If you are planning a romantic trip or a relaxing family vacation, the best choice- a wonderful corner of the Caribbean Punta Cana. “The meeting place of all palm trees” is the name of the region translated from Spanish. This is one of the best resorts in the sunny Dominican Republic, the republic of eternal summer, vibrant carnivals, and original Creole culture. If there is a pristine paradise somewhere, it has found its embodiment on the snow-white beaches of Punta Cana.
A charming corner in the waters of the Atlantic
Turquoise waves gently rolling onto the shore under the gentle sound of the surf, kilometer-long beaches of pearl-white coral sand, idyllic relaxation in the shady coolness of luxurious palm trees - this is Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The upscale resort is located on the eastern tip of the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti), where the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea meet the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Scenic area on the map Central America all year round attracts tourists from all corners of the vast world.
The combination of mangroves, cave grottoes with rock paintings of ancient inhabitants, and lagoons marvelous in their beauty make the resort ideal place for a relaxed, secluded holiday. Here, on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, are the best beaches of the Caribbean - Bavaro, Cortecito, Cabeza de Torro, Arena Gorada, El Macao. Fashionable hotels are lined up along the coastline, consisting of low-rise buildings or cozy bungalows. They welcome guests on an all-inclusive basis. The abundance of nightclubs, bars, cafes will not let the most discerning tourist get bored.
Notable places in Punta Cana
The untouched beauty of the landscape, the multifaceted underwater world, the richest flora and fauna are the main attractions of the resort. There is practically no historical monuments and architectural evidence of antiquity. Nevertheless, there is something to see in the Dominican Republic - the pristine nature of Punta Cana is rich in miraculous masterpieces. When you come to relax at the “Meeting Place of All Palm Trees,” you can’t help but visit the national parks of the Dominican Republic and other fantastic corners of the region.
Mysterious island
In the protected Los Haitises, time seems to have stopped running: amazing landscapes - rocky formations, green islands, mysterious caves of the Taino Indians, covered with a riot of mangroves, and the amazing diversity of the natural world. Here is the famous Devil's Cave (Fun-Fun), which is over 25 million years old. Rock paintings, bizarre stalactites, and a mysterious underground river leave an unforgettable impression.
Bounty Island Saona
This is the most untouched corner of the Dominican Republic. If you have ever dreamed of being transported to the screens of the famous Bounty bar advertisement, be sure to visit Saona - an island of tropical bliss and heavenly bliss. The territory is a protected natural site that has not been touched by tourism infrastructure.
Eyes Ecological Park
More than 500 species of plants grow on its territory, and rare representatives of fauna and insects live. One of the park's attractions – “Native Eyes” are 12 small freshwater lagoons, shaped like the human organs of vision.
Manati Park
There is an interesting museum here. open air– the historical Taino Village, where you can get acquainted with the culture of the Taino people, the original inhabitants of Haiti. Wandering around the surroundings of the park, it is very easy to imagine how the life of the islanders proceeded in ancient pre-Columbian times. The Museum of Craft Art displays more than two hundred unique exhibits of Taino culture.
Altos de Chavon
A colorful town located on the road to Saona Island. Stylized as a medieval Italian city of the 16th century. The main local attractions are the Greek amphitheater, opened with a Frank Sinatra concert, and the Church of St. Stanislaus, where the weddings of thousands of lovers from all over the world take place.
House Museum of Juan Ponce de Leon
The home of the Spanish conquistador, the founder of the first settlement of Europeans in Puerto Rico, is a landmark built five centuries ago and preserving the spirit of that time. The historical site is located directly in the Dominican Republic resort of Punta Cana.
Active holidays in Punta Cana
The picturesque surroundings will forever captivate sports and movement lovers. The resort's water area is ideal for beginner divers: shallow depths, excellent diving conditions, and a colorful deep-sea world will allow anyone to master the basics of snorkeling and scuba diving. Diving sites impress with their vibrancy and diversity: a trip to coral reefs, shipwrecks or the exciting exploration of Taino Cave, where you can see the optical illusion of haloclines firsthand.
One of the most popular entertainments in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, reviews of which guarantee the sea positive emotions, – jeep safari excursions through the tropical jungle and undeveloped wild beaches. Fans of extreme sports will enjoy breathtaking rafting along waterfalls, as well as windsurfing, kiting, and other water activities.
