Iva Says
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Americas
      • Dominican Republic
      • North America
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Bulgaria
      • France
      • Greece
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Macedonia
      • Netherlands
      • Italy
      • Romania
      • Serbia
      • Slovenia
      • Switzerland
    • National Parks
    • Travel Ideas + Lists
    • Where I’ve Been
  • Reviews
    • Accommodations
    • Attractions
    • Destinations
    • Transportation
  • Resources
    • Travel Guides
    • Travel Quizzes
    • Travel Resources
    • Travel Tips
  • Nature
    • Beaches
    • Camping
    • Caves
    • Hiking
  • Travel Photos
  • Lifestyle
    • Awards
    • Blogging
    • How-To
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Americas
      • Dominican Republic
      • North America
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Bulgaria
      • France
      • Greece
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Macedonia
      • Netherlands
      • Italy
      • Romania
      • Serbia
      • Slovenia
      • Switzerland
    • National Parks
    • Travel Ideas + Lists
    • Where I’ve Been
  • Reviews
    • Accommodations
    • Attractions
    • Destinations
    • Transportation
  • Resources
    • Travel Guides
    • Travel Quizzes
    • Travel Resources
    • Travel Tips
  • Nature
    • Beaches
    • Camping
    • Caves
    • Hiking
  • Travel Photos
  • Lifestyle
    • Awards
    • Blogging
    • How-To
No Result
View All Result
Iva Says
No Result
View All Result

Punta Cana: A Caribbean Paradise

by Iva
September 26, 2019
in Destinations
Reading Time: 5 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Please note this post may contain affiliate links. IvaSays may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article, at no extra cost to you.

Hotel and Flight Search

A Destination Review:

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Fall is here, and you are already dreading the chilly winter months. You might even be sitting at your desk thinking about where to go this spring. Plenty of beautiful destinations to choose from, but there is one I would love to share with you. My ultimate paradise destination to visit in 2018 is Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

Two palm trees on the beach in punta cana
Walking in paradise

Punta Cana with the Bavaro area in the Dominican Republic is known as the Coconut Coast (La Costa del Coco). The reason is very simple: palm (coconut) trees are lined up along the coast and the beaches. No matter what resort you stay in, there are always some locals chopping coconuts and offering them to tourists as drinks.

Overlooking at the ocean from the sunbed
The view from the sunbed.
Tanning in punta cana
Tanning
Sunbeds in the beach in punta cana
Sunbeds in Punta Cana

Advertisement


(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Beaches: Top 5 Beaches in Greece (Halkidiki)

European Destination: Amazing Photos of Sicily to Soothe Your Soul

I went to Punta Cana in February 2011 and had a wonderful time. This post is mostly centered from a tourist perspective; rather than as a traveler. I went to Punta Cana with the mindset to just relax and enjoy the beach.

The resort I stayed in had free Bohemian (local Dominican) beer, which wasn’t too bad for those that like lager (pilsner). Since all the resorts are all-inclusive, there is a wide variety of buffet style food to choose from.

Flamingos in the pond in punta cana
Flamingos in the pond
Two flamingos in punta cana
Flamingos

These were an amazing seven days that I spent on the beach relaxing and sipping on coconuts.

When to Visit

coast in punta cana
The coast

The usual months to visit the Dominican Republic are between March and May. The weather is warm at that time of the year, usually mid-80s Fahrenheit (30°Celcius). Hurricane season goes from June-November, and usually September being the worst. Regardless, there is still a chance for one to see some rain, like I did.

Getting There

International Airport in Punta Cana
The international airport

I traveled from the east coast in the USA. There are direct flights from Florida and they are about two and half hours long.

From the airport, if you book an all-inclusive resort, there will be a shuttle from the resort waiting for you. There are taxis that you can use, but be cautious and ask for an estimation before getting it.

The all-inclusive resorts even schedule the return to the airport from the hotel.

Note: Check before booking with the resort because there might be a small fee for the transportation.

Advertisement


(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Activities

Water Sports

Being by the water, the resorts and locals in Punta Cana bloom from snorkeling, windsurfing, speedboats, scuba diving, party boats, cruises, deep sea fishing, swimming with dolphins, and many more water activities. They even offer swimming with sharks! 

Coast line in punta cana
The coast.
Boats at Punta cana in the ocean
Boats in the ocean
The ocean at the resort in punta cana
The ocean.

There is always something for everyone, and it’s both family friendly and a couple’s retreat. 

Excursions

Palm Tree Forest in Punta Cana
Palm Tree Forest
High winds in punta cana
Windy
Coconuts and friends in punta cana
Making new friends

Horseback riding is a pretty popular activity in Punta Cana. A lot of the tourists opt-in to discover the countryside of this island through horseback riding. Other excursions include safari tours and dune buggy (a small vehicle used to ride on sand and beaches).

Golf

Punta Cana is an ideal location for golfers. It has over 20 golf courses to choose from. Within the recent years, many of the resorts have set up amazing golf courses for their customers.

Exploring Punta Cana

Strolling along the beach in punta cana
A friendly walk.

The Carnival (early March)

If you go in March, then you will have the chance to see the carnival in the Punta Cana village that shows the best of the performers in the Dominican Republic.

Higuey

The closest city to Punta Cana is the 500-year-old Higuey. This town is separate about an hour with a car from the resorts in Punta Cana. It has a lot of history, so if you are into exploring then Higuey should be on your list.  

The historical landmark to visit in Higuey is the Basilica Virgin of La Altagracia (Basilica Catedral Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia). This is the largest cathedral found in the Caribbean. Virgin of La Altagracia is known as the “protector of Dominicans.”  There are numerous historical items and a museum from the 18th century at the Basilica.

View this post on Instagram

A beautiful Caribbean island. Stay tuned for my post about this place. ————- Checkout my other travel posts on my site. Link in bio. ————- #travel #traveling #island #ivasaystravel #vacation #visiting #instatravel #instago #instagood #trip #holiday #photooftheday #fun #travelling #tourism #tourist #instapassport #instatraveling #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #igtravel

A post shared by Iva (@ikrstik) on Nov 8, 2017 at 2:38pm PST

Santo Domingo

Of course, Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic and the first settlement of Christopher Columbus in the New World, can’t be missed.

There are a lot of guided tours, which take tourists to the Colonial Zone (Zona Colonial).  This is where most museums and cathedrals are located. The famous Alcazar de Colon (The Mansion/Palace of Columbus) is in the Zona Colonial, which is also part of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are other historical landmarks; after all, this is the first settlement in the New World. It holds a major significance and importance in the history and past we know today. However, it’s not for everyone. Santo Domingo is usually visited with a private guided tour and it takes about two hours to reach Santo Domingo from Punta Cana.

Concluding Thoughts

A couple walking on the beach
A romantic stroll.

I believe this place can be attractive to both tourists that just want to relax as well as to explorers that want to discover new areas, cuisines, and sights.

Punta Cana has amazing historical sites and unforgettable views of the ocean and sunsets. It truly makes for a perfect getaway in 2018.

Like this? Pin it for later

Pin icon for Pinterest image

Visiting and exploring the popular city of Punta Cana in the exotic Caribbean island, Dominican Republic.

Tags: AmericasCaribbeanDominican RepublicIslandPunta Cana
Previous Post

Explore the World with Renault Captur

Next Post

Maybe to Memmingen, Germany

Iva

Iva

Iva is a former engineer who decided to explore the world before settling down. She is a pragmatist at heart, so she hopes to provide honest and useful guides to all her readers.

Related Posts

48 hours in Rome - Visit the Colosseum in Rome.

A Weekend in the City of Love: Experiencing Rome in 48 Hours

January 27, 2023
Portugal Bucket List: Visit Portugal For A Weekend

Portugal for a Weekend – What To Do In Portugal

August 3, 2022
Buildings by lake and mountains.

Travel Guide To 5 Fingers in Hallstatt, Austria

May 18, 2022
What are the mental and physical benefits of travelling?

What Are the Mental and Physical Benefits of Traveling?

August 20, 2021
Next Post
Steuerhaus in Memmingen, Germany

Maybe to Memmingen, Germany

2017 Thanksgiving and Black Friday Deals on Iva Says

2017 Black Friday Deals on Travel Gear

2017 Black Friday Flight Deals

2017 Black Friday Flight Deals

Please login to join discussion
  • Where I’ve Been
  • About
  • Contact
  • Cookie Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Return and Shipping Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Sitemap
  • RSS Feed

© 2020 Iva Says - All Rights Reserved. Request permission before using any images or content.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Americas
      • Dominican Republic
      • North America
    • Europe
      • Belgium
      • Bulgaria
      • France
      • Greece
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Macedonia
      • Netherlands
      • Italy
      • Romania
      • Serbia
      • Slovenia
      • Switzerland
    • National Parks
    • Travel Ideas
  • Reviews
    • Accommodations
    • Attractions
    • Destinations
    • Transportation
  • Resources
    • Travel Guides
    • Travel Quizzes
    • Travel Resources
    • Travel Tips
  • Nature
    • Beaches
    • Camping
    • Caves
    • Hiking
  • Travel Photos
  • Lifestyle
    • Awards
    • Blogging
    • How-To
  • About
  • Contact
  • Our Policies
    • Cookie Policy
    • Disclaimers
    • Privacy Policy
    • Return and Shipping Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2020 Iva Says - All Rights Reserved. Request permission before using any images or content.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

The logo for the travel blog of Iva Says
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.