Los Corales
Hostels, cafesBeside Bávaro beach.
City guide
Things to do in Punta Cana
The Dominican Republic's main beach destination: kilometres of white sand at Bávaro, surf at Macao, swimming in the lagoons of Ojos Indígenas, and day trips to Saona Island, with a few hostels for travellers who want the beaches without the all-inclusive.
4
Hostels in the city
7.7
Average, from 480 reviews
20–30 min
From the airport
2–4
Days
The beach strip, done independently
Punta Cana is the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, and the name is used for the whole stretch of coast from Cap Cana north to Bávaro and Macao. It has some of the longest white-sand beaches in the Caribbean, protected by an offshore reef, and its airport is the busiest in the country.
Most visitors stay inside all-inclusive resorts, and the area can feel like a separate economy. But the beaches are public, and a small number of hostels and guesthouses in Bávaro and Los Corales make it possible to see it on a budget.
Use it for sand and sea: snorkelling, the surf beach at Macao, the freshwater lagoons of the Ojos Indígenas Ecological Park, and catamaran trips to Saona Island. For culture and cheaper prices, combine it with Santo Domingo or Bayahibe. Give it two to four days.
Where to base yourself
Los Corales and Bávaro for hostels and beach access, or Cortecito for a more local feel.
Bávaro
BeachThe main beach strip.
Cortecito
Local feelThe old fishing beach.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Punta Cana
Walk the long beaches of Bávaro and Los Corales, and snorkel on the reef. Surf or take a lesson at Playa Macao, one of the few beaches on this coast with waves and without resorts.
Swim in the clear freshwater lagoons of the Ojos Indígenas Ecological Park, and visit the Hoyo Azul cenote at Cap Cana.
Take a catamaran day trip to Saona Island, with its sandbar natural pool full of starfish, or to Isla Catalina for snorkelling.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
All beaches in the Dominican Republic are public, so walking the sand at Bávaro, Los Corales and Macao is free, even in front of the resorts.
Sunrise over the sea and the fishermen at Cortecito cost nothing.
The parks, Hoyo Azul and boat trips charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Prices are high in the tourist zone. Eat where Dominicans eat: comedores in Friusa and Verón serve la bandera for €4 to €7, and beach shacks at Macao fry fish.
Los Corales has cafes and international restaurants.
Restaurant bills add 18 per cent tax and a 10 per cent service charge by law, so check whether menu prices include them; a little extra for good service is appreciated.
Nightlife
Going out
Nightlife is mostly in the resorts and in a handful of bars and clubs in Bávaro and Los Corales, some with beach parties.
Colmados in local neighbourhoods are the cheap alternative.
Cocktails cost €6 to €12. Use registered taxis at night.
Getting around
Getting around
Punta Cana International Airport is 20 to 30 minutes from Bávaro by taxi; agree the fare first. Expreso Bávaro buses run from Santo Domingo in about 2.5 to 3 hours, and buses also run to La Romana for Bayahibe.
Local buses run along the main road between Bávaro and Friusa, and taxis are expensive.
A car or scooter helps for Macao and the parks.
Costs
What Punta Cana costs
Punta Cana is the most expensive area in the country. Dorm beds start at around €18 to €30 a night. Comedores charge €4 to €7 a plate.
Saona trips cost about €60 to €100, Ojos Indígenas about €40 to €50, and surf lessons about €40 to €60.
US dollars are widely accepted, but prices in pesos are usually better.
Safety
Safety and scams
The tourist area is generally safe. Petty theft happens, so do not leave belongings on the beach.
Agree taxi fares before getting in, and book tours through your accommodation or known operators rather than beach sellers.
Rip currents occur at Macao; swim with care. Do not drink the tap water; bottled and refill jugs are cheap everywhere. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Islands, lagoons and towns.
Bayahibe
A fishing village by the national park.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The dry season and holidays.
December to April
Dry season
Punta Cana
Sunny and busy.
March or April
Semana Santa
Nationwide
Dominicans head to the beaches.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Punta Cana, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
December to April is the dry season and the busiest time. May to November is hotter, with short showers, and hurricane season runs from June to November. Sargassum seaweed can reach the beaches in summer.
Jan
Dry, busy
Feb
Dry, Carnival
Mar
Dry
Apr
Semana Santa
May
Showers begin
Jun
Hurricane season opens
Jul
Summer holidays
Aug
Hot
Sep
Peak hurricane risk
Oct
Wet
Nov
Quieter
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Warm all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Punta Cana prices.
Treat these as a guide. Tours cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Punta Cana questions
The ones we get asked most.
Can I visit Punta Cana without an all-inclusive?
Yes. There are hostels in Bávaro and Los Corales, and the beaches are public.
Are the beaches in Punta Cana public?
Yes, all beaches in the Dominican Republic are public.
How do I get from the airport?
By taxi in 20 to 30 minutes; agree the fare first.
How do I get from Santo Domingo?
By Expreso Bávaro bus in about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Can I visit Saona Island from Punta Cana?
Yes, on a catamaran day trip.
Is Punta Cana expensive?
It is the priciest area in the country; eat at local comedores to save.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April, the dry season.
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