Punta Cana – Things to Know 2024

Just like in other parts of the world, some hotels of Punta Cana offer a “pillow menu” that is a choice of pillows. You can choose the pillow that will be more comfortable for you. It is usually an additional service provided for an extra charge.

To make the most of your vacation in Punta Cana, follow these tips:

• Before booking a hotel or an apartment, think about what kind of vacation you want to have. If you only want to chill out on the beach and eat, an all-inclusive resort is your ideal option. However, if you want to have a local experience, learn interesting things about the country and get closer to its daily living, book an apartment in a secure centric gated community to be able to walk around and explore. Check some vacation rental options here.
• Go on excursions: there are so many beautiful and interesting places to visit in the surroundings of Punta Cana! If you are ready for a full-day excursion, feel free to visit other Dominican provinces as well. Here is our list of the top 10 places to visit in the Dominican Republic.
• Learn to dance: take advantage of the opportunity to dance salsa, bachata or merengue free of charge! The Dominicans enjoy dancing and are very good at it. They will be happy to teach you to dance. Hotel animation always includes dance classes. You can also go out to a disco and learn there.
• Be careful with food and drinks: make sure you drink clean bottled water. Never drink tap water. Wash your fruit carefully. Avoid street food. Wash your hands thoroughly before eating.
• Compare prices of different excursion providers before buying your tour. Always buy excursions from licensed providers.
• If you want to rent a car, make sure a car rental agency is licensed. Check the insurance policy for the vehicle.
• Explore different beaches of Punta Cana. There are many of them and they are all unique.

Read this article about what you must know before visiting the Dominican Republic.

Punta Cana features several famous nightclubs with high quality sound and light systems. Local nightclubs are different and consider any budget. There are bars, restaurants, casinos, and disco-clubs in Punta Cana, which are suitable for everyone who wants to take a social drink, have a dinner, and try their luck in gambling or dance on the dance floor until the sunrise. If you want to go out at night, opt for secure nightclubs, such as Coco Bongo, Imagine and Oro.

• Coco Bongo boasts a large number of unique live shows, where acrobats and professional artists fully engage in the performances. A show lasts for three or four hours. It is combined with the best modern music and videos between performances.
• ORO Nightclub Punta Cana is a modern and luxurious nightclub with a two-level space of over 14,000 square feet. Don’t miss its infinite-edge bar.
• If you want some unusual night party experience, welcome to Imagine nightclub located in a real cave! Party in the cave to the best music hits: Dominican salsa, bachata, trap music, hip-hop and tech house.

Read more about nightlife in Punta Cana here.

Usually tourists come to Punta Cana with USD and change dollars to Dominican pesos in currency exchange offices or banks. Please mind that Dominican pesos may not be taken on board the plane to be carried abroad. Carrying the national currency abroad is prohibited by law. Feel free to bring USD or Euros to the Dominican Republic to change them to Dominican pesos upon arrival.

Undoubtedly, some of the best excursions in Punta Cana are a buggy ride to Macao Beach and an excursion to the Round Mountain (Montaña Redonda). Swimming with dolphins is also a unique experience. If you are ready for a longer trip, visit Saona Island.

It is hard to tell which Dominican beach is actually the best of the best since the Dominican Republic boasts many marvelous idyllic beaches. At the same time, for some people, the best beach must have large waves and strong wind to enjoy surfing, for example. For other people, the best beach should be idyllic with calm waters.

Anyway, Punta Cana and its surroundings feature amazing beaches. For example, Juanillo Beach in Cap Cana (located in 15-minute ride from Punta Cana) has appeared among the top 10 best beaches in the world for several times. Macao Beach not far from Bavaro and in 30-minute car ride from Punta Cana airport is also a local pearl – a famous wild beach and surf camp. You will surely choose the best beach for you from this variety of beaches located in Punta Cana and nearby.

Although the peak season for hurricane threats in Punta Cana area is in September-October, the meteorological conditions during these months can hardly be called a “hurricane”. It is important to know that the so-called hurricane season in Punta Cana is associated with a larger risk of occasional tropical rains and stronger wind. Real hurricanes are rarely witnessed in Punta Cana.

The weather in Punta Cana is more or less stable throughout the year. The tropical climate of Punta Cana determines the hot and humid weather all-year-round. The monthly average temperature ranges between 25°C and 28°C. Short tropical rains occur more often from July to October. Winter months are usually dry.

