6 best day trips from Punta Cana

Day trips compared

The day trips

85 km · About 1.5 hours by road, then 30–60 minutes by boat

1.Saona Island

Part of the Parque Nacional del Este, Saona has long palm-fringed beaches and shallow natural pools with starfish on the way back. Most tours combine a catamaran sail, beach time and a buffet lunch on the island.

Getting there

Organised tour via Bayahíbe by catamaran and speedboat

Best for

First-timers, Families, Couples, Beach

75 km · About 1 hour by car

2.Altos de Chavón and La Romana

A replica 16th-century Mediterranean village built in the 1970s on a cliff above the Chavón River, with a stone church, an archaeological museum, artisan shops and a large amphitheatre.

Getting there

Car or organised tour

Best for

Couples, Culture

190 km · About 2 hours 30 minutes by car

3.Santo Domingo Colonial City

The Ciudad Colonial is the oldest European-founded city in the Americas, with the first cathedral, the Alcázar de Colón and Calle Las Damas, all a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Getting there

Organised tour or private driver

Best for

Culture, First-timers

90 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by road plus a short boat ride

4.Catalina Island

A small protected island off La Romana known for clear water and coral walls good for snorkelling and diving, with a quieter beach than Saona.

Getting there

Organised tour via La Romana

Best for

Couples, Beach

150 km · About 2 hours 30 minutes by road and boat

5.Los Haitises National Park

Karst islets, mangroves and caves with Taíno rock art on Samaná Bay, explored by boat. Frigatebirds and pelicans nest on the rock towers.

Getting there

Organised tour via Sabana de la Mar or Miches

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

75 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car

6.Montaña Redonda and Miches

A hilltop viewpoint between the Laguna Redonda and the sea, with giant swings and panoramic views; the coast road continues to Miches, a quieter fishing town with long beaches.

Getting there

Car or organised tour

Best for

Couples, Quiet stays

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Guaguas and local buses run along the Bávaro–Verón road and towards Higüey, stopping when flagged down.
• For trips over about 225 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask