Travel to Punta Cana-Bavaro Dominican Republic

Why choose Punta Cana - Bavaro?
Punta Cana is a beautiful destination made up of the following areas (from south to north): Juanillo, Punta Cana, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro, El Cortecito, Macao and Uvero Alto.  [more]

Why choose Punta Cana - Bavaro?
Punta Cana is a beautiful destination made up of the following areas (from south to north): Juanillo, Punta Cana, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro, El Cortecito, Macao and Uvero Alto.

This strip of beaches on the eastern coast has become one of the premier locations for those seeking the perfect beach and R&R vacation. Bill and Hillary Clinton chose Punta Cana for their first sojourn after leaving the White House in April 2001. Punta Cana is that perfect place for a honeymoon: whether first or second!

This is the ideal place for chilling out… miles of silky-fine, white sand, deserted beaches with coconut palms. Don’t expect to do much sightseeing or shopping (unless you rent a car or go on an excursion).

This area is made up almost entirely of large all-inclusive resorts populated mostly by couples and families. Some resorts in the area cater to sports-minded people, others to couples only. But most resorts focus on family entertainment. The exception is spring break when university students fly down from Canada and the US. The better hotels for this crowd are the larger complexes, where nighttime entertainment is livelier.

If you don't mind losing a day at your all-inclusive, Punta Cana can also be a destination for explorers. A rental 4x4 can take you out to discover a magnificent world of caves, mangroves, and private beaches in the nearby Hato Mayor and El Seibo provinces. Or embark on a spectacular two-hour drive west to Altos de Chavon, Bayahibe, and even Saona near La Romana.

Other nearby attractions
The Punta Cana area lends itself more to those looking for the all-inclusive resort vacation where everything is provided without ever having to leave the gates. The closest city, Higuey, is a 40-minute drive away. Surrounding 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.

Port of Entry/How to get there
The best airport to land at is the Punta Cana International Airport: at most, a thirty-minute drive from the hotels, and some resorts are barely 10 minutes away from the thatch-roofed airport. The second best airport is the La Romana Airport, a 1-1/2 to 2-hours drive away from the hotels. If you land at Las Americas International (Santo Domingo) you will be four-hours away. From Santo Domingo, a taxi cab trip can be negotiated for around US$100 the domestic air flight is around US$60 per person. The cheapest way to get to and from Santo Domingo is by commuter minibus. They charge around US$ 8 but can take most of the day with several transfers involved.

Getting around
Tourists arriving to Punta Cana tend to 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 either take a taxi or public bus. [less]