Things to do
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Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia
Inaugurated in 1971, this concrete basilica holds the painting of the Dominican Republic's patron saint, and one trip inland from the beach lets you see the country's main Marian shrine for yourself.
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Bávaro Beach
Long band of white sand backed by coconut palms and the largest concentration of hotels on the coast, with calm shallow water inside a fringing reef. Public access points sit between the resorts at Bibijagua, Los Corales and El Cortecito, where fishing boats land and small bars open onto the sand. None of them needs a ticket.
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Saona Island
Catamaran and speedboat trips run to this low island inside Cotubanamá National Park, stopping at a sandbar in waist deep water and a palm backed beach at Mano Juan. The boat leg from Bayahibe takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the boat. Boats fill quickly in high season, so book a place ahead.
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Cotubanamá National Park
Formerly Parque Nacional del Este, this park covers the peninsula and islands at the southeastern corner of the country, protecting dry forest, mangrove and caves with Taíno rock art. Most visits arrive by boat from Bayahíbe on a Saona or Catalina trip. Entry on foot is possible at Guaraguao, though the trails are unshaded and nothing is sold inside.
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Hoyo Azul
A cenote of deep blue water sits at the foot of a limestone cliff on the private Scape Park estate in Cap Cana, reached on a wooden walkway through dry forest. Swimming is allowed and the water stays cold. There is no separate entry to the cenote: every visitor needs at least the basic Scape Park combo ticket.
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Macao Beach
One of the few beaches here with no resort behind it, Macao faces open Atlantic swell and has become the surf school beach for the east coast, with board rental and instructors working from shacks behind the sand. Currents are strong and there is no lifeguard. Buggy tours arrive mid morning and thin out by late afternoon.
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Ojos Indígenas Ecological Reserve
A nature reserve of about 600 hectares set aside by Fundación Puntacana, with forest trails and a chain of freshwater springs. Four of the springs are open for swimming, among them the Inriri and Cacibajagua cenotes. Visits run as the Los Ojos Eco Journey, a guided tour that follows the trails and stops for a swim in the springs.
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Playa Blanca
About 3 km from Punta Cana airport, Playa Blanca is a sheltered white-sand beach inside the Puntacana resort area. Day visitors from other hotels can enter after registering their personal details and car number plate at the resort's main gate, and buy a consumption voucher for the beach restaurant. A taxi or a hire car is the practical way to reach it.
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Playa Cabeza de Toro
Just south-east of Bávaro, Playa Cabeza de Toro is a quieter stretch of hotel beach. Public access runs through the small Cabeza de Toro marina, between the Sunscape Coco and Bakour Suites resorts. From there, a walk of about 1.6 km northwest along the shore, toward Bávaro, reaches a less built section backed by palms.
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Playa Juanillo
Inside the gated Cap Cana development at the southern end of the coast, Playa Juanillo has calm water behind an offshore reef that catches much of the sargassum before it reaches the sand, so it often stays cleaner than open Bávaro in a heavy year. The beach is public, but day visitors need a Cap Cana access pass arranged through the beach club or hotel they are visiting, and ID at the gate.
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Playa Uvero Alto
At the far northern end of the Punta Cana coast, Uvero Alto is a beach and resort area lined with all-inclusive hotels. Public access points sit on either side of the Excellence Punta Cana resort, so a day visitor can reach the sand without a hotel pass. The rest of the shore in front of the hotels is open to walk along.