Palm-Fringed Sand at the Island's Eastern Tip
Punta Cana is a resort region at the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, in La Altagracia province, known for long white-sand beaches, coconut palms and a calm Caribbean-facing coast. Its name means 'point of the cana palm', and the stretch from Bávaro to Cap Cana has become one of the most recognisable beach destinations in the Caribbean. The landscape is flat and sunny, with reef-protected shallows, wide beaches and large resorts set among gardens, which makes it popular with families, couples and groups.
Bávaro Beach is the heart of the region, running for miles with gentle water and plenty of beach clubs. To the south, Cap Cana is a planned resort and marina community with golf courses, villas and a smaller, more upscale feel. Juanillo Beach and Playa Blanca are among its best-loved sands. Many guests pair a beach stay with time in the wider Dominican Republic, where Santo Domingo's colonial streets and Samaná's whale season are only a day trip or short transfer away.
Saona Island, Cenotes and Fairway Days
Beyond the beach, Punta Cana offers a surprising range. Boat trips run to Saona Island in Parque Nacional del Este, a protected island with palm-lined sand and natural pools, and the national park itself shelters caves, mangroves and birdlife. Inland, Hoyo Azul, a freshwater cenote reached by a woodland trail, shows a different face of the region, with turquoise water in a limestone hollow. Dune buggy, zipline and catamaran excursions fill active days, and snorkelling in clear lagoons is easy to arrange.
Golf is a defining attraction, with well-known courses such as Punta Espada at Cap Cana and the Corales course, and spas and wellness retreats are common in resorts. Food draws on Dominican staples such as fresh grilled fish, plantain and la bandera, with international menus at most hotels. A hotel group can use this variety, from active days to unhurried beach afternoons, to appeal to many types of guests. The nearby Puerto Rico and Jamaica offer alternatives for island-hopping itineraries.
Read the full Punta Cana guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitPuntaCana.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.