Stories · Dominican Republic
3 days in Punta Cana
Not a list: a thread to follow, at your own pace.
My first time in Punta Cana, I tried to see everything and mostly saw queues. Now I do it differently: a few places a day, the right ones, in the right order. Here is my 3-day thread.
Day 1 · With the family
Early in the morning, I make my way to Downtown Punta Cana. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (4,742 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.
Around noon, head to Dolphin Explorer Downtown. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
For lunch, Punta Cana 23000 is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, meet me at Plaza Paseo Colonial. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Punta Cana is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 2 · The icons
To start, it’s Laguna Guama. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or go through Tiqets.
Then, it’s Hoyo Azul. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.7 out of 5 across 341 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or compare on Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around Punta Cana 23000: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
Later, meet me at Juanillo Beach. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (3,390 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Punta Cana does the rest.
Day 3 · Day trip
In the morning, it’s Este paraiso tour. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
If you’re still hungry
Other places I wish I could have fitted in: Playa Macao, BlueMall Puntacana, Bavaro Beach, Arena Gorda Beach, Splash Water Park and Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve. Slip them in wherever a day feels light.
My advice
Walk. Then take public transport: that is where you see the city live.
Book the busiest places the day before: queues have ruined more than one morning.
Keep a little local cash: the best addresses are often the least equipped.
Safe travels. And get lost at least once; that is where Punta Cana begins.
A Triovol story · written by someone who would go back tomorrow
Opening hours, prices and closures change: a quick look at the venue’s website before you go avoids bad surprises.
Share your experience!
Been there? A tip, an address, a mistake to avoid: the next travellers will read you.