Hot Punta Cana is an ideal place to play aristocratic golf. 12 lawns with evenly trimmed grass, one of which is Punta Estada, are among the 50 the best sites peace.
Fishing lovers will also not be disappointed - exotic fishing under starry sky The Dominican Republic or an exciting thematic excursion will certainly be remembered for a long time.
Exotic cuisine and shopping
Numerous cozy restaurants in Punta Cana will captivate gourmets with their savory dishes. local cuisine. The culinary traditions of Spanish, Indian, and African cultures have given Dominicans a variety of extraordinary tastes and combinations. Popular traditional dishes– La Bandera (stew with rice, beans and fried green plantains), Taino fritters filled with poultry or fish.
Fans of shopping can visit the local flea market, rich in souvenirs and traditional clothes, as well as popular shopping centers– Plaza Bavaro, Plaza Punta Cana, Palma Real Shopping. In the latter, in addition to shopping, you can sit in the atmospheric Hard Rock cafe. Having visited the resort, you can’t help but take a piece of the exotic with you. As a souvenir, you can bring original Dominican dolls without a face - a colorful memory of the trip. Popular souvenirs include coffee, as well as Caribbean rum, national drink Mamajuana, amber and larimar gemstones.
Note to tourists
Travelers planning to discover the Dominican paradise should take into account some nuances before the trip:
- The Dominican Republic is the land of eternal sun; the beach season here lasts all year round. However, the most favorable time to travel to the resort is considered to be from November to April, since the first summer months may be the rainy season.
- Before your trip, you should take care of vaccination against malaria and stock up on weapons against mosquitoes.
- The time difference between the Dominican Republic and Moscow is 8 hours.
- If you are looking for excitement from your trip, come to Punta Cana in the spring. At this time, cheerful young people from the countries of the American continents fill the hotels. Noisy parties, incendiary show programs, and bright animation await you.
- The easiest way to get to the resort is by charter flight from St. Petersburg or Moscow - Dominican Republic, Punta Cana as part of a tour. Independent travelers will have to take connecting flights in the USA or European cities.
- Prices in the Dominican Republic are moderate, so vacations are available even for tourists on a limited budget.
Sunny Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is a popular resort where you can fully relax and see a lot. The synthesis of natural splendor, rich infrastructure, and unlimited opportunities for active recreation will be of interest to tourists with different tastes.
There are many possibilities - how you can diversify your holiday in Punta Cana, in addition to the traditional beach.
What can you do in Punta Cana besides a beach holiday?
The resort of Punta Cana is located in the southeast of the Dominican Republic and is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea - warmer and more gentle than the waters of the Atlantic. This is a wonderful place for a family holiday and for those who like to be alone with nature on wonderful beaches.
Punta Cana consists of five beaches that smoothly merge into each other - Bavaro, Macau, Arena Gorda, El Cortecito, Cabeza de Torro - a total of 32 continuous kilometers of pearly white sand. Bavaro Beach is the most developed by large crowds of tourists; most of the hotels in Punta Cana are located here. The beaches of Cabeza de Torro and Arena Gorda are rightfully considered one of the best in this region. El Cortecito Beach is famous for its restaurants where you can try seafood, as well as windsurfing and kitesurfing schools.
North-west of Punta Cana there are also very popular among tourists the bay and Samana Peninsula (Bahia de Samana). To the south and east are such popular resorts as Boca Chica, La Romana, Bayahibe and Juan Dolio.
Resorts in Punta Cana are real small villages, consisting of several small buildings and several dozen bungalows scattered among lush tropical vegetation.
Hotels have their own infrastructure. As a rule, bungalows are located no closer than 100 meters from the beach, so as not to disturb the beauty of the palm trees growing along the entire coastline. Tourists are usually offered an all-inclusive holiday. The hotel areas are so huge that vacationers often have to use golf carts to get around them or travel on special trams that run around the hotel grounds. Vast territories are not wasted. Punta Cana is the best place to play golf in the Dominican Republic. Many hotels have golf courses. Tourists are also offered a variety of excursions - jeep safaris, a variety of water activities, helicopter flights, fishing and scuba diving to a beautiful local reef.
The weather in Punta Cana fully corresponds to the weather in the Dominican Republic, which can be discussed in more detail. It is very comfortable and moderately hot all year round, and even in the summer months the heat does not seem excessive. Hurricanes, which frighten many tourists in the fall, usually hit the island from its western side and leave all their strength in Haiti. By the time they get to Punta Cana, they are usually quite harmless.
