The famous resort of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is liked by everyone, without exception. In the 70s of the last century, American investors drew attention to its beaches, having invested in the infrastructure and development of Punta Cana, and a few years later foreign tourists flocked to the Dominican Republic, wishing to get their portion of the Caribbean experience. Joining the business, designer Oscar de la Renta and singer Julio Iglesias added money and fame to the rising resort star of Punta Cana, bringing new hotels, roads, hospitals to the region, and increasing tourist numbers. The Dominican Republic was also discovered by Russian travelers, for whom even a long flight did not become an obstacle on the way to a bounty-style dream. The main attractions of the resort, of course, are the beaches, but in response to your question about what to see in Punta Cana, experienced tourists will name national reserves and cigar factories, amusement parks and coral reefs, colonial buildings in a neighboring town and waterfalls in the heart of the tropical jungle …
TOP 10 attractions in Punta Cana
Bavaro beaches
The Bavaro chain of beaches is said to be the main attraction in Punta Cana. Indeed, landscapes of such beauty are difficult to find anywhere else, even being in the Caribbean.
The resort area of Bavaro is located 25 km from Punta Cana International Airport. The hotels here are the best, and their facades are decorated with at least four stars. Coral reefs, stretching along the coast, reliably protect the beaches of Bavaro from strong waves, and therefore you can swim here freely at any time of the year.
In September, the Groovefest music festival takes place on the beaches of Bavaro, first organized in 2012. Famous DJs from the USA and Latin America take part in it.
Manati park
A tourist is not alive by the beach alone, even if he flew to rest in the Dominican Republic. After enjoying the first portion of the sun and sea, you always want to see what is happening around and go on an excursion to local attractions. In Punta Cana, it is customary to spend the whole day in the Manati amusement park, and you can come here with the whole family - there is something for everyone here:
- In the ethnic village of the Taino tribe, recreated in Manati Park, you can look at the typical homes of the Indians, learn everything about their life, hunting customs and national crafts.
- In the souvenir shop in the park, guests are offered typical Dominican crafts made from shells, leather and coral.
- In the zoo, you will meet the inhabitants of the Dominican jungle, meet noisy parrots, pet the horses and feed the ponies.
- In the dolphinarium, it is allowed to swim with the participants of the dolphin show after its end and to be photographed with the tailed artists as a keepsake.
Tropical orchids are not the only representatives of the Dominican flora. In the park, you will see hundreds of plant species blooming and fragrant at any time of the year.
A museum has been opened on the territory of the park, where works of contemporary Dominican artists are presented.
Dolphin Island
The floating platform off the coast of Punta Cana is a place where several swimming pools are equipped for swimming with dolphins. Marine life are kept there in ideal conditions for themselves and willingly come into contact with guests, allowing people to swim next to them and demonstrating various tricks. You can also chat with sea lions and seals.
Dolphin Island can be reached by boats that run throughout the day and bring everyone to visit the marine life.
The cost of visiting the attractions starts from $ 99, depending on the program. The minimum allowed height of a child for swimming with dolphins is 110 cm.
Marine Park "Marinarium"
Another amusement park located right in the sea off the coast of the resort of Punta Cana is called "Marinarium". In it you can look at the inhabitants of the Caribbean Sea, snorkel along the coral reef, pet stingrays, watch the most dangerous ocean predators - sharks and admire exotic tropical fish. There is a kayak rental in the "Marinarium" park, which is a pleasure to ride on the waves.
All visitors to the "Marinarium" are invited to choose one of the visiting programs. The first is called Reef Expiorer and includes snorkeling, kayaking, shark watching and an introduction to the coral reef biosystem. If your choice fell on the Snorkeling Cruise program, you will find yourself on a glass-bottom catamaran that cruises along the coast of Punta Cana. During a boat trip, you will find scuba diving in the world of the Caribbean Sea and swimming in an aquarium, the inhabitants of which are stingrays and nurse sharks, not dangerous, but very exotic.
The visit to the park "Marinarium" is allowed only to guests aged 13 and over.
Juanillo beach
Another wonderful beach at the southern end of the Punta Cana resort is suitable for lovers of privacy and those who fly to the Dominican Republic not only for a tan, but also for perfect Caribbean-style photos. Juanillo Beach is located a few kilometers from Punta Cana International Airport on the site of a small fishing village.
