Whether you are planning a romantic getaway or a serene family vacation, Punta Cana is your best bet. “The meeting place of all palm trees” is the name of the region in Spanish. This is one of the best resorts in the sunny Dominican Republic, the republic of eternal summer, bright carnivals, original Creole culture. If there is somewhere a pristine paradise - on the snow-white beaches of Punta Cana, he found his embodiment.
Charming corner in the waters of the Atlantic
Turquoise waves gently rolling ashore to the gentle sound of the surf, kilometer-long beaches of pearl-white coral sand, an idyllic vacation in the shady coolness of luxurious palm trees - this is Punta Cana, the 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. The picturesque area on the map of Central America attracts tourists from all over the vast world all year round.
The combination of mangroves, cave grottoes with rock paintings of ancient inhabitants, marvelous beauty of the lagoons make the resort an ideal place for a relaxed, secluded holiday. Here, on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic, the best beaches of the Caribbean are located - Bavaro, Cortecito, Cabeza de Torro, Arena Gorada, El Macao. Fashionable hotels are lined up along the coastline, which are 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 demanding 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 are 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. Arriving to relax in the "Meeting Point of All Palms", one cannot fail to visit the national parks of the Dominican Republic and other fantastic corners of the region.
Mysterious Island
In the reserved Los Aitises, 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 an 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, 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 advertisement of the Bounty bar, be sure to visit Saona - an island of tropical bliss and heavenly bliss. The territory is a protected natural object, which has not been touched by the tourist infrastructure.
Eyes Ecological Ecological Park
More than 500 species of plants grow on its territory, rare representatives of fauna and insects live. One of the attractions of the park – "Native Eyes" are 12 small freshwater lagoons, shaped like the organs of human vision.
Manati Park
Here is an interesting open-air museum - the historical village of Taino Village, where you can get acquainted with the culture of the Taino people, the original inhabitants of Haiti. Wandering around 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 features more than 200 unique exhibits of the Taíno culture.
Altos de Chavon
A colorful town located on the road to the island of Saona. Stylized as a medieval Italian city of the XVI century. The main local attractions are the Greek amphitheater, opened with a concert by Frank Sinatra, and the Church of St. Stanislaus, where thousands of lovers from all over the world play weddings.
House Museum of Juan Ponce de Leon
The dwelling of the Spanish conquistador, the founder of the first graying of Europeans in Puerto Rico, is a landmark built five centuries ago and retaining the spirit of that time. The historical site is located directly in the Dominican Republic Punta Cana.
Active holidays in Punta Cana
The picturesque surroundings will captivate lovers of sports and movement forever. The water area of the resort is ideal for beginner divers: shallow depth, excellent conditions for diving, colorful deep-sea world will allow anyone who wants to learn the basics of snorkeling and scuba diving. Diving sites are impressive in their brightness and variety: a trip to coral reefs, wrecks, or a breathtaking exploration of Taino caves, where you can see the halocline optical illusion with your own eyes.
One of the most popular entertainments of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, reviews of which guarantee a sea of positive emotions, are jeep safari tours through the tropical jungle and undeveloped wild beaches. Fans of extreme sports will love the dizzying rafting on the waterfalls, as well as windsurfing, kiting, and other water entertainment.
Hot Punta Cana is an ideal place to play aristocratic golf. 12 lawns with evenly cut grass, one of which is Punta Estada, are among the 50 best playgrounds in the world.
Fishing enthusiasts will not be disappointed either – exotic fishing under the starry sky of the Dominican Republic or a fascinating thematic excursion will certainly be remembered for a long time.
Exotic cuisine and shopping
Numerous cozy restaurants in Punta Cana will conquer gourmets with savory local dishes. The culinary traditions of the Spanish, Indian, African cultures gave the Dominicans a variety of extraordinary tastes and combinations. Popular traditional dishes are La Bandera (stew with rice, beans and fried green bananas), Taino fritters stuffed with poultry or fish.
Shopping fans 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 Shoping. In the latter, in addition to shopping, you can sit in the atmospheric Hard Rock Cafe. Having visited the resort, it is impossible not to take with you a piece of exotic. As a souvenir, you can bring the original Dominican dolls without a face - a colorful memory of the journey. Popular souvenirs are coffee, as well as Caribbean rum, the national drink of Mamajuana, amber and larimar gems.
Note to the tourist
Travelers planning to discover the Dominican paradise should take into account some of the nuances before the trip:
- The Dominican Republic is the land of the eternal sun, the beach season here lasts all year round. However, the most favorable time for traveling to the resort is the period from November to April, since the first summer months may be the rainy season.