What, except beach holiday, can tourists brighten up their leisure time?
Nearby attractions include Manatee Park, where you can see tropical birds, reptiles and other exotic creatures, and a museum dedicated to the culture of the indigenous people of the area. Tourists always enjoy entertainment programs with the participation of exotic parrots and dancing horses, and swimming with dolphins. But in general, Manati Park is very small and looks more like a mini-zoo. If you have been to a more or less decent zoo or dolphinarium before, then you will not see anything new here.
But an excursion to the Marinarium is completely different.
This is a large dolphinarium located right in the ocean near the shore. Here you can also see sharks, rays and other inhabitants of coastal waters. Several small compartments were built near the shore, and in each such pen there live all sorts of marine inhabitants - in one there are dolphins, in the other there are some seals, then there are also small colored fish, nurse sharks. The most popular are, of course, dolphins and seals.
The main program looks something like this: a group of tourists is recruited, they are given swimming vests, everyone goes down into the pen with the dolphins, after which the trainer begins the show, and all the spectators are in close proximity to the animals - they can be touched, stroked, photographed, the dolphins give the spectators rides etc.
Some of these tricks are paid, but basically, all this is already included in the cost of the performance. It’s the same with seals - the audience goes into the pen with the seals and the trainer puts on a show with them. They are not allowed to approach the sharks, they are looked at from above, but they go down into the pen with colored fish wearing masks - and everyone swims there with their butts up, looking at the fish.
In principle, this is all quite exciting, especially for children aged 10 to 15 - some children hug the dolphins so selflessly that they even shed tears...
If you decide to relax in Punta Cana, then rest assured that you have made the right choice. Punta Cana is the name of a resort area with a long coastline, stretching for 50 km. This resort area of the Dominican Republic owes its popularity among tourists to its beautiful beaches, as well as luxury hotels and one of the best golf courses in the world. The tourist area of Punta Cana consists of several beaches that have fine white sand and clear turquoise waters.
An important advantage of the resort area of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is the wonderful weather, which allows you to relax here all year round. Yes yes, all year round! Punta Cana does not have such a pronounced rainy season as in the famous resort areas of Thailand, Vietnam, India and many other tropical countries. However, between June and November, rain and hurricanes are possible in Punta Cana. But don’t be afraid, hurricanes are just a conditional name for strong gusts of wind. Usually, major hurricanes bypass the Dominican Republic. Local residents say that the Dominican Republic was kissed by God and has nothing to fear :)
Throughout the year it is summer in Punta Cana and daytime temperatures reach 26 - 32 degrees. True, it is worth remembering high level humidity, which sometimes makes it seem like the air temperature is several degrees higher than the real one.
Punta Cana on the world map and map of the Dominican Republic
Punta Cana is considered one of the most popular resorts in the Caribbean. Where is this famous resort located on the world map and the Dominican Republic map? Many tourists have heard of Punta Cana, but not everyone knows where it is.
If you want to find Punta Cana on the world map, then first you need to find the Dominican Republic, located on the island of Hispaniola, near Cuba. The Dominican Republic occupies more than two-thirds of this island, leaving the entire western part of Hispaniola to another country - Haiti. Punta Cana is marked on almost every map of the Dominican Republic. This resort area is located in the province of La Altagracia, which is the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic. The famous resort is located in the far east of the province of La Altagracia, in an area consisting of kilometers of beautiful beaches and hotels. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, although the province of La Altagracia is also washed by the Caribbean Sea.
Punta Cana's picturesque beaches, covered in fine white sand and bordered by turquoise ocean waters on one side and a line of coconut palms on the other, make Punta Cana one of the best beach holiday destinations in the Caribbean. Tourists come here mainly from European countries and North America, but there are also many tourists from Latin America and Russia.
What time is it in Punta Cana now?
The time difference with Punta Cana is an important issue for two reasons. Firstly, tourists want to know what time it is in their hometown, and to quickly calculate this, you need to know the time difference between Punta Cana and your city. Still, the time difference between this resort and the cities of Russia is quite large, and it cannot be ignored. Secondly, the time difference affects acclimatization in the Dominican Republic. If a person is accustomed to a certain daily routine, then in the Dominican Republic it will be difficult for him to acclimatize at first, since he will wake up very early and will feel sleepy after lunch. Now in Punta Cana:
Dominican Republic
Time difference between Punta Cana and:
Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Krasnodar- 7 o'clock
Samara- 8 ocloc'k
Ekaterinburg, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen- 9 hours
Omsk- 10 hours
Novosibirsk, Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo- 11 o'clock
Krasnoyarsk- 12 hours
As you can see, the time difference with Punta Cana is quite large, so for a person who has already established certain biorhythms, it will be quite difficult in the first days of vacation in this resort area, because when it is still 3-4 o’clock in the afternoon, in Russia it will already be night.
