Sure, take a few days to sink into the sand and soak up some sun. Then, pack your appetite for adventure and venture off-resort.
The Dominican Republic is a popular destination for Canadians (pre-pandemic, we accounted for the second largest cohort of visitors) offering something for everyone, from ruins to pristine beaches to rainforest. What’s most notable is the romance that attracts couples on their honeymoon or those looking for a well-deserved break from their children.
Maybe you were drawn to the island by your love of foods like sancocho and mofongo, or even the merengue, the country’s official dance. Those are swell, but there is so much more to see and experience. Whether you prefer laid back fun or exhilarating adventures, you and your honey are bound to have a good time in and around Punta Cana. Here are 12 itineraries for a half or full day of fun away from the resort that mix excitement with local culture.
Head for the spa—at sea
Spend three hours luxuriating with a massage and fish pedicure while noshing on a healthy lunch—all while floating along on gorgeous cerulean waters. Dr. Fish Ocean Spa is the perfect activity to reserve for the last day of your journey or following a long night of music and drinks. The excursion also offers onboard pilates and is the only floating spa on the island.
Visit Saona Island
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Just 45 minutes driving from Punta Cana is Bayahibe, the jump-off point for an excursion to Saona Island, an idyllic escape that has been featured in movies like Blue Lagoon. There are many catamaran tours offering a whole day at sea with a visit to the tiny island. Think: upbeat music and a rum and coke while you ride the waves leading to an uninhabited beach in search of starfish and turtles. It's pure bliss.
Travel to historic La Romana
La Romana is a popular cruise ship stop-off and it’s no wonder since it’s an artsy coastal city with a distinct history, food scene and shopping. A tour of Barcelo Rum Historical Centre is a great place for thirsty travellers to acquaint themselves with the award winning, locally distilled spirit. Afterwards, refuel at a local restaurant like Crema Pasteleria and don’t skip the tres leches cake.
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Nearby is Altos de Chavon, a Mediterranean-style village dating back to the 16th century. While here, visit one of three history museums. At Museo Arqueológico artifacts from Christopher Columbus’ voyage are on display (he’s buried on the island after all), as well as the indigenous Taino community.
4x4 into adventure
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Rumble down unpaved tracts of tropical, forest-shrouded roads in an open-top Jeep; this is only one of the many activities offered on a Jeep Safari Punta Canaday tour. You’ll squeeze six highlights into one action-packed day that includes ziplining, horseback riding and cigarmaking. Afterwards, retreat to Macao Beach for lunch and relaxation. Your $170 will stretch far and you’ll head back to your hotel blissfully exhausted.
Sample an original Dominican spirit
I first tried mamajuana (a blend of spiced rum, red wine, honey and aromatic herbs) at a barbecue the United States. The host family was Dominican and they informed me that it’s an aphrodisiac. Whether fact or fiction, there’s no harm in trying mamajuana it before leaving the Dominican Republic. Some tours, like this dune buggy tour, bring travellers to banana, coffee and cocoa farms to sample mamajuana and other local delicacies. If you discover a love the cinnamon-and-rum concoction, consider packing some pre-blended mamajuana in your luggage. (Keep in mind, customs will not likely allow you to bring the dry ingredients into Canada.)
Scuba diving
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
For couples who are dive certified, Dominican Republic offers many opportunities to explore the hidden treasures which lie in wait on the sea floor. Grab your buddy and head to La Romana, home to a few popular dive spots including Catalina Island. There’s no shortage of scuba diving off the coast off Cotubanamá National Park, either. Just north of Punta Cana, don a tank and mask to explore the coastal waters off Bávaro to find wrecks, reefs, canyons and caverns.
Heat up (and cool off) at Scape Park
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
There are plenty of ways to explore at Scape Park, an ecological reserve that’s one-part park, one-part playground and rife with adventures above and below ground. Work up a sweat on a thrilling eight-circuit zipline above the forest canopy, then cool off with a dip in Hoyo Azul cenote. On land, follow jungle trails over elevated bridge walkaways to appreciate the local flora. Scape Park also offers a “Sunshine Cruise,” a catamaran tour which includes snorkeling on Bucaneros reef and lounging waist-high on a sand bar.
