Punta Cana holidays

Punta Cana’s most famous beachfront is Bavaro Beach. This beach is located along the region’s main hotel strip, so there’s easy access from many of the resorts. You’ll find watersports galore here. You can try your hand at windsurfing, sailing, and even banana boating. And perhaps best of all is the lively marketplace, right at the entrance to the beach. Here you can buy fresh milk straight from the coconut. Just so you know, the beaches on this stretch of coastline sometimes experience increased levels of seaweed – called sargassum. It’s influenced by the weather and ocean currents. If your hotel’s affected, the staff will do everything they can to clear it.

For total relaxation, and quiet stretches of sand where you can spend quality time with the family, be sure to check out Playa Cabeza de Toro and Playa el Cortecito. The beauty of Cabeza de Toro beach is its location right next to the marine park. Here, you can swim alongside the local sea life. El Cortecito is a sandy spot which is great for picking up cool local souvenirs, as it’s lined with vendors selling handicrafts.

If you’re looking for a lively and energetic beachfront where the drinks flow freely and there’s an all-day, all-night party atmosphere, you’ll love Punta Cana. Playa Los Corales is the beach that never sleeps. The biggest daytime activity here is ‘snuba-ing’. It’s a combination of snorkelling and scuba diving. The heavy tanks stay on the boat, connected by long tubes, giving you the freedom to explore underwater.

Punta Cana’s marketplaces are great for finding low-cost souvenirs. One of the very best is the Bavaro Beach market. What makes this place different is that it’s not just a tourist trap. Locals shop here, so there’s a great blend of holiday souvenirs and authentic, everyday products. Look out for amber jewellery and Dominican chocolate. Haggling is common, so be sure to practice your bargaining skills.

Believe it or not, you don’t need to set foot outside your hotel to find fabulous souvenirs. Many of the region’s biggest resorts boast huge shopping complexes. Here, you can pick up local rum, or a Dominican drink made from herbs and honey known as Mamajuana. If you do fancy venturing out, check out the San Juan shopping centre. There’s everything here including fashion, beauty, and homewares.

Punta Cana is bursting with shopping centres, and some of them are worth an entire day of browsing. Palma Real is a good choice, with international brands like Tommy Hilfiger, and local boutiques like Mira. Even better is the Blue Mall, with brands like Pandora, Levi’s, Quiksilver, and Zara. There are lots of souvenir shops here, too.

Punta Cana is a bit like a cross between an authentic Dominican town and the Caribbean nightlife hotspot of Cancun. It has plenty of bars, restaurants, and clubs, but still manages to maintain a laidback and down-to-earth vibe. With such a massive nightlife scene, the type of after-dark experience you’ll have here really depends on where you go. Beachfront restaurants overlooking the sea are perfect for cool drinks and romantic candlelit dinners. And don’t forget your hotel entertainments. If you choose a family resort, you’ll find lots of low-key evening activities which are lively, but not over-the-top.

Punta Cana is the nightlife hotspot of the Dominican Republic. There’s an almost never-ending selection of discos, clubs, and beach bars. Around Bavaro Beach especially, there’s a definite party vibe. You can sip cocktails all night long and dance to your heart’s content. Many of the clubs and beach bars stay open until the early hours, so there’s no need to stop the party until you’re ready for bed. Of course, there’s always the standard beers, wines, and cocktails on offer. But this is Punta Cana. Try some of the tropical coconut-based cocktails, or sample the rums produced in the local area.

Dominican cuisine is based on a real fusion of flavours, influenced by native Taino tastes, Spanish foods, and a touch of African spice. Traditional dishes here are colourful and comforting, with starchy rice playing a big role. The most famous dish here is la bandera, meaning 'the flag', which consists of rice, beans, and meat. Also be sure to try fried plantains, and chicharron de pollo, a crispy fried chicken dish.

In many destinations, foodies need to venture out from their hotels to sample the authentic local cuisine. But this couldn’t be further from the truth in Punta Cana. With a huge number of luxurious All Inclusive hotels, resort dining is highly recommended. Exclusive restaurants overseen by world-famous chefs make the local hotel restaurants great places to experience innovative gastronomy.

You’ll find great restaurants all around Punta Cana. However, there are three main dining hubs that are well worth checking out. The first is Punta Cana Village, where there’s a range of pubs and grills, along with plenty of pizzerias. The second is along Bavaro Beach, where there’s a lively alfresco café and beach bar scene. Finally, Punta el Cortecito has lots of international places, like French, Mexican, and Italian.