What to do to quickly acclimatize in the Dominican Republic? It is very important to stay awake until the evening on the first day, even if you arrive early in the morning. If you can wait until the evening and get a good night's sleep the first night, the acclimatization process should go very quickly for you.
History of Punta Cana
Until the late 1960s, the eastern part of the Dominican Republic, where Punta Cana is located today, was forested and the beaches at that time remained untouched, as they could only be reached by boat or on foot through the dense jungle. But the history of Punta Cana begins to change in late 1969, when a group of American investors saw the tourism potential of the area and purchased a large area of land in the area. The group began building the Punta Cana Club Hotel, which opened in 1971. However, investors initially faced serious problems and difficulties, such as the lack of important infrastructure and basic services in the area (electricity, water and sewerage, garbage collection, etc.). But the biggest difficulty was the lack of access roads to the hotel.
Those few tourists who visited Punta Cana Club were delighted with its exotic beaches, fine white sand and coconut palms. Gradually, the name of the resort of Punta Cana became more famous in the world of tourism, and a new holiday destination in the Caribbean with paradise beaches appeared on the tourist map. Other investors and business groups realized that Punta Cana was a "tourism diamond in the rough" and decided to immediately begin building hotels and other facilities. In 1978, the famous Club Med chain began building its large hotel complex here, which opened its doors in 1981. That same year, the first road connected Punta Cana to the road network of the Dominican Republic. After the opening of this road, the delivery of tourists to the rapidly developing resort area was greatly facilitated. However, tourists had to travel several hours by road to get to this place, so it soon became clear that Punta Cana needed its own airport. In 1982, construction work finally began on Punta Cana International Airport, and the airport welcomed its first flight in 1984. Immediately after the opening of the airport, investments and tourists began to flow into Punta Cana, and today this resort area welcomes several million guests annually.
All inclusive hotels in Punta Cana
The second main advantage of Punta Cana, after the wonderful sandy beaches of this region, is the all-inclusive hotels. It is no secret that hotels are the force of attraction that attracts a huge number of guests to the east of the Dominican Republic.
All-inclusive hotels in Punta Cana are superior in many respects to similar hotels in Turkey, Egypt and other countries popular among Russian tourists. What are these hotels good for?
Of course, what attracts tourists most is the opportunity to relax in a resort hotel, which is located on the ocean and has its own area on the beautiful sandy beach. As soon as a tourist begins to look at photographs of hotels in Punta Cana, he immediately has a great desire to go on vacation to one of these hotels. Coconut palms, white sand and turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean are excellent motivators for purchasing a tour to the Dominican Republic.
But beaches aren't all that Punta Cana's all-inclusive hotels have to offer! Almost all such hotels have a huge territory or are part of some kind of complex, so they look like small isolated elite villages with all the infrastructure necessary for recreation and a large range of amenities and services. Tourists rarely need to go outside the hotel, since everything they need is inside this hotel. Even shops night club and there is a casino in almost every hotel. In most cases, tourists leave the territory of their hotel in Punta Cana only to go on excursions.
Another advantage of hotels in Punta Cana is their extensive all-inclusive system. In almost all hotels you can eat or drink in the bar at any time of the day, even at 3 am. In addition, all-inclusive packages typically include non-motorized water sports. That is, you can take it for free in the center aquatic species your hotel's sports equipment, such as snorkeling or canoeing.
In my opinion, almost all all-inclusive hotels in Punta Cana are ideal for a carefree beach holiday.
Excursions in Punta Cana
There is an opinion among tourists that excursions in Punta Cana are uninteresting, monotonous and very expensive. Is it so? Let's try to figure it out.
The fact that excursions in Punta Cana are uninteresting is nothing more than the subjective opinion of some people. As you know, everyone has different tastes, so some may like excursions in Punta Cana, but others may not. We only note that for all the negative reviews about excursions in this resort area, there are many positive reviews.
