Punta Cana Attractions Guide: Beaches, Water Sports, Golf, Natural Attractions and Parks

Spotlight

Punta Cana

Attractions

Punta Cana, which effectively encompasses several areas along the east coast – like Bavaro, El Cortecito, and Cap Cana – competes for tourism with Puerto Plata, another beach resort area on the island's north coast. The beach may be the foremost reason to visit Punta Cana, but golf comes a close second – the DR has more courses than any other Caribbean destination and some of the best are located here. That said, there's more to Punta Cana than sand and greens, but visitors interested in cultural pursuits will have to work a little harder to experience them.

If you stay at an all-inclusive resort (of any budget level), expect a plethora of non-motorized water sports at your disposal. Your resort's activity desk can assist you in planning an outing to any of the attractions outlined here, but you might save money by calling directly. Keep in mind that not going through your resort may require you to hire a car. Getting around Punta Cana via taxi is easy – you don't need to know the actual address of your destination, just the closest resort. Drivers are knowledgeable and friendly, but know the price before you get in the taxi – rates are fixed, there is little room for negotiation, and you might be surprised at how similar prices are to those in the US.

Beach and Water Sports
All the major resorts of Punta Cana are lined up on a 30-mile stretch of sand that includes Playa Bavaro in the north and Playa Punta Cana in the south. No matter where you stay, from the least-expensive property to the most deluxe, it's all the same sand, which is good news for beach bums on a budget. The proper name of the beach might change with each resort, but the same lovely, silky sand extends all the way down the coast. The one distinction here is the water: Depending on your hotel's location, you'll be swimming in either the calm Caribbean or the slightly rougher Atlantic; that said, you can expect warm, clear-blue water the length of the beach.

An 18-mile-long coral reef (the longest in the DR) lies offshore, but serious snorkelers be forewarned: the underwater scenery here is not the Caribbean's best. If you're a novice scuba diver, however, this is a great place to learn, as the waters are quite shallow. Scuba excursions in the immediate area explore a shipwreck and coral formations; if you're bit more advanced, or simply more adventurous, book an excursion to Isla Saona (see Natural Attractions) where the scenery is more varied. Information on excursions is available from your resort activity desk.

Sailing and windsurfing are more popular, particularly where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic, where stronger winds prevail. Most all-inclusive resorts have everything you need to try your hand at these sports – and most non-motorized water sports are included in the price of your stay. Note: Though exact dates vary from year to year, there is a ban on all water sports (including snorkeling) during Easter Week.

Golf
Whether you're a novice or shooting well below par, Punta Cana is paradise for golfers. Top-notch courses designed by big names like Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus beckon with perfectly manicured greens, challenging fairways, and gorgeous surroundings. We've picked two Dye courses from which to tee off during your stay; look for new Jack Nicklaus courses to open by the end of 2007.

The Dye-designed La Cana Golf Course (Puntacana Resort & Club; 809/959-4653; $110+ hotel guests, $150+ non-guests; www.puntacana.com) is a par-72 course with four oceanfront holes and 14 holes with ocean views. In an environmentally responsible and forward-thinking move, the golf course uses Seashore Paspalum, a form of grass that uses seawater for irrigation and greatly reduces the amount of pesticides flowing off the course and into the Caribbean. The resort offers transportation to the course for non-resort guests; as long as you're here, you may want to dine at the renowned Coccoloba or La Yola restaurants (See Where to Eat) on the grounds. Dye die-hards won't mind making the trip to the Casa de Campo resort in La Romana (about 90 minutes by car; www.casadecampo.com.do), home of three courses designed by the legendary golfer: Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore, and The Links.

Cultural Pursuits
Add depth to your trip by learning a little about the Dominican Republic's rich culture. The country is mainly Spanish-speaking, but the majority of Dominicans who work in the tourism industry (from housekeepers to tour guides) also speak English. If you've any interaction with the local people, you'll come away with the following information: they are religious (mostly Catholic); they love baseball and idolize players; tobacco-growing is a major part of the economy; they are fiercely proud of their rum (known for being very smooth) but don't need it to unleash on the dance floor – the merengue is the national dance and you'll see it everywhere from local nightclubs to the stages of your resort.

