Are you the kind of couple that likes to explore? If you’d rather chill at the resort while sipping some colorful drinks, then this one might not be for you. If you are like us, you’ll want to know the best places to visit in Punta Cana.
Since you’ll be staying at an all-inclusive resort, you’ll have your food and drinks covered. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go out for a night to a romantic restaurant and treat yourself to a delicious dinner!
Looking for Fantastic Seafood?
Jellyfish is our top choice. The staff is amazing. The food is delicious. And you’ll have an amazing view of the ocean as you enjoy your meal. (P.S. they also host amazing weddings.)
Party by the Ocean
Pearl Beach Club is the place to go! They don’t host a lot of events, but when they do, it’s definitely worth it!
When there aren’t any events, it’s still a beautiful beach club with amazing food and drinks. It’s a great place to chill during the day.
Huracan Cafe also offers a lot of parties throughout the year. Just be advised, they’re on Dominican time, so the party won’t start until 1am or later.
The Most Beautiful Beach to Visit
Playa Blanca in Punta Cana Resort & Club is the most beautiful beach. They usually charge a 15–25 USD fee to visit during weekends or public holidays to keep their visitors to a minimum, but it’s a very secluded place – one that we love and visit every time we can.
What about a beach that feels like the real Dominican Republic?
Macao is the best choice. If you feel like exploring a little further, Uvero Alto is another great option. You won’t find anything but sand and ocean, and that’s what we like about it.
In both of these places, you can take Surf lessons with talented locals. I wish I could say they are cheap, but nothing is cheap in town.
The Best Casino in Town
Hard Rock Punta Cana without a doubt. It’s the only one we recommend. You can access for free and pay to play. The Hard Rock resort is one of the best places to visit in Punta Cana for the ORO Nightclub as well.
The Most Interesting Place for Photos
Altos de Chavon. It’s not in Punta Cana, but it’s a gorgeous place full of photo opportunities. You’d have to drive about 1.5 hours each way and pay an entrance fee. It gets somewhat pricey for a professional photoshoot, but it won’t stop you from visiting and taking some beautiful photos with a great view of the Chavon River.
The Best Places for Shopping
Well… there aren’t any actually. There are places for shopping, but we don’t like them or really even recommend them. If you still want to visit somewhere, I’d say BlueMall Punta Cana is the best one. It’s near the airport. Plaza San Juan is another option, but we wouldn’t really visit unless we were looking for something specific – most likely souvenirs like rum, t-shirts, or cigars.
Feel Like Training While on Vacation?
Besides the gym at your resort, we have two Crossfit boxes. One in Los Corales area and the other one is inside Punta Cana Village (further away from most resorts). Both are great options and will give you an amazing workout.
Looking for a Different Adventure?
Head to Montaña Redonda, on the road to Miches.
It’s about 90 minutes away from Punta Cana, and it’s definitely worth a visit. The view is fantastic, the place is well taken care of, and it will be different than visiting another beach.
Want to Sail on a Boat Drinking Rum and Eating Lobster?
Party boats are the way to go. We can absolutely recommend Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures for family excursions or party boats. They have a great lobster lunch and good quality alcohol (compared to that lighter fluid tasting stuff you may find on other excursions.)
What About the Islands?
Well, we used to recommend Saona & Catalina Islands. We still love them, but the number of tourists nowadays makes some of the visits not so enjoyable. If you still want to see a beautiful place, and you don’t mind the crowds, then head to either one of these islands and you’ll love the views. Catalina is better for diving, Saona is an easier excursion overall.
Do you Dive?
Well, sadly Bavaro is not recognized for its diving spots. The wrecks at Bayahibe are well worth a visit and your money, as well as the diving wall nearby Catalina Island.
Feel like Helping?
There are a few orphanages in Higuey (an hour away from Punta Cana) that you can visit and help in any way you can. If you are interested in visiting any of them let us know and we’ll help you out.
What About an Ecological Reserve or Something More Natural?
Ojos Indígenas is a beautiful place to visit. It’s similar to the Cenotes in Mexico (just to give you an idea of what we’re talking about). You might find 5 or 10 people during your visit if you get there early enough, but we’re usually alone when we go there to relax. There’s an entrance fee of about $25 dollars and we think it’s definitely worth your money.
These are some of our favorite places to visit in Punta Cana! If we haven’t convinced you to go on an adventure yet, we might convince you to do a photoshoot at Altos de Chavon with this gallery.