- Before the trip, you should take care of the malaria vaccination and stock up on weapons against mosquitoes.
- The time difference between the Dominican Republic and Moscow is 8 hours.
- If you expect a drive from a trip, come to Punta Cana in the spring. At this time, cheerful youth from the countries of the American continents fill the hotels. Noisy parties, incendiary show programs, bright animation are waiting for you.
- The easiest way to get to the resort is by charter flight St. Petersburg or Moscow - Dominican Republic, Punta Cana as part of the tour. Independent travelers will have to use connecting flights with transfers in the US or European cities.
- Prices in the Dominican Republic are moderate, so the rest is available, including for tourists with 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, unlimited opportunities for outdoor activities will be of interest to tourists with different tastes.
There are many opportunities - how you can diversify your vacation in Punta Cana, in addition to the traditional beach.
What to please yourself in Punta Cana, except for 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 family holidays and for those who like to communicate alone with nature on wonderful beaches.
Punta Cana consists of five smoothly transitioning beaches - Bavaro, Macao, Arena Gorda, El Cortecito, Cabeza de Torro - a total of 32 continuous kilometers of pearly white sand. Bavaro Beach is the most developed by numerous crowds of tourists; most of Punta Cana's hotels are located here. The beaches of Cabeza de Torro and Arena Gorda are considered to be among the best in the region. El Cortecito Beach is famous for its restaurants where you can taste seafood, as well as windsurfing and kitesurfing schools.
Northwest of Punta Cana 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. Usually, tourists are offered an all-inclusive vacation. The hotel areas are so huge that vacationers often have to use golf carts to move around them or travel on special trams plying around the hotel. Vast territories are not wasted. Punta Cana is the best place to play golf in the Dominican Republic. Many hotels have golf courses. Also, tourists are offered a variety of excursions - jeep safaris, a variety of water activities, helicopter flights, fishing and scuba diving to the beautiful local reef.
The weather in Punta Cana is fully consistent with the nature of the weather in the Dominican Republic, which can be discussed in more detail. The whole year is very comfortable and moderately hot, 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. When they get to Punta Cana, they are usually harmless enough.
What, besides a beach holiday, can tourists brighten up their leisure time?
Nearby attractions include Manati Park, where you can see tropical birds, reptiles and other exotic creatures, as well as a museum dedicated to the culture of the indigenous locals. For tourists, there are always entertainment programs with the participation of exotic parrots and dancing horses, 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 dolphins, in the other some kind of seals, then also small colored fish, nurse sharks. The most popular, of course, are dolphins and seals.
The main program looks something like this: a group of tourists is recruited, vests are given to them for swimming, everyone descends into a pen with dolphins, after which the coach starts the performance, and all spectators are in close proximity to the animals - they can be touched, stroked, photographed, dolphins ride the audience etc.
Some of these tricks are paid, but basically, all this is already included in the cost of the performance. It is the same with the seals - the audience moves into the corral with the seals and the coach arranges a performance already with them. They don’t let them in to the sharks, they are watched from above, and they go down into the corral with colored fish in masks - everyone swims upside down there, looking at the fish.
In principle, all this is quite exciting, especially for children aged 10 to 15 - some children hug dolphins so selflessly that a tear breaks through ...
If you decide to relax in Punta Cana, then do not doubt 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 beautiful weather, which allows you to relax here all year round. Yes, yes, all year round! In Punta Cana, there is no such pronounced rainy season as in the well-known resort areas of Thailand, Vietnam, India and many other tropical countries. True, in the period from June to November in Punta Cana, rains and hurricanes are possible. But do not be afraid, hurricanes are just a conventional name for strong gusts of wind. Usually major hurricanes bypass the Dominican Republic. Locals say that the Dominican Republic is kissed by God and has nothing to be afraid of :)
Throughout the year, Punta Cana is summer and the daytime temperature reaches 26 - 32 degrees. True, it is worth remembering the high level of humidity, because of which it sometimes seems that the air temperature is several degrees higher than the real one.
Punta Cana on world map and Dominican Republic map
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 map of the Dominican Republic? 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, not far from 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 any 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 extreme 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.
The picturesque beaches of Punta Cana, covered with fine white sand and bordered by turquoise waters of the ocean on one side and a strip of coconut trees on the other, make Punta Cana one of the best places for a beach holiday in the Caribbean. Mostly tourists from Europe and North America come here, but there are also many tourists from Latin America and Russia.
What time is it in Punta Cana right now?
