City Guide
Punta Cana
Forty kilometers of east-coast beach and the country's busiest airport. Most people never leave the resort — the ones who do have a far better story.
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Where to stay
Bávaro for all-inclusives and beach access, Cap Cana for gated luxury and marinas, Punta Cana Village for a more local, lower-cost base near the airport.
Bávaro
The all-inclusive strip. Best beach-to-price ratio.
Cap Cana
Gated, marina, golf, quieter.
Punta Cana Village
Restaurants and shops, five minutes from PUJ.
Eat
Get out of the buffet at least twice. The fishing village of El Cortecito grills what came in that morning, and Punta Cana Village has the best independent kitchens in the zone.
El Cortecito
Beachfront grilled fish, feet in the sand.
Punta Cana Village
Independent restaurants, no resort markup.
Friusa roadside
Chimis and pica pollo, late night.
Drink
Beach clubs run the daytime and the good ones go until midnight. Book a daybed on weekends — the deck fills by noon.
Juanillo Beach Deck
Sunday sunset sets in Cap Cana.
Macao beach shacks
Cheap, rough, excellent.
Marina Cap Cana
Calm waterfront drinks.
Beaches
Bávaro is the postcard. Juanillo is the calm one. Macao is where the surf school is and where the locals go on Sunday.
Playa Bávaro
Long, white, protected by reef.
Juanillo
Calmest water, gated access.
Macao
Waves, surf lessons, public and lively.
Nightlife
Beach parties and resort clubs dominate. For live Dominican music you'll want a driver and a night in Higüey or a trip into the capital.
Sunset Sessions
Open-air house on Juanillo Beach.
Bávaro club strip
Late, loud, tourist-heavy.
Cap Cana marina bars
Slower, better for conversation.
Getting around
Distances are long and street lighting is poor at night. Use pre-booked transfers or a driver for the day rather than flagging anything down.
Pre-booked transfers
Fixed price, verified driver.
Day driver
Best option if you're covering Macao and Cap Cana.
Golf carts
Fine inside Punta Cana Village, not on the highway.
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