Comparison · Barbados vs Punta Cana · Barbados / Dominican Republic
Barbados vs Punta Cana
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The original uploader was ROxBo at English Wikipedia ., Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Barbados for Rum and Oistins Fish Fry; choose Punta Cana for All-inclusive resorts and Bávaro Beach. Punta Cana is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,117 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,117 km
- Less expensive
- Punta Cana
- Best time for Barbados
- December–April
- Best time for Punta Cana
- December–April
Side by side
| Barbados | Punta Cana | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Barbados | Dominican Republic |
| Known for | Rum, Oistins Fish Fry and Crop Over festival | All-inclusive resorts, Bávaro Beach and Saona Island |
| Best time to visit | December–April | December–April |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $220–$380 | $180–$350 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | May, 31°C (88°F) | June, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 29°C (84°F) | January, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 6 |
| Beaches | Carlisle Bay | Bávaro Beach |
| Airports | BGI | PUJ, LRM, SDQ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Barbados for…
Rum and Oistins Fish Fry. Barbados is a coral island about 34 km long, the most easterly in the Caribbean chain. Its calm, turquoise west coast — the 'Platinum Coast' around Holetown and Speightstown — has the upscale hotels and villas, while the livelier south coast around St…
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Choose Punta Cana for…
All-inclusive resorts and Bávaro Beach. Punta Cana is the name used for the resort coast at the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, in La Altagracia province, where about 50 km of white-sand beaches face the Atlantic and Caribbean. Most visitors stay in all-inclusive resorts strung along…
Top sights compared
| # | Barbados | Punta Cana |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison | Bávaro Beach |
| 2 | Carlisle Bay | Macao Beach |
| 3 | Harrison's Cave | Juanillo Beach |
| 4 | Oistins Fish Fry | Hoyo Azul at Scape Park |
| 5 | Bathsheba and the Soup Bowl | Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve |
Food compared
| Barbados | Punta Cana |
|---|---|
| Flying fish and cou-cou | La bandera dominicana |
| Macaroni pie | Sancocho |
| Fish cakes and bakes | Mangú with los tres golpes |
| Cutters | Pescado frito |
Which is cheaper?
Punta Cana is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $180–$350 per person there, against $220–$380 in Barbados (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Punta Cana on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,117 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 15 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Barbados or Punta Cana cheaper?
Punta Cana is usually less expensive: about $180–$350 a day mid-range against $220–$380 (estimates).
+Is Barbados or Punta Cana better for a first trip?
Pick Barbados for Rum and Oistins Fish Fry, or Punta Cana for All-inclusive resorts and Bávaro Beach.
+How far is Barbados from Punta Cana?
About 1,117 km in a straight line.