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Punta Cana Neighborhoods
Sitting on the easternmost tip of the island of Hispaniola in the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana refers to a region that encompasses the beaches of Cap Cana, Bávaro, Macao and Uvero Alto, among others. Most spend their vacation in the Bávaro region, which has the widest selection of all-inclusive resorts.
Cap Cana sits on the Dominican Republic's eastern shores and is an exclusive real estate and hotel development gated community – home to luxury properties, such as Eden Roc at Cap Cana, Sanctuary Cap Cana and TRS Cap Cana, among others. Sprawled across more than 6,000 acres, this area also shelters the ritzy Punta Espada golf course, along with its own marina, equestrian center and eco-park. With a stay here, you'll find little reason to leave Cap Cana's borders. You don't have to be a guest at one of its top-notch homes or hotels to access the community's attractions, but proof of a restaurant reservation, beach club visit or excursion booking most likely will be requested by security at Cap Cana's entrance gate.
North of the Punta Cana Airport, Bávaro features the staggering all-inclusive resorts and commercialism associated with the region. The town is also home to El Cortecito, a small fishing village that contains gift shops, restaurants and plenty of water sports. Several amusement parks are located near the area to lure in vacationing families: Bavaro Adventure Park is a versatile playground amidst green vegetation for kids and adults and features zip lining, a lazy river and dune buggy rides, while Katmandu Park Punta Cana is one of the Caribbean's newest theme parks, offering a mix of interactive attractions and thrilling outdoor activities. The wide shoreline of Arena Gorda, also part of Bavaro, is popular among tourists as the beaches are lined with all-inclusive resorts.
Sitting inland, west of Punta Cana's beaches, Higüey is the capital of Punta Cana’s La Altagracia Province and is accessible via rental car, taxi, a guided excursion or (if you dare) public transport. Those who live nearby consider Higüey holy land, as the site offers a vision of the Virgin Mary. The city's cathedral, the Basilica de Higüey Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, is Higüey's main attraction, along with its main open-air market, the Mercado Municipal de Higüey (Higüey Public Market).
Just north of Bávaro along the coast is Macao, the most famous beach in Punta Cana among locals. Travelers describe Macao as charming and provincial, complete with pastures and ranches. Though there is gradual development and resort construction, Macao Beach has still preserved its charm as a local hot spot, with dozens of fish eateries and ramshackle bars that all get particularly crowded during the weekend. Macao is also a popular day trip from some of the resorts farther south since the beach is a little less crowded.
Farther north is Playa Uvero Alto, a small, secluded resort village complete with coconut groves and unique (all-inclusive) boutique hotels. A road leading from the Punta Cana Airport has made Playa Uvero Alto's beach strip and various accommodations more accessible to tourists. It's in this part of Punta Cana that you'll find some of the swankiest and best hotels, including Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana and Excellence Punta Cana.
Safety
Punta Cana is one of the safest vacation spots in the Caribbean. Tourists should feel comfortable traveling outside of the hotel zone. However, petty theft (especially of cell phones, according to some) does sometimes occur, so you should be careful when carrying valuables with you. Plan to travel in a group if you leave your resort, and women should be aware that men in Punta Cana can be overly flirtatious. Hotel security is good, and there's even a special branch of the police department devoted to tourist safety, known as Politur or Cestur. Police officers are often stationed in the hotels or along the beach. But previous travelers have had other concerns (specifically health issues) when visiting the Dominican Republic: Many say you should avoid drinking Punta Cana's tap water. Always opt for bottled water and drinks with moderate amounts of ice. Usually, ice in Punta Cana can be consumed without any problems as it is always made with purified water, both in resorts and in public restaurants and street food stalls. Zika and Dengue are other health concerns in the Dominican Republic because of the prevalence of mosquitos. Pregnant women and their partners should consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the most up-to-date information on the Zika virus.
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