The time difference with Punta Cana is an important issue for two reasons. First, 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 will not be possible to ignore it. 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, as he will wake up very early, and after dinner he will be put to sleep. Now in Punta Cana:
Dominican Republic
Time difference between Punta Cana and:
Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Krasnodar- 7 o'clock
Samara- 8 ocloc'k
Yekaterinburg, 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 it will be quite difficult for a person who has already established certain biorhythms in the first days of rest in this resort area, because when it will be another 3-4 hours of the day, in Russia it will already be night.
What to do to quickly acclimatize in the Dominican Republic? It is very important not to fall asleep until the evening on the first day, even if you arrive early in the morning. If you can endure until evening and sleep well the first night, then 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 today, had forested lands, and the beaches at that time remained untouched, as they could only be reached by boat or on foot through the dense jungle. But Punta Cana's history begins to change in late 1969 when a group of American investors saw the area's tourism potential and purchased a large area of land in the area. The group began building the Punta Cana Club Hotel, which opened in 1971. However, at first, investors faced serious problems and difficulties, such as the lack of important infrastructure and basic services in the area (electricity, water and sewerage, garbage disposal, 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 trees. Gradually, the name of the Punta Cana resort became more famous in the world of tourism, and a new vacation spot in the Caribbean with paradise beaches appeared on the tourist map. Other investors and business groups have realized that Punta Cana is "an unpolished tourist diamond" and have decided to immediately start building hotels and other facilities. In 1978, the well-known chain Club Med 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 drive to this place by road for several hours, so it soon became clear that Punta Cana needed its own airport. In 1982, work on the construction of the Punta Cana International Airport finally began, and in 1984 this airport received its first flight. Immediately after the opening of the airport in Punta Cana, investments and tourists flowed like a river, and today this resort area receives several million visitors annually.
Punta Cana All Inclusive Hotels
The second main asset of Punta Cana, after the wonderful sandy beaches of this region, are 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. How good are these hotels?
Of course, most tourists are attracted by the very possibility of relaxing in a resort hotel, which is located on the ocean and has its own area on a beautiful sandy beach. As soon as a tourist starts looking at photos of Punta Cana hotels, 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 buying a tour to the Dominican Republic.
But beaches are not all that Punta Cana 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 necessary infrastructure for recreation and a wide range of amenities and services. Tourists rarely need to go outside the hotel, as everything you need is inside this hotel. Even shops, a night club and a casino are available in almost any hotel. In most cases, tourists leave the territory of their hotel in Punta Cana only for trips on excursions.
Another advantage of hotels in Punta Cana is their extensive all-inclusive system. In almost all hotels you can eat or drink at the bar at any time of the day, even at 3 am. In addition, non-motorized water sports are usually included in the all-inclusive package. That is, you can borrow for free at the water sports center of your hotel, for example, a mask and snorkel for snorkeling or canoeing.
In my opinion, almost all Punta Cana all-inclusive hotels 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 people 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.
Excursions in Punta Cana are monotonous? This is far from true! For history lovers, there is an excursion to Santo Domingo with a visit to the colonial zone. For lovers of culture, there are excursions - a safari to the outback of the Dominican Republic, during which you can see how the Dominicans live and drive! For nature lovers, there are excursions to Saona Island and the Samana Peninsula, and these are very beautiful places. Do you love adventure? Then for you there are excursions to the Fun Fun Cave and 27 waterfalls or a trip to the adventure park, where you can ride a cable car over the jungle. For kids? 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 stamp that excursions in Punta Cana are very monotonous.
As for prices, we also cannot agree with the statements that the prices for excursions in Punta Cana are too high. 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 the same Thailand. In addition, 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, and therefore the prices for excursions are higher. So, in general, we can agree that the prices for excursions in Punta Cana are high, but they simply cannot be lower for a number of reasons.
Should I go to Punta Cana?
There is no doubt that almost all tourists will like holidays in Punta Cana. However, this resort area is not suitable for everyone. For example, you need to remember about a long flight, which lasts about 12 hours. Even in 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 each time the flight was successful! By the way, since we remembered the children, we can also note that Punta Cana is not the best place to relax with children. The local hotels have great kids clubs and plenty of entertainment and facilities for children, and the beaches are a comfortable entrance to the ocean.
Not the best option for Punta Cana is for lovers of independent trips around the country. No, of course, you can also rent a car in the Dominican Republic and drive it around beautiful places, but this practice is simply not as common here as, for example, in Greece, Spain, and Thailand.
Punta Cana is also the perfect place for couples to spend a wonderful honeymoon. Whether you want to enjoy a relaxing holiday or enjoy a noisy and cheerful atmosphere, in Punta Cana you are sure to find a hotel suitable for any type of holiday.
