Season guide · Punta Cana · Dominican Republic
Punta Cana in the high season
December–April: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Sunny, breezy and drier, with the highest prices and fullest resorts around Christmas, February and Easter. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 37 rainy days across December–April. December–April are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–April
- Temperatures
- 21°C (70°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 37
- Sea
- 26°C (79°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in the high season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28°C (82°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 8 | 11.1 h | 5/5 |
| February | 28°C (82°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 6 | 11.5 h | 5/5 |
| March | 29°C (84°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 6 | 12 h | 5/5 |
| April | 29°C (84°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 7 | 12.5 h | 4/5 |
| December | 29°C (84°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 | 11 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 29°C (84°F) against a yearly 30°C (86°F), and 37 of the year's roughly 114 rainy days fall in these 5 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in the high season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Día de la Altagracia pilgrimage to the Higüey basilica (21 January)
- February: Carnival parades on Sundays across the country, peaking around Independence Day (27 February)
- March: Semana Santa — Easter week, when Dominican families flock to the beaches (March or April)
- December: Christmas and New Year celebrations at resorts and in local towns
Make the most of the weather
Beach · Bávaro
Bávaro Beach
The coast's signature beach runs for kilometres in front of the main resort strip, with soft white sand, coconut palms and mostly calm, turquoise water protected by an offshore reef.
- Time needed
- Half a day or more
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Beach · Macao
Macao Beach
Swim only where locals are swimming and the waves are gentle; currents can be strong.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Food
- Active
- Photo spot
Beach · Cap Cana
Juanillo Beach
A gently curving beach of fine white sand and leaning palms in Cap Cana, with calm water and far fewer people than Bávaro.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Cap Cana
Hoyo Azul at Scape Park
Go in the morning before tour groups arrive; the pool is small and gets crowded.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Kids
- Active
- Photo spot
Nature · Punta Cana Resort area
Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve
A protected patch of tropical forest near the Punta Cana resort area with a trail past a dozen freshwater lagoons fed by underground springs, some of which you can swim in.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in the high season
- Saona Island (About 1.5 hours by road, then 30–60 minutes by boat) — Part of the Parque Nacional del Este, Saona has long palm-fringed beaches and shallow natural pools with starfish on the way back.
- Altos de Chavón and La Romana (About 1 hour by car) — 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the high season a good time to visit Punta Cana?
Yes: December–April are among the best months. Sunny, breezy and drier, with the highest prices and fullest resorts around Christmas, February and Easter.
+What is the weather like in Punta Cana in the high season?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 37 rainy days over the season.