At the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, one palm-fringed beach follows another. Fine, pale sand, a sea at almost 28 °C and large resorts with everything you need for two weeks. Punta Cana is the name of the town by the airport, but it has long stood for the whole coast. If you want to get to know the country, you will also find islands, whales and a colonial old town here.
The beaches at a glance
| Beach | Location | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Bávaro | Middle of the coast | Long walks, many hotels and restaurants |
| Cabeza de Toro | South of Bávaro | Calm water, smaller resorts |
| Cap Cana and Juanillo | South | Well kept and quiet, golf courses |
| Macao | North of Bávaro | Surfing waves, hardly built up |
| Uvero Alto | North | Remote and quiet, often rougher sea |
The best-known stretch is Bávaro. Many large hotels lie right on the beach here, with shops and restaurants behind them. In places a reef offshore holds back the waves, and the water there is calm and clear. If you like going out in the evening, this is the place to stay.
In the south around Cap Cana it is quieter and more upmarket. Further north in Uvero Alto you are far from everything, and the surf is stronger. For families with small children, stretches protected by a reef are the better choice.
All inclusive is the norm here
Most resorts on the east coast offer all inclusive. That is partly because the hotels are often far apart and there is little nearby. If you want to eat out in the evening, take a taxi. When choosing, compare how many restaurants belong to the resort and whether the à la carte restaurants need a reservation.
A trip to Isla Saona
The most popular trip goes to Isla Saona in the Del Este National Park. By catamaran or speedboat you go to an island with almost untouched beaches. On the way back many boats stop at a sandbar in the middle of the sea, where the water is only waist-deep. Large starfish live there. Please leave them in the water, as touching them harms them.
The trip takes a whole day. It is popular. Smaller groups cost more, but they are much more pleasant than the often crowded big boats.
Santo Domingo: the oldest city in the New World
The capital, Santo Domingo, is about two and a half to three hours away by car. Its old town, the Zona Colonial, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here stand the first cathedral in the Americas and palaces from the 16th century. The drive is long. It is worth it if you want to see more than the beach.
Whales in Samaná Bay
From mid-January to mid-March, humpback whales come to Samaná Bay in the northeast to give birth to their young. On boat tours you often see the animals jumping at close range. A day trip from Punta Cana is possible. One or two nights there is more comfortable.
When is the best time to go?
It is warm all year, usually 28 to 31 °C during the day. December to April is the dry high season with lots of sunshine and pleasant evenings. From May it gets more humid, and rain usually falls as a short, heavy shower in the afternoon.
From June to November is hurricane season. Most storms come from August to October, and in many years the coast is spared entirely. In return, trips at this time are often much cheaper. Good cancellation insurance makes particular sense then.
Good to know
The flight from Frankfurt takes about ten hours without a change. The clocks go back five hours in winter and six in summer. To enter you need a passport and a free online form that you fill in before travelling. You pay in pesos, and US dollars are accepted in many places. Do not drink the tap water. Even for brushing your teeth, bottled water is better.
flug-123.de editorial team, updated 10 November 2026. We review our guides regularly. Rules can change. If in doubt, the details in your booking apply.