Punta Cana Photo Collection
You are presented with a complete overview of the Punta Cana resort 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 Punta Cana
Punta Cana- This is a grandiose resort in the Dominican Republic, which is considered the best in the whole country. It is famous for its white as paper sands and wonderful tropical coconut palms along the entire resort. But you can see more. The resort includes 3 huge parks, attractions, museums, a huge number of the most, both underwater, water and air, underground, sandy and tropical.
Punta Cana beach. White sand and sea surface is an integral part of the rest
With its diversity, the resort of Punta Cana attracts honeymooners and. That is why this resort is considered an ideal place for a quiet, relaxing and romantic holiday. means to really spend a honeymoon.
It is also very popular here. Many amateurs come here for scuba diving. There is a special park area on the water, which organizes this kind of underwater walks.
Almost all hotels operate on an all-inclusive basis, and once here you can really relax and feel like in paradise. However, the presence of nightclubs and cafes with restaurants makes the nightlife incendiary and very interesting, which attracts young people who come here mainly from the American continents. Also an important reason why this resort is the best in the Dominican Republic is that it is very calm. Despite the location directly with the ocean, there are almost never strong winds.
Punta Cana resort map with beaches and hotels
The map is clickable, you can choose a hotel for booking:
The resort is located at the easternmost point of the Dominican Republic, but due to its length of more than 100 kilometers, it extends from the north to the south, allowing the northern beaches to overlook the Sargasso Sea, and the southern ones to. All entertainment areas with all are located up to 80 meters from the sea, and some up to 20 meters.
The 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 that Punta Cana is divided into are quite diverse. The most famous and best beach is considered famous. You can also walk along the coast through such beaches: Arena Gorda, Cortecito, Cabeza de Torro and Punta Cana. All beaches are open for swimming and are very rarely closed or restricted as all beaches are public by law. Only occasionally, if the beach is not completed, it can be closed.
Planes to Punta Cana
If you want to immediately go to the Punta Cana resort in the Dominican Republic and 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, where flights, accommodation, meals are included, 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:
- Having made a change 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. There are no 40 degrees in the shade or 10 degrees in the sun. 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 nearby, the Ponce de Leon Museum. It also offers a wide variety of excursions for every taste.
Go straight to booking excursions in the Dominican Republic and see all the current offers:
Marinarium - marine 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 for tens of kilometers. 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. Predatory sharks or electric stingrays, which you will also look at with great interest, can cause delight in you.
If you want to see everything up close, you can dive into this sea fairy tale and personally explore the underwater depths like the Cousteau team. It's really interesting and not to 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 prophylaxis for medicinal purposes, and some for recreation, for dolphins are definitely life-prolonging creatures.
There is a museum on the territory of Manati Park. It is widely represented by the culture of local residents, in particular the ancient aborigines. 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. In translation, it literally means "Eyes of Ecology", as here you can see hundreds of diverse and wild animals. You can walk in such a park both on your own and use the services of experts and connoisseurs of zoology who will tell you interesting facts, history or some features of certain species.
Ponce de Leon House Museum
Among the must-see sights to visit is the Ponce de Leon House Museum, which was built 5 centuries ago. Here you will really plunge into the ancient history of the island civilization. The author of this building lived here with his family before he moved to Puerto Rico, where he began his political activities.
Excursions in Punta Cana
If you want to go on an interesting journey with a fun company, a professional guide and all the necessary equipment, if this trip turns out to be too exotic, then excursions are available for every taste and color. You may be offered:
- Excursions to cities or islands (to the capital of Santo Domingo, in, on or.
- Among the water excursions, one can single out a walk with whale watching, simple or sea diving. And also a very interesting trip to the small fishing village of El Cortecito, where all restaurants serve only fresh fish. It is located right next to 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 “jeep safari”, a trip to cockfights, etc.
What to do and how to relax
One of the most popular and active activities are excursions. Jeep safari. In particular, among Russians they are in great demand. What are Jeep Safaris? These are specific journeys by transport, most often off-road vehicles, or on horseback through the wilderness of the tropical jungle of the Dominican Republic. During such a 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 halts will be organized where you will be offered local food.
Jeep safari is one of the excursions. Do you want to ride in such a jeep through the jungle?
Of the extreme types of recreation can be distinguished Rafting. This is a kind of rafting down the river and waterfalls to the Caribbean Sea. A 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, it can be noted that they are very interesting. They represent a flight over Punta Cana through beaches, golf courses and various natural areas. During the flight, you can take beautiful photos from a bird's eye view.
Usually you get incredible panoramas or skylines of beaches or large green palm forests. The cost of such a holiday 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. Fields here began to be created since the beginning of the 90s, and one of them called "Punta Estada" is included in the 40 best fields in the world. Sometimes that is why connoisseurs of such a chic game choose the Dominican Republic for their holidays.