Punta Cana is considered a paradise on earth by many tourists who come here for a short vacation. A light-hearted atmosphere of resorts, cheerful people around and all-inclusive hotel service make any tourist believe that a life is so easy in Punta Cana. The truth is kind of different, however. Here are some of the biggest myths about living in Punta Cana.

• It is cheap to live in Punta Cana. Truth: Living in Punta Cana is more expensive than in any other town of the country. It is the most developed touristic area of the Dominican Republic with the highest prices.
• All residents of Punta Cana work in tourism. Truth: Although the majority of Punta Cana population do work in the touristic industry, there are also other activities and types of business developing in Punta Cana. Beauty salon services are always in demand, so start-uppers often get interested in renting a room in a salon to offer their exclusive or simply popular beauty services. Moreover, many residents of Punta Cana work remotely for some companies located abroad, at the same time enjoying the best beaches of the Caribbean. Some residents do not work at all, since they live in Punta Cana on the money they get from renting their properties or from other businesses they have abroad.
• Punta Cana has problems with security. Truth: Punta Cana deserves to be called the most secure area of the Dominican Republic. Due to a large number of touristic establishments, hotels, the airport, and many tourists coming to Punta Cana daily, the authorities constantly reinforce the security and do their best to keep this area safe.

To save money during your stay in Punta Cana, try the following:

• Instead of booking a touristic package (that often includes some services you will never actually use during your stay), consider renting an apartment via vacation rentals platforms (Airbnb, Homeaway) or on websites specializing in properties in Punta Cana (for example, Everything Punta Cana).
• If you travel with a friend or friends, divide the cost of lodging equally between you. Thus, you will be able to rent a spacious apartment or villa and pay of around $50/person per night if you divide the cost between 8-10 people, for example.
• Compare prices on excursions and transportation services on websites of different official licensed providers. Feel free to negotiate the price – it is often done in Punta Cana.
• Try to cook at your place. If you eat in restaurants or cafes, browse the internet to find the most budget-friendly and recommended local cafes. There are many of them and they are much cheaper than restaurants of international cuisine.

Yes, there is a water park in Punta Cana. Mind that it is not a traditional water park with simple sledges. Punta Cana water park boasts even funnier and more adventurous activities. It features zip line landing in the water, paddleboat and other water activities. You can get more details about it here.

• Punta Cana is a small town. Most touristic infrastructure is located in Bavaro, a town in 15-minute car ride from Punta Cana. Bavaro is often considered a part of Punta Cana, thus a confusion caused. Nevertheless, life in Punta Cana and Bavaro is quite expensive since it is the most developed and popular touristic zone of the Dominican Republic.
• Punta Cana is a very secure area with 24/7 surveillance. One can freely move around during the day and at night.
• Punta Cana features many lovely restaurants with international and local cuisine. The personnel is very hospitable and always attentive to your requirements.
• Punta Cana boasts the perfect weather throughout the year. Its unique geographic location protects the area from Atlantic hurricanes and storms. Even in a rainy season, the rains are very short.

There are many private homes and villas in Punta Cana. Many of them are located in Punta Cana Village – a quiet and secure residence mostly for permanent residents of Punta Cana. For short-term residents, many cool apartments and studios are located in Los Corales, Bavaro.

Pay attention to Oreuga – a building right on Los Corales beach, with the best ocean views, spacious apartments and a large roof-top penthouse. Cozy and lovely apartments and villas are also located in a secure gated community of Cocotal, Bavaro. Modern and luxurious apartments on the first beach line are also found in Playa Turquesa residential complex.

Punta Cana is a very attractive location for retirement. It offers an excellent weather throughout the year, an international airport with regular flights to Europe, the USA, Canada and other destinations, many lovely gated residential complexes, beautiful modern apartments and spacious villas. It is secure and hospitable. There are no serious cons about this area. Some people might find it a bit boring and too peaceful.

Also, there are not so many big stores (only 4 big supermarkets) and just 2 large shopping malls. However, you can find everything you might need there. Of course, if you are accustomed to going to a new supermarket every day while living in a big metropolitan area, it is better for you to consider Santo Domingo for retirement.

But be sure that Punta Cana indeed has all the necessary facilities and infrastructure for a comfortable long-term stay. Besides, it boasts some of the best beaches of the Caribbean – an important advantage for those who want to relax and enjoy themselves. The cost of living in Punta Cana is higher than in other Dominican regions but reasonable for immigrants from the USA, Canada and Europe.