The main advantages of Juanillo beach over others are the lack of crowds, almost perfect cleanliness, comfortable sun loungers and the absence of local residents. The beach belongs to the Cap Cana hotel complex and in order to get here, you will have to leave any identification document at the security counter. Such rules guarantee the absence of strangers on the beach and a calm rest for adherents of silence and cleanliness. Drinks are available at the hotel bar.
Cigar Factory "Don Lucas"
Dominican cigars are considered one of the best in the world, because the conditions for growing tobacco in the Caribbean are almost ideal. You can see how cigars are made in Punta Cana in a tobacco factory, where, like many years ago, manual labor is used.
Tours are conducted daily in different languages. There are Russian-speaking guides in factories, and therefore acquaintance with the process of making aromatic products will be very informative. The guides will tell you about all the stages of creating a cigar - from planting tobacco seeds in the soil on a plantation to packaging the finished product in a branded box. You will be able to watch the process of selecting leaves and rolling a cigar, and then taste the products you like by visiting the store at the factory.
The range of cigars produced in the factories of Punta Cana is truly huge. If you wish, you will find strong and not very strong cigars, ladies and gentlemen, thin and classic sizes, with aromatic additives and from black tobacco. Prices range from $ 15 per box to $ 250 for one top quality cigar.
Chocolate Museum
It is so customary in the Dominican Republic that at any tobacco factory, the Museum of Chocolate is always open - obviously, such a neighborhood is very popular with guests of the resort of Punta Cana. Usually, the museum is a small chocolate production, where you can see the whole process of making sweet treats: from the moment of cleaning cocoa - beans before packing the finished product in variegated wrappers.
Everything that is displayed in the showcase of the chocolate museum can be tasted and bought by visitors as souvenirs in memory of a trip to the Dominican Republic.
Indigenous Eyes Reserve
The purpose of this nature reserve in Punta Cana is to preserve the flora and fauna of the tropical rainforests surrounding the resort. In Indigenous Eyes, you will see centuries-old trees typical of the region, flowering plants of incredible shapes and sizes, many vines that form all kinds of weaves and allow animals and birds to exist in a special space above the earth. More than 500 species of various plants are found in the reserve and about a hundred species of various birds live. Walk in Indigenous Eyes with parrots and hummingbirds, toucans and pigeons.
The reserve has several freshwater lagoons, shaped like eyes. They gave the name to the park. You can swim in them, and the Indians who once inhabited these lands considered the water of the lagoons to be healing.
On the sandy beach, Indigenous Eyes hatch their baby sea turtles. Park workers designate their masonry specifically so that tourists do not accidentally damage the nests.
At the entrance to the reserve, visitors are greeted by an information stand with a marked walking route. The whole journey takes no more than an hour. You can take your swimwear with you to swim in the lagoons. A remedy for mosquitoes, which can be enough in wet forests, will also not hurt.
Ranch
An excursion to a real Dominican ranch will seem interesting for both children and their parents. Kids will be delighted with the mini-zoo, the main inhabitants of which are colorful parrots, dangerous crocodiles, rhino iguanas and cocky peacocks. Adults will not give up on horseback riding in the vicinity of the ranch, during which they will be able to see the real jungle and get to know some of its inhabitants, who live, like many centuries ago, in the wild.
Mee Lola Ranch's restaurant serves traditional Caribbean cuisine.
Children's water park
The Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe Hotel in Punta Cana has a children's mini-water park, where the attention of young travelers is offered water slides, attractions, waterfalls, fabulous castles and swimming pools. The organization of the space is thought out in such a way that children can relax and have fun absolutely safely.
The water park is not too big, but it is possible to keep a child of primary school age in it for several hours without any problems. From 9 am to midnight, an entertainment program with the participation of animators for children from 3 to 12 years old is organized in the water park.
While the younger generation is enjoying the outdoors, parents can enjoy a cocktail at the pool bar, dine at the hotel restaurant, or visit the hotel's fitness club or spa.
For the youngest visitors, the Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe offers a 24-hour babysitting service.
