf Courses
Punta Cana has some of the most spectacular golf courses on the planet. Set beside sea and sand, and boasting luxurious facilities, they aim to please even the fussiest golfers.
Play by the ocean at this sumptuous golf course designed by P. B. Dye. Declared the number one course in the Caribbean, La Cana has 18 holes, with seven right on the water's edge.
A Caribbean favorite, this wonderfully named 18-hole course bares its teeth at least once a round and offers plenty of opportunities to tee off into the ocean.
Jack Nicklaus is the designer behind this 18-hole Caribbean gem, with memorable holes overlooking the sea. Existing jungle, beach and water have all been meticulously incorporated into the design, ensuring plenty of wow factor accompanies each stroke.
- Plan Punta Cana vacations on Yahoo! Travel
- Punta Cana hotels from PlanetWare
- Punta Cana hotels from HotelsCombined.com
- English-language news from Dominican Today
