Punta Cana
Bars outside the hotel
There are bars in Plaza Bavaro (near Barcelo and Melia hotels). At the Punta Cana shopping centre is the Marant disco-lounge-bar.
Dominican Republic Vacations at Barcelo Bavaro Palace Hotel - Book Now !
Shows
The only big show in town is Tropicalissimo, staged at the Barcelo Bavaro Casino in the style of the old Tropicana of Cuba.
Beach party live entertainment is provided on full moon nights at the Jelly Fish Restaurant on Bavaro Beach.
Which airport to get to the Punta Cana area?
Punta cana international airport
Definitely the best choice is to fly into Punta Cana International Airport. This is a pleasant seaside airport and will leave you a transfer of between 10-40 minutes to most hotels. If for any reason you can`t fly into Punta Cana, try La Romana instead, this will leave a transfer of 2 hours.
You can fly into Punta Cana from the UK, USA, Canada, Holland, France, Germany, Spain and Latin America.
Punta Cana Excursions
Nature, aninimals and wildife excursions from Punta Cana Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3
Punta Cana Golf Courses Pt1, Pt2, Pt3
Places to shop
Punta Cana's shopping center is situated opposite the airport,and features the country's newest world-class bowling alley.
Bavaro Plaza is the largest shopping area in Punta Cana, albeit some items are higher priced.
Each hotel features stores where arts and crafts can be purchased and handicraft vendors rotate at the hotels bringing their wares from the creators right to the tourist. Some hotels will have an evening `market` when local vendors bring in their products.
You should always barter for your purchases. This is an accepted mode of purchase in the DR, and the vendors will expect you to haggle. A good rule of thumb is to go in at a quarter of the original asking price, and then attempt to acquire the item at between a third and a half of the asking price. Recognised jewellers and of course the hotel shops themselves will be more difficult to knock down.
Casino`s
There are four casinos in the area: Riu Palace, Barcelo Bavaro Casino, Paradisus Casino, the Catalonia Casino and the newest and largest Bavaro Princess casino.
Water sports
The array of water sports options is plentiful including catamaran boat rides, double-decker party boats, restaurant dining at sunset on the sea, parasailing, glass bottom boats for marine life observation, sports fishing, diving, snorkeling, flying boats, speed boats, water-skiing and banana boat rides. The boat taxis can take you from one hotel to another via the beach. There is also kayaking, windsurfing, sailing and beach volleyball. More details below:
Snorkeling
Punta Cana features the longest coral reef in the whole island - about 30 kilometers long. Snorkeling is OK from the shore, particularly if like me you don`t do it often ! For more advanced snorkellers there are good areas near the reef and you can get snorkeling excursions. Dive boats take groups out to The Aquarium (east of Club Med) and towards the reef off El Cortecito beach or to the area near the Riu Taino hotel.
Scuba Diving
Diving is good, not great, because just off shore from the Punta Cana side the water is riddled with barrier reefs. The area is most appropriate for new divers. It is a great place to learn to dive as the waters are shallow even when quite far out. Excursions will take you to discover a shipwreck and lots of nice coral formations, channels and tunnels. Due to the spear fishermen you pass on the way out, there is not a huge variety of fish and some of the larger species have largely been fished out of the shallower waters surrounding the DR. Further off shore however, there is good big game fishing to be had.
If you are serious about scuba diving, but still want to vacation in the Punta Cana area you may participate in dive excursions to Catalina and Saona islands, a two hour drive away. These dives are attractive to both beginners and advanced scuba divers.
Fishing
In this region, big game fishing is good and annual tournaments draw international participants in the summer. You can look forward to catching blue marlin, barracuda, and dorado among others. Best fishing is in the summer. Arrangements can be made at hotel front desks or at Cabeza de Toro beach area.
Windsurfing and parasailing
At the point where the Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans meet, the winds are powerful so this is a good area for windsurfing and parasailing.
Punta Cana 3
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