Are excursions in Punta Cana monotonous? This is far from true! For history buffs, there is an excursion to Santo Domingo with a visit to the colonial zone. For culture lovers, there are excursions - safari into the outback of the Dominican Republic, during which you can see how the Dominicans live and drive! For nature lovers, there are excursions to the island of Saona and the Samana Peninsula, and these are very beautiful places. Do you like adventures? Then there are excursions to Fun Fun Cave and 27 waterfalls, or a trip to the adventure park where you can ride a cable car over the jungle. For children? In Punta Cana there are excursions for the youngest guests. For example, an excursion to Manati Park. Of course, we have not presented all the excursions, but this is quite enough to refute the cliche that excursions in Punta Cana are very monotonous.
As for prices, we also cannot agree with the statements that prices for excursions in Punta Cana are overpriced. Yes, the cost of excursions here is generally higher than, for example, in Thailand, but do not forget that the cost of gasoline in the Dominican Republic is much higher than in Thailand. Plus, some excursions include a delicious seafood lunch, not just rice and chicken. In general, the cost of excursions in the Dominican Republic is higher than in many other countries, which is why the prices for excursions are higher. So, in general, we can agree that prices for excursions in Punta Cana are high, but they simply cannot be lower for a number of reasons.
Is it worth going to Punta Cana?
There is no doubt that almost all tourists will enjoy a holiday in Punta Cana. However, this resort area is not for everyone. For example, you need to remember about a long flight, which lasts about 12 hours. Even on the most comfortable planes, such a journey can be tiring, and, unfortunately, far from the most comfortable planes fly from Russia to Punta Cana.
It seems to me that children endure the flight much easier if the parents are calm! I flew several times with my three-year-old son and every time the flight was successful! By the way, since we remembered children, we can also note that Punta Cana is not best place for holidays with children. The hotels here have excellent children's clubs and plenty of entertainment and amenities for children, and the beaches provide a comfortable entrance to the ocean.
Not the best option Punta Cana is for those who like to travel independently around the country. No, of course, in the Dominican Republic you can rent a car and drive it to beautiful places, but this practice is simply not as widespread here as, for example, in Greece, Spain, and Thailand.
Punta Cana is also an ideal destination for couples' holidays, where couples spend wonderful Honeymoon. Whether you're looking for a relaxing holiday or a buzzing, fun atmosphere, you're sure to find a hotel to suit your needs in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana: a selection of photographs
Presented to you full review resort of Punta Cana with detailed details about the holiday. Here you will find answers to all your questions and learn everything you need down to the smallest detail.
General information about the resort of Punta Cana
Punta Cana is a grand resort in the Dominican Republic, which is considered the best throughout the country. It is famous for its papery white sands and wonderful tropical coconut trees along the entire resort. But you can watch more. The resort includes 3 huge parks, attractions, museums, a huge number of things, both underwater, on-water, and air, underground, sandy and tropical.
Beach resort Punta Cana. White sand and the sea surface is an integral part of relaxation
With its diversity, the resort of Punta Cana attracts newlyweds and... That is why this resort is considered an ideal place for a quiet, relaxing and romantic holiday. , means really having a honeymoon.
It is also very popular here. Many lovers come here for scuba diving. There is a special park area on the water that organizes this kind of underwater walks.
Almost all hotels operate on an all-inclusive basis, and once you get here you can really relax and feel like you’re in paradise. However, the presence of nightclubs and cafes with restaurants makes the nightlife exciting and very interesting, which attracts young people who gather here mainly from the American continents. Another important reason why this resort is the best in the Dominican Republic is that it is very calm. Despite its location directly on the ocean, there is almost never a strong winds.
Map of Punta Cana resort with beaches and hotels
The map is clickable, you can select a hotel to book:
The resort is located at the easternmost point of the Dominican Republic, but due to its length of more than 100 kilometers, it runs from north to south, allowing the northern beaches to overlook the Sargasso Sea, and the southern ones to. All entertainment areas with everyone are located up to 80 meters from the sea, and some up to 20 meters.
Beaches of Punta Cana
The beaches stretch from the very north of the resort to the south along the entire coast, as if dividing the resort into various tourist areas. Indeed, the 3 parks into which Punta Cana is divided are quite diverse. The most famous and best beach is considered famous. You can also walk along the coast through the following beaches: Arena Gorda, Cortecito, Cabeza de Torro and Punta Cana. All beaches are open for swimming and are very rarely closed or restricted, since by law all beaches are public. Only occasionally, if the beach is not completed, it may be closed.
