Punta Cana tourist information
The Punta Cana destination is made up of the areas (going from south to north) of Juanillo, Punta Cana, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro, El Cortecito, Macao and Uvero Alto.
Today, the East Coast beach strip is one of the best choices for those seeking the perfect beach and R&R (rest and relaxation) vacation. Bill and Hillary Clinton in April 2001 chose Punta Cana for their first sojourn after leaving the White House. Punta Cana is that perfect place for a honeymoon – first or second.
This is a place for vegging out… miles of silky-fine white sand, deserted beaches with coconut palms. Unless you rent a car or purchase an excursion, don’t expect much sightseeing or outstanding shopping opportunities nearby.
This area is made up almost completely of large all-inclusive resorts populated mostly by couples or families. Some resorts in the area cater to sports-minded people, others are couples only. But most resorts focus on family entertainment. The exception is spring break time when groups of university students fly down from Canada and the US. The better hotels for this crowd are the larger complexes, where night time entertainment is more lively.
If you don't mind losing a day at your all-inclusive, Punta Cana can also be for explorers. If you rent a 4x4, venture out to discover a magnificent world of caves, mangroves, private beaches in the nearby Hato Mayor and El Seibo provinces. Or drive west on to Altos de Chavon, Bayahibe, and even to Saona near La Romana. These are at least two hour’s drive away.
The Punta Cana area lends itself more to those looking for the type of vacation where the resort has everything and one never has to go outside the gates. Note the nearest city, Higuey, is about a 40 minute drive away. Beyond the resorts is mostly empty countryside. You can literally walk for miles along the beach without seeing anything but an occasional unfinished construction project or the next hotel.
El Cortecito, located between Punta Cana-Bavaro and Macao, is the closest thing to a little beach town in the area. Juanillo is a perfect swimming pool of a beach south of Punta Cana. Nearby is Manatee Park, a wildlife ecological/adventure site, and the Ponce de Leon house is near Boca de Yuma. Bavaro Plaza is the largest shopping complex in the area.
Tourists arriving to Punta Cana will spend most of their vacation at their hotel. The easiest way to visit the other hotels is to take a stroll along the beach. Or take the beach taxi to El Cortecito, or Juanillo, a beach south of Punta Cana. To visit the Basilica in Higuey, you can take either a taxi or public bus.
The beach is the No. 1 attraction in the Punta Cana area, stretching an amazing 50 kilometers. But here are other activities to consider:
Manatee Park Bavaro. 130,000 square meter preserve with permanent exhibits of birds, reptiles, and fish. A show with parrots, dolphins and dancing horses is included in the US$22 admission fee. Optional possibility of swimming with the dolphins for an extra fee. Reservations should be made as soon as you arrive in the country if you want to swim with the dolphins. Free shuttle bus to and from principal hotels in the area.
4 x 4 motorbike tour of the coastline. The Punta Cana equivalent to a "city tour" is this 4-wheel motor bike tour that will take you up the Punta Cana-Bavaro beach with a view of the many resorts that dot the eastern coastline. It is a full day, but most say it is worth it. The excursion includes a visit to the Pozo Azul caverns with a dive off rocks into the cavern's clear blue waters. Bring swim suit, sunscreen and sunglasses to shield eyes from bright reflective sand and water.
Ecological Walk at the Punta Cana Beach Resort, which ends in a refreshing bath in a cool spring. You will be walking through a real jungle. Bring long sleeves and bug repellent.
by DR1
Punta Cana aerial map
Please click on any icon on the Punta Cana aerial tourist map, to find close by places, offering hotels and tourist information. You can zoom in and zoom out our touristical map as well as switch between satelite and map view of Punta Cana.
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