Punta Cana is part of the newly created Punta Cana-Bávaro-Veron-Macao municipal district in La Altagracia, the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic. The area is best known for its beaches and balnearios, which face both the Caribbean and Atlantic, and it has been a popular tourist destination since the 1970s.
Other Destinations related to Punta Cana or the Dominican Republic
The Punta Cana area has an estimated population of 100,000 with a growth rate of 6%. To the north, it borders the village and beach of Cabeza de Toro, and then the Bávaro and El Cortecito beaches. The nearest city, the 500-year-old capital of the Province Higüey, is 45 kilometres (28 mi) away, and it takes about an hour to drive there. Europeans, particularly Spanish hotel chains, own all but two of the 50+ megaresorts of the Punta Cana tourism destination.
Punta Cana-Bavaro's resorts show an eclectic variety of architecture and interior design inspired by Spanish and native Dominican cultures. Areas bordering Punta Cana include Cap Cana to the south and the original tiny fishing-village of Cabo San Rafael. A 100 metres (330 ft) high cliff is located more to the south, near of Boca de Yuma town, a fishing village dated from the 16th century. Nearby, you can find the Ponce de Leon's Fortress, in San Rafael del Yuma town. This is one of the most isolated area within the La Altagracia Province though.
The province's 100 kilometres (62 mi) coastline tends to be mildly windy. The ocean waters are mainly shallows, with several natural marine pools in which visitors can bathe without any danger.
North to South the main beaches are: Uvero Alto, Macao, Arena Gorda, Bávaro, El Cortecito – all north of the cape – and Cabeza de Toro, Cabo Engaño, Punta Cana, Juanillo – south of the cape.
Bávaro is an area starting from Cabeza de Toro until Macao Beach. As the hotels started to rise along the East coast, Bavaro itself became a center of services with shopping malls, fast-food stores, drug stores, fine restaurants, banks, clinics, workshops, supermarkets, and schools. The major town in the district is Veron, now bigger than Higuey in territory, a spontaneous -and poor- urban development running along the original road from the west. Veron, last name of the French proprietor of a timberline business in the early 1930s, is now the base-city for hotel workers and related. It has, besides Bavaro, one of the only four gas stations in Punta Cana.
Going to Punta Cana
By plane
American Airlines is a popular carrier that schedules flights from many US cities to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). Other major carriers from the United States include Jet Blue, Spirit Airlines, USA 3000, Continental, US Airways and Delta. Air Canada also offers flights to Toronto and Montreal. Westjet also offers scheduled service from Toronto. Charter airlines include Air Transat, Sunwing, Thomas Cook (operated by AC Jazz), Skyservice and Canjet departing from many larger Canadian cities seasonally
Most people going to Punta Cana are staying at a resort. With a resort package most hotels will have airport pick up arranged for you at the Punta Cana Airport.
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Punta Cana / Bavaro Hotel Directory
Barcelo bavaro Beach Resort
Barceló Bavaro Beach
Barceló Bavaro Palace Deluxe
Barceló Bavaro Palace
Barceló Bavaro Caribe Beach
Barceló Bavaro Casino
Barceló Bavaro Family Deluxe
Ocean Blue & Ocean Sand
Excellence Punta Cana
Punta Cana Resort & Club
Sanctuary Cap Cana
Now Larimar Punta Cana
Tortuga Bay Punta Cana
Agua Resort Punta Cana
Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana
Stanza Mare Apartments
Villas Princesa Apartments
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Bavaro Princess
Grand Bahia Principe Punta Cana
Paradisus Palma Real
Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana
Barcelo Punta Cana
Carabela Beach Resort
Be Live Grand Punta Cana
Caribe Club Princess
Catalinia Bavaro
Occidental Grand Flamenco
Sirenis Tropical Sirenis Cocotal |
More on Punta Cana
You will find this area to the right as you depart the final customs check area. Just look for your hotel name on a sign that many guides will have, and they will direct you to your bus. Private taxis are also available at fixed prices.
In fact, Punta Cana has one of the busiest and best connected airports in the region, sometimes receiving more flights than the Aeropuerto Internacional de Las Américas, located in Santo Domingo (at about a three-hour drive).
The Punta Cana Airport has a beautiful thatched roof and is an open-air design, also meaning that few areas of the airport have air conditioning. Upon arriving at the Punta Cana airport, each passenger is required to purchase a $10.00 tourist card before entering immigration, often included in your documentaion upon departure or issued on the flight (unless you have a Dominican passport or a cedula residence card).
After retrieving luggage and clearing customs, arriving passengers will be greeted by their tour company representative to the right and directed to board the correct bus for transfer to their resort. Do not venture out looking for your bus without first checking in at the counters. The buses are numbered, thus you will not know which one to get on to.
Tour Operators:
Most passengers arriving in Punta Cana International Airport have prearranged local transportation through a tour operator. These companies have representatives at the airport to guide guests to vehicles waiting to take them to the reserved resort. If you are traveling with a tour operator it is highly recommended that you attend any welcome meetings and orientations offered by your tour operator. In these meetings you'll receive important information regarding your hotel and immediate area information, activity and excursion options, and departure information.
You can also book your airport transfers in advance from the comfort of your home with Dominican Airport Transfers one of the Dominican Republic 's leaders in airport transfers servicing all airports and tourist destinations. You can actually get an instant quote and book online on their automated site.
Dominican Airport Transfers office is located in Santo Domingo City.
Taxis:
If you are not traveling with a tour operator, a number of taxi drivers are available just outside the Customs area to provide you transportation to the place of your choice. All taxis operate with standard rates; most drivers carry a copy of these. The best thing to do when hiring a taxi is to clarify your destination and the price in advance. You pay upon arrival at your destination. Most hotels have taxi stations on or near their property; in most cases a bellman or front desk clerk can order a taxi for you. Taxi drivers accept dollars, pesos and euros.
Local Buses: For the more adventurous, the local bus lines operate on most of the roads of the area, for a minimal cost.
The downside to public transportation in the Dominican Republic is irregular bus schedules, crowded vehicles, and potentially unsafe vehicles (689 casualties in 2007), drivers or passengers. Although for the most part it is a safe and effective means of transportation, it is generally recommended to use one of the more frequented means of getting around.
Rent-a-Car: A number of car rental agencies like Europcar, Budget, Prestige Car Rentals and Avis offer service in the area of Punta Cana and Bavaro. Many hotels have car rental concessionaries on their properties.
Keep in mind that their driving laws, habits and conditions may be different from the ones you are used to. When renting a vehicle always take the maximum available insurance, keep a map of the area you intend to drive in, and make sure you are comfortable with the drive.
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