Planes to Punta Cana
If you want to immediately go to the resort of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, you will have to fly with a transfer.
Since there are almost never direct flights, or rather, they are all tied to full-fledged tours, which include flights, accommodation, and meals, you can.
The cheapest tickets from Moscow to Punta Cana and back
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All flights depart from Moscow or St. Petersburg, and you can fly as follows:
- By connecting in London and then in New York (this is carried out by American Airlines)
- Having made a transfer in Paris (French company Air France)
A taxi from the airport to Punta Cana itself will cost you about “20 green rubles”.
Climate and weather in Punta Cana
The climate of the Punta Cana region and the Dominican Republic itself as a whole cannot but rejoice. It has moderate and warm summers all year round. The average temperature is about 27-30 degrees. It's not 40 degrees in the shade or 10 degrees in the sun here. On the hottest days, the temperature can rise to 36 degrees. This happens in the summer, that is, from May to the end of November.
Among the places worth seeing in this incredibly popular resort are 3 parks, several historical villages located nearby, and the Ponce de Leon Museum. A wide variety of excursions are also offered to suit every taste.
Go straight to booking excursions in the Dominican Republic and see all current offers:
Marinarium – sea life
For lovers of the underwater world and ocean exotics, there are sea adventures. These water trips include traditional skiing along the beaches, which, as we remember, are located tens of kilometers away. During such a trip, you can not only admire the waters of the sea, but also get to know the local tropical flora and fauna, take a closer look at interesting fish or plants. You may be delighted by predatory sharks or electric ramps, which you will also look at with great interest.
If you have a desire to see everything closer, you can immerse yourself in this sea fairy tale and personally explore the underwater depths, like Cousteau’s team. This is really interesting and this excursion should not be missed.
This is a tropical park where you can see representatives of the local flora and fauna, including unique birds and rare species of animals. Among them are special types of parrots and horses, with the help of which performances are organized for tourists. And also a very important point is swimming with dolphins. Some use such prevention for medicinal purposes, and some for recreation, because dolphins are definitely creatures that prolong life.
There is a museum on the territory of Manati Park. The culture of local residents, in particular the ancient aborigines, is widely represented in it. You can get to know this story live from representatives of the islanders’ dynasty.
Eyes Ecological Park
Another beautiful park with vital representatives of rare species of animals. Translated, it literally means “Eyes of Ecology”, as here you can see hundreds of diverse and wild animals. You can walk through such a park either independently or use the services of experts and zoology experts who will tell you Interesting Facts, history or some features of certain species.
Ponce de Leon House Museum
Among the must-see attractions is the Ponce de Leon House Museum, which was built 5 centuries ago. Here you will truly immerse yourself in the ancient history of the island civilization. The author of this building lived here with his family before moving to Puerto Rico, where he began his political activities.
Excursions in Punta Cana
If you want to go on an interesting trip with cheerful company, a professional guide and all the necessary equipment, if this trip turns out to be too exotic, then there are excursions for every taste and color. We may offer you:
- Excursions to cities or islands (to the capital of Santo Domingo, in, on or.
- Among the water excursions you can highlight a whale watching walk, a simple dive or a sea dive. And also a very interesting trip to the small fishing village of El Cortecito, where all restaurants serve only fresh fish. It is located directly near Punta Cana.
- Among the attractions where regular tours are organized, it is best to choose the same Manati Park, which we talked about above, or you can see the original Fun-Fun Cave.
- And also many more excursions will be offered for every taste, including a jeep safari, a trip to cockfights, etc.
What to do and how to relax
One of the most popular and active activities is excursions Jeep Safari. In particular, they are in great demand among Russians. What are Jeep Safaris? These are specific trips by vehicle, most often SUVs, or on horseback through the wilderness of the tropical jungle of the Dominican Republic. During this trip you visit various wild and uninhabited places. Horse riding routes are laid along the coast. Horses and palm trees are an unusually rare combination. During such expeditions, special stops will be organized where you will be offered local food.
Jeep safari is one of the excursions. Do you want to ride this jeep through the jungle?
Among the extreme types of recreation we can distinguish Rafting. This is a kind of rafting along the river and waterfalls to the Caribbean Sea. The network of 18 waterfalls is always happy to provide its services for thrill-seekers. This is located in the city of Jarabocoa, which is quite close to the resort of Punta Cana. Therefore, such trips will take at least a couple of days.