Spend a few hours soaking up the hippie-beach-town vibe of El Cortecito, a great place to find a mix of tourists and locals. The center of this town comprises a block-long strip of inexpensive hotels, souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants. You might not realize the beach is just steps away, but if you wander into Captain Cook's (see Where to Eat) you can eat and drink on tables in the sand. Don't be surprised if your lunch plans turn into an entire afternoon spent sipping drinks and enjoying views of the Caribbean Sea.

If you're interested in seeing how the locals live, the town of Higuey (about 45 minutes from Punta Cana) is a true Dominican city. Among the few tourist attractions here is the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia (Basilica of Our Lady), one of the country's most important architectural structures and a national monument. Dominicans make a pilgrimage to this Roman Catholic church every January 21 to commemorate a battle won against the French. For some local flavor, wander the streets of Higuey and visit a daily market selling local fruit, cheese, and meat. You can get there via taxi, but a far less expensive and more authentic trip can be made by bus – ask at your resort the closest place to pick up the guagua to Higuey.

Baseball fans know that several of Major League Baseball's most famous players call the DR home. Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, and Manny Ramirez are national heroes, and many Dominican MLB players travel back to their home country to play during the winter months (the baseball season in the DR runs from late October through February). Baseball is not only the national sport, but the national obsession – you'll see children playing it constantly – whether it's an organized game complete with uniforms or a pick-up game with one boy playing several positions. Though much of the professional action takes place around the country's capital city, Santo Domingo (a three- to four-hour drive away), you can catch an Azucareros del Este game in La Romana at the Francisco A. Micheli stadium, where music blares, the crowd goes wild, and cheerleaders dance the merengue on the sidelines. It's about 70 miles south of Punta Cana; keep in mind that traveling by car often takes longer than it does in the US as many roads are in poor condition.

Marine Parks
If you love marine life, there are two parks worth checking out. Manati Park (Bávaro/Higüey; daily 9am-6pm; $30, $75 to swim with dolphins; www.manatipark.com) offers dolphin encounters, shows featuring animals such as parrots and horses, a small village replica with performers in traditional Dominican costumes, and a crafts shop. A free shuttle bus will pick you up at your hotel. You can also opt to take a half-day outing to Marinarium (Cabeza de Toro; 809/689-5183; $78; www.marinarium.com) – catch a shuttle at your resort and head to the departure pier, where you'll board a catamaran with an underwater chamber to view the sea life while you cruise out to a protected snorkeling area to swim with stingrays and sharks.

Natural Attractions
Isla Saona (Saona Island), located in the Parque Nacional Del Este, and one of many national parks in the DR, is accessible by speedboat from the mainland. Most tours stop at a sand bar en-route, so you can take a quick swim to break up the trip – the shallow waters are rich with starfish, so don't be alarmed if your feet brush against one hiding beneath the sand's surface. Once on the island, claim your beach chair and just laze the day away – lunch (local seafood and barbecue) should be included in your tour as are local drinks like rum and beer. The ride back to the mainland typically has a "booze-cruise" feel – complete with free-flowing drinks, plenty of music, and dancing on deck. Tip: Arrange the trip directly through your resort to get picked up and dropped off as well.

Adjacent to the Punta Cana Resort & Club (about 10 minutes from the airport) is the Punta Cana Ecological Reserve (Punta Cana Resort & Club; daily sunrise-sunset; $10; 809/959-9221; www.puntacana.org) a nature preserve on 1,500 acres operated by a local foundation in partnership with Cornell University. Dedicated to education about local ecosystems and sustainable tourism, the preserve offers both guided and self-guided tours daily; highlights include a petting farm of local animals, an iguana habitat, cultural exhibits, and numerous gardens.