Charter a yacht and sail into the sunset
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
The ultimate honeymoon experience has got to be cruising around the Caribbean Sea living your best life—just ask Justin and Hailey Bieber. Sure, it doesn’t exactly come cheap, but various operators offer a range of inclusions and prices. One particular company, Yacht Charters Punta Cana, offers everything from 42-foot cruisers to catamarans to motor yachts.
Visit a cigar factory
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Rooted in the Dominican Republic’s fertile soil, tobacco plants stretch skyward, cheered on by the warm equatorial sun. Travellers who want to learn more about cigar making should join a tour with Outback Adventures that includes a stop-off at Tabacalera De Garcia Cigar Factory, the largest handmade cigar factory in the world. Appreciate every step of the process from cultivating and aging tobacco to the art of rolling a cigar. The experience is made complete while sampling one in a cigar lounge, perhaps complemented by a few sips of island-distilled rum.
Go caving
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
If you’re seeking a hiking-boots-and-helmet type adventure, consider visiting Cotubanamá National Park to explore a handful of its 400 sprawling caves. One of the most accessible is Cueva del Puente. A half-hour hike leads to this cave's entrance which obscures a three-level inner chamber decorated with stalactites and stalagmites.
Alternatively, an equally splendid subterranean excursion is Cueva de Las Maravillas. You won't need any special gear for this well marked and maintained excursion: walkways and lighting reveal pictographs, petroglyphs and other glimpses of Taino history. Above ground, lose—and then reunite with—your beloved in Laberinto, a British-style ornamental maze that measures a whopping 1,632 metres in length.
Sightseeing in Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
Visiting Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic’s capital city, can be done with a tour or on your own. La Zona Colonial is where travellers will find pretty historic buildings and a cultural hub rich in art, social justice initiatives and bars. Calle Las Damas is one of the oldest streets in the Western hemisphere with cobblestones and 16th-century buildings which have been converted into charming shops and boutique hotels. Casa Quién Art Gallery is a favourite for appreciating the worldviews of local artists, as well as Centro Cultural Español. This Spanish culture centre was made possible by the Spanish embassy, and it connects the island to exhibits and music.
Go whale watching
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From mid-December through late March, the Bay of Samaná—a designated Marine Mammal Sanctuary—attracts 3,000 to 5,000 migrating humpback whales. In these warmer waters the majestic animals birth and nurture their newborn calves. To observe them from a safe distance and perhaps even “tune in” to hear the whales’ haunting songs, head northeast of Punta Cana to reach the Samaná Peninsula.
No matter which half or full-day experiences travellers choose, be sure to savour the culture and support local business along the way. Bite into fresh mangoes and coconut, imbibe every moment and laugh so hard that you cry. That way, you’ll surely get to know your partner and the Dominican Republic in ways you’ve never seen before.
When you go
- Good news: flights from Toronto to Punta Cana are resuming.
- The people working in Dominican Republic’s tourism industry are fully vaccinated with two doses; a campaign for a third dose is underway.
- E-Ticket requirement: All foreign passengers entering or leaving Dominican Republic on commercial flights must complete the free electronic entry and exit form which combines the Traveler’s Health Affidavit, Customs Declaration and International Embarkation/Disembarkation forms. The form is available in English and French, and can be accessed here: https://eticket.migracion.gob.do.
- Travellers arriving from Canada do not need to take a COVID-19 test on arrival in the Dominican Republic; temperature checks will be performed upon arrival.
- Most hotels and resorts in Dominican Republic can arrange for the PCR test that’s necessary for the return entry to Canada. Check with your hotel or travel agent prior to travel for the latest information.
- Check here for current COVID-19 requirements for travel to Dominican Republic. Note that requirements can change without notice.
This article is a paid partnership with GoDominicanRepublic. All opinions belong to the writer.
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