For those who like to actively relax, there are some very interesting ones to note. They represent a flight over Punta Cana through beaches, golf courses and various natural areas. During the flight, you will be able to take beautiful photographs from a bird's eye view.
Usually the results are incredible panoramas or skylines of beaches or large green palm forests. The cost of such a vacation starts from $90 per person for 1 flight.
Golf- This is another of the main features that distinguish this resort from the entire Caribbean. There are more than 12 golf courses that are located around Punta Cana and belong to various tourist complexes. Courses here began to be created in the early 90s, and one of them, called “Punta Estada,” is included in the 40 best courses in the world. Sometimes this is why connoisseurs of such a luxurious game choose the Dominican Republic for vacation.
And if among you there are those who want to fully immerse themselves in the culture and customs of the Dominican Republic, then in Punta Cana there is an ideal offer for you called - Agritourism. This type of recreation consists of visiting directly residential villages that are not equipped for tourism, and getting to know the culture as it exists in everyday life. This way you can find out what they are doing local residents what they do, what their crafts are, and what they do and how they do it. In addition, tourists can take part in tropical agricultural work themselves and try their hand at Dominican crafts. This type of tourism is very common in southern Europe, but in the tropical zone it is too unusual and wildly interesting.
Lots of water sports are offered directly on the beaches and they are amazing: catamaran, boat ride, sunset restaurant, sitting by the sea, parasailing, sport fishing, swimming, snorkeling, speedboats. There are all kinds of boats, both double-decker and glass-bottom boats for observing marine life. There are water taxis that can take you from one hotel to another across the beach. There is also banana boating, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing and beach volleyball.
What to buy in Punta Cana or shopping the Dominican way
About currency
- Dominican faceless dolls- these are special dolls made of clay and ceramics that reflect the national color of the Dominican Republic. They are extremely popular among tourists all over the world. Some of these dolls are dressed in national costumes, some wear a hat on their head, some do crafts, and some just grind coffee. The price of such souvenirs will be around 3 dollars.
- Coffee- This is the most popular in the Dominican Republic. They make it here with very high quality, so a jar of coffee is what you need, both for you and as a gift for someone from such distant lands. Most best coffee here it is “Santo Dominigo”. According to some sources, he ranks 3rd in the world. The aroma of fresh coffee at home will bring back very pleasant memories from such an amazing trip.
- Mamajuana- this is the most popular of alcoholic drinks. He is also famous for his medicinal properties, such as treatment for various colds, to treatment of all kinds of arthritis and enhancing potency. Yes, this remedy acts as a strong aphrodisiac. This drink is made from rum and wine, to which more than 20 different herbs and roots are added. Honey is often found among the components present. In the bottles of this drink you can see herbal leaves and pieces of tree bark.
- Amber, A more precisely products This precious stone is highly valued here. The starting price may be around $500 as this material here is the best in the world! Take note. It is also believed that such products can attract good luck. Despite the fact that Amber can come in different colors, such as green, red, yellow, blue and even transparent, there may be fakes made from ordinary plastic, so be careful.
- Larimar- This is another pride stone of the Dominican Republic, which is its calling card. And it is mined only here, nowhere else in the world. Larimar is considered a semi-precious stone that has a pleasant sky blue color. Therefore, in jewelry it looks fantastic and phenomenal. Often all sorts of magical and magical properties are attributed to it.
- Cigars here they also have world quality and quite often compete for world championship with their Cuban colleagues. Everyone knows that cigar tobacco needs the highest quality. This is exactly the kind of tobacco found in Dominican roll-your-own cigars. Perhaps the most famous brand is Cohiba & Arturo Fuente. And the price of one cigar can range from 1 to 20 dollars. Even if you are not a fan of smoking, such a souvenir will clearly be a trump card.
The shops
To buy souvenirs there are many shops and major centers both in Punta Cana itself and beyond.
Directly at the resort, one of the largest and most popular shopping and entertainment centers is Mall Plaza Bavaro. Here you will find everything from the smallest trinkets to large jewelry stores with banks and luxurious restaurants. This center starts its work in the morning and works until 7 pm. It is also in demand among the local population.
The neighbor of this establishment is the center Plaza Punta Cana, where you can find all kinds of souvenirs and gifts, clothes and paintings. This store is literally across the street from Mall Plaza Bavaro.