And if there are those among you who want to completely 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 in visiting directly residential and not equipped for tourism villages, and in getting acquainted with the culture as it is in everyday life. Thus, you can find out what the locals do, what they live in, what their crafts are, and what they do and how. In addition, tourists can take part in tropical agricultural work 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.
Many water sports are offered directly on the beaches and they are amazing: catamaran, boating, restaurant at sunset, sitting by the sea, parasailing, sport fishing, swimming, snorkeling, boats. There are all kinds of boats, both double-deck 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 Dominican shopping
About currency
- Dominican faceless dolls are special dolls made of clay and ceramics that reflect the national flavor of the Dominican Republic. They are extremely popular among tourists from all over the world. Some of these dolls are dressed in national costumes, some wear a hat on their heads, 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 very high quality here, so a jar of coffee is what you need, both for you and as a gift for someone from such distant lands. The best coffee here is Santo Dominigo. According to some sources, it ranks 3rd in the world. The aroma of fresh coffee at home will bring back very pleasant memories of such an amazing trip.
- Mamajuana- This is the most popular of alcoholic beverages. It is also famous for its medicinal properties, such as curing various colds, to treating all kinds of arthritis and increasing 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. Often, honey is found among the components present. In bottles of this drink, you can see leaves of herbs and pieces of tree bark.
- Amber, or rather, products from this precious stone are very expensive here. The starting price can be around $500 since this material is the best in the world here! Take note. It is also believed that such products can attract good luck. Although amber can be of different colors, such as green, red, yellow, blue and even transparent, there can be fakes made of ordinary plastic, so be careful.
- Larimar- this is another pride stone of the Dominican Republic, which is its hallmark. 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 he is credited with all sorts of magical and magical properties.
- cigars here they also have world quality and quite often compete for the world championship with their Cuban counterparts. Everyone knows that cigar tobacco is of the highest quality. This is the kind of tobacco that Dominican hand-rolled cigars have. 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 large centers both in Punta Cana itself and outside it.
Directly in 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 is open until 7 pm. It is also in demand among the local population.
The neighbor of this institution 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 in particular in local styles, such as T-shirts in the Caribbean tradition, etc.
It is impossible not to say about the 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 repeatedly, then it is not recommended to go here. But this place attracts tourists with another feature. Here is the famous Punta Cana Hard Rock Cafe of the same brand, of which there are only 7 establishments in the Caribbean. This is a specific restaurant where you can hear good and old rock and sit among the local flavor of culture and traditions.
From the nearest corners outside the resort, you can single out the city of Higuey, where you can buy much cheaper than at the resort itself. Here is the famous hypermarket Iberia, 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 use the services of special excursions that include visiting this supermarket in your schedule.
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, the fish is very expensive. Of the meat, the most popular is goat meat, and not beef, as is customary in Europe. The beef here is also not cheap.
It will also be very interesting for tourists to taste local national dishes. The first is called La Bandera, the main component of which is rice. Specially processed bananas, stews and various vegetables are also added to this dish. All this is prepared according to a specific recipe, and not just by mixing any ingredients.
The second special dish of Comida Crayolla is already more reminiscent of our usual food 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 all of us. To do this, in each on the ground floor there is an institution where you can very well "crack". 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, believe me, is incredibly tasty here.
However, there are plenty of restaurants outside the hotels where you can enjoy gourmet meals or simply relax without the hassle of returning to the hotel.
Among the places that we can recommend you to visit if you are 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. If you would like to book a table, contact us at (809) 552–0645.
An institution called "High Wave", which is located directly in the Mall Plaza Bavaro. This place is made in the American style. Russian tourists are interested in tasting a combination of American and Dominican cultures.
Most places to eat are in large stores and where you can buy various souvenirs, the 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 also it is impossible not to mention a specific coffee shop where you can taste real Dominican coffee and your own pastries. It is called Las Lenas II.
Telephone communications
The telephone system of the Dominican Republic is closely connected to the American system, so they use a single system of telephone codes. This is usually code 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
Internet can be used in almost all cafes, as well as in hotels.
The cost of the Internet in a cafe is about $ 10 per hour.
Throughout the Dominican Republic, theft is more common than we would like. The country lives very poorly, so lovers of warming up their hands in this type of activity are not uncommon, especially at night. From this it follows that it is best to pay with a plastic card, and it is best to keep money in the room in a safe.
A very interesting and at the same time impressive moment are the private guides who always want to offer you their services. Of course, hardly anyone will do this for free, and everyone wants to get money for their “work”. The recommendation will 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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