Head for the Dominican Republic and the must-see Punta Cana! Discover the best places to stay in this foretaste of paradise!
Punta Cana is one of the most beautiful vacation destinations, with its magnificent beaches and a wide range of entertainment. Discovered by Christopher Columbus and inhabited by Ponce de León, the Dominican Republic is an ideal destination for those who want to discover stretches of white sand and swim in warm, intensely colored waters. Its most paradisiacal beaches are concentrated in Punta Cana: Macao Beach, Bavaro Beach, Juanillo Beach, Arena Gorda, Arena Bianca and Cabeza de Toro offer an exceptional, unspoilt setting, with numerous entertainment and catering services.
When it comes to accommodations, Punta Cana has plenty to offer. Luxury hotels, straw huts, houses, hotels or apartments… Whatever you choose, one thing’s for sure: the scenery alone is enough to take your breath away!
Cabeza de Toro
Photo credit: Flickr – Bogdan
Cabeza is a small fishing village located south of Punta Cana, not far from the airport and Cap Cana. Under the brilliant Caribbean sun, you’ll be delighted to wake up to a magnificent stretch of blue water. Cabezo is home to colorful boats and fishermen’s huts where fish are dried. It’s an ideal place to breathe in the fresh sea air and enjoy a more authentic setting than Bavaro, with far fewer tourists.
Bavaro
Photo credit: Flickr – Joe deSousa
Punta Cana boasts some forty kilometers of beach. The best-known and longest is Bavaro, where you’ll find the city’s main hotels, apartments and rooms for rent. Whether you’re alone, a couple or a family, renting furnished accommodation by the sea in Bavaro is an excellent choice for enjoying the beach at different times of the day. It’s here, in particular, that you can enjoy an immersive experience with the dolphins!
Bavaro is also the place to party in Punta Cana, with its many restaurants, trendy bars and nightclubs. It’s a neighborhood that never sleeps, especially during the summer and winter vacations, when tourists flee the European doldrums.
Cap Cana
Photo credit: Flickr – Henry Player
Located to the east of Punta Cana, Cap Cana is a 25 km² estate featuring only luxury hotels such as Marina Sands Luxury Resort, Eden Roc near playa Caleton, and Golden Bear Lodge Spa. Easily accessible by air, land or sea, it’s a veritable small town, with its restaurants, bars, golf courses (notably Punta Espada designed by Jack Nicklaus) and, above all, its famous marina where you can admire the yachts. Juanillo beach is one of the most beautiful in the country: with your feet in the sand or aboard a catamaran, enjoy the show!
Friusa
Photo credit: Flickr – Elliott Scott
If you’d like to get away from the luxury and festivities and discover the Dominican culture, we recommend staying in Friusa. Here you’ll find reasonably priced hotels, as well as restaurants serving local cuisine and bars.
Close to major attractions
Photo credit: Flickr – Blobber
Punta Cana may be famous for its dream beaches, but there are plenty of other sights to discover. If you prefer activities to long hours spent sunbathing on the beach, you can stay close to Manati Park, an exceptional water park where you can enjoy an incredible experience: swimming with dolphins, a unique adventure that will leave you with unforgettable memories.
You can also choose to stay close to the Marinarium, a protected area offering a unique opportunity to discover the wealth of underwater flora and fauna. In this 40,000 m² natural aquarium, you can enjoy a wide range of activities, including snorkeling, or diving with nurse sharks.
We also recommend accommodation near the Punta Cana indigenous reserve park. Here you can discover Dominican nature and its history, visit a zoo housing all the island’s animals and admire 12 freshwater lagoons, 5 of which are open for swimming.