There is also a whole market with a number of different shops. It is called El Cortesito FleaMarket and is located next to El Cortecito Beach. There you will be able to make all sorts of shopping options, particularly in local styles, such as Caribbean t-shirts, etc.
It’s impossible not to mention a place with maximum convenience and comfort for shopping called Palma Real Shopping. This is a special supermarket, however, in addition to the increased quality conditions, the prices here are really high. It is located opposite the Grand Palladium Place Resort Spa & Casino. If you do not want to overpay many times, then it is not recommended to go here. But this place attracts tourists with another feature. Here is the famous Hard Rock Cafe Punta Cana of the same brand, of which there are only 7 establishments in the Caribbean. This is a specific restaurant where you can hear good old rock and sit among the local color of culture and traditions.
Among the closest corners outside the resort territory, one can highlight the city of Higuey, where you can buy much cheaper than at the resort itself. Here is the famous Iberia hypermarket, which is one of the largest in the entire Dominican Republic. The list of goods and food products presented in this supermarket is incredibly large, and the prices will pleasantly surprise you.
This city is located about 40-50 minutes drive from Punta Cana, and you can get here on your own by ordering a taxi, or take advantage of special excursions that include a visit to this supermarket in your routine.
Food and cuisine at the resort
What to eat
The cuisine of the Dominicans will somehow surprise European residents, and in some ways it will resemble home culture.
Oddly enough, meat is more popular than fish. Despite the fact that the Dominican Republic is an island country and fishing is very developed here, fish is very expensive. The most popular meat is goat meat, not beef, as is customary in Europe. Beef here is also not cheap.
It will also be very interesting for tourists to try local National dishes. The first is called La Bandera, the main ingredient of which is rice. Specially processed bananas, stewed meat and various vegetables are also added to this dish. All this is prepared according to a specific recipe, and not by simply mixing any ingredients.
The second special dish of Comida Crayolla is more reminiscent of food that is familiar to us and consists of more traditional products for us, namely: the same rice, chicken and beans.
The third dish is somewhat reminiscent of Russian pancakes, and it is called Taino. True, the filling of this dish is very diverse, from chicken to fish.
Where to eat
Usually no one asks this question, since all hotels operate according to the all-inclusive system known to us all. To do this, each one has an establishment on the ground floor where you can get very good at it. Often this is a regular buffet.
There can be up to 5 such local restaurants in the hotel. Naturally, you will be offered traditional dishes, and the sea, which here, believe me, is incredibly tasty.
However, outside the hotels there are many restaurants where you can try delicious dishes or just relax without bothering yourself once again return to the hotel.
Among the places that we can recommend you to visit if you find yourself nearby is the Captain Cook fish restaurant in the village of El Cortecito, which we already wrote about above. There is only fresh and all kinds of fish here. If you want to reserve a table, please contact us at (809) 552–0645.
An establishment called “High Wave”, which is located directly in the Mall Plaza Bavaro. This establishment is designed in American style. Russian tourists are interested in tasting the combination of American and Dominican cultures.
Most places to eat are in large stores and where you can buy various souvenirs, a list of which we have presented a little higher.
I would also like to mention the famous Hard Rock Cafe, which is located in Palma Real Shopping.
And we also can’t help but mention a specific coffee shop where you can try real Dominican coffee and their own baked goods. It is called Las Lenas II.
Telephone communications
The Dominican Republic's telephone system is closely linked to the American system, so they use unified system telephone codes. Usually this code is 809, but sometimes it can be 829.
To call from Russia to the Dominican Republic, you need to dial:
- 8-10-1809- subscriber number (for calls from landlines)
- 1809-subscriber number (for calling from a mobile phone)
Important phone numbers you may need:
- Punta Cana Medical Center: 809 552 1506
- Hospital: 809 686 1414
- Police: 809 455 1097
- Emergency: 911
The Internet can be used in almost all cafes, as well as in hotels.
The cost of Internet in a cafe is about $10 per hour.
Throughout the Dominican Republic, theft is more common than we would like. The country is very poor, so those who like to get their hands on this type of activity are often found, especially at night. It follows from this that it is best to pay with a plastic card, and it is best to keep money in the room safe.
A very interesting and at the same time impressive point are the private guides who are always willing to offer their services to you. Of course, hardly anyone will do this for free, and everyone wants to get paid for their “work.” The recommendation would be to refuse any kind of private guides. There are many excursions and activities that you can do that we have described in this article.
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