Sightseeing in Punta Cana - what to see. Complete travel guide

In the Province of La Altagracia, which is a part of the Dominican Republic, tourists can visit a beautiful island resort – Punta Cana. When looking at local views, it feels like the picture is too good to be true. Punta Cana is a paradise-like place that looks like the land of dreams. The resort has a long coastline with numerous hotels built along it. The town is very popular with foreign tourists. The nearby national parks, evergreen mangrove forests, numerous species of reptiles and tropical birds, and the diverse underwater world that is like a magnet for everyone interested in the sea depths – all these make the magnificent resort even more attractive and unforgettable.

The history of the resort started in 1969. Before that time, the territory of La Altagracia Province was mostly covered with impenetrable jungles without any roads and even paths. There were only several houses of local fishermen comfortably nestled along the coast. When American investors saw this area, they were deeply impressed by white sands and clean water. The investors decided to buy this land. Several years later, Frank Ranieri joined them. He had his own plans regarding the infrastructure of the acquired territory. He offered to build a world-class resort in the area and call it Punta Cana.

In 1971, the first hotel building appeared on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. This hotel had only ten simple rooms and could accommodate up to forty people. One more hotel opened here eight years later, but this time the hotel had almost eight times more rooms. Despite the slowly appearing tourist infrastructure, it was very hard to reach Punta Cana because the nearest settlement was roughly six hours away. When the road to Punta Cana was finally finished, it became significantly faster to reach the resort. The first airstrip appeared here in 1982. Bavaro is the main tourist beach in Punta Cana. This beach is free to enter, and so it is usually quite crowded. Naturally, the coastal area can be bustling, especially on weekends and during the tourist season. Bavaro Beach got its name after a small settlement that is located nearby. This beach has an attraction point – a long coral reef that prevents cold water currents from mixing with the coastal water. Moreover, this naturally formed barrier protects the beach from high waves and dangerous sea creatures. These are very important factors for families, so tourists with small children enjoy visiting this beach. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Bavaro Beach is a sand area that is comfortable for swimming and sunbathing. The coastal water is shallow near the beach, and the depth increases slowly, so this beach is great for families. You can relax with your loved ones and do not worry about your child. Tall palm trees on the beach provide the necessary shadow – it is very pleasant to hide behind them in the midst of a hot day. Despite the high temperature that is typical for the resort, the sand on Bavaro Beach is always cool because it has a coral origin. The three-kilometer-long Bavaro has beach gear rental offices with equipment for different water sports and entertainment. As the coastal water is transparent and clear, many tourists want to try snorkeling and scuba diving.

Would you like to see real dolphins? During your vacation in Punta Cana, tourists are welcome to take a mesmerizing ride to the island of these cute animals. Dolphin Island Park is a floating platform that is installed at a distance from the resort area. Visitors can reach the platform on a special excursion motorboat that regularly takes passengers to the most interesting and spectacular sights of Punta Cana. The territory of the island is conventionally divided into five swimming pools, each of which is home to dolphins. Visitors can swim with these cute aquatic mammals. The swimming sessions are twenty-five minutes long.

This island differs from ordinary dolphinariums. Dolphins here are trained to be friendly and allow people to pet them. The most courageous visitors can even try to perform easy tricks with the animals. Besides cute dolphins, visitors can play with sea lions and seals. Are you short on the adrenaline in your blood? In this case, consider swimming with sharks and stingrays. After a pleasant pastime together with aquatic animals, it is incredibly pleasant to lie in a hammock sipping a cold beverage. When heading to Dolphin Island Park, tourists should keep in mind that taking photographs is allowed only for an extra fee.

To get to Punta Cana, tourists from many countries of the world need to take a connecting flight with a stop in a large European city, for example, London or Berlin. The total journey time is roughly 24 hours. For travelers from Eastern Europe, a connecting flight with a stop in Paris is the most comfortable option. The flight length is approximately fifteen hours in this case. To get to the hotel or accommodation in Punta Cana from the airport, tourists can always call a taxi or get on a local bus.