Nightlife · Punta Cana · Dominican Republic
Punta Cana nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Punta Cana, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Most nightlife happens inside the resorts, with theatre shows, discos and bars. Outside, Bávaro has a show nightclub, beach bars in Los Corales and a few late-night clubs. The main areas are Bávaro, Los Corales and El Cortecito and Resort entertainment.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Stay near the action
- Bávaro
- Local drink
- Mamajuana
Where to go out
Bávaro
Coco Bongo's show club and a few nightclubs near the shopping plazas.
Los Corales and El Cortecito
Beach bars and lounges with sunset drinks and live music.
Resort entertainment
Nightly shows, theme parties and discos inside the all-inclusives.
Nightlife tips
- Use resort taxis or pre-arranged rides for nights out; streets between areas are not walkable.
- Agree taxi fares before getting in at night.
- Watch your drink and belongings in crowded clubs.
Evening sights
Experience · Bávaro
Coco Bongo Punta Cana
Front-row and VIP tickets cost much more; general entry still gives a good view of the stage.
- Time needed
- 4–5 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- After dark
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Los Corales and El Cortecito
Los Corales and El Cortecito
Come for a sunset drink and seafood dinner, then walk back along the beach.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
- Couples
What to drink
- Mamajuana — Rum, red wine and honey steeped in a bottle of tree bark and herbs; a potent Dominican infusion sold everywhere in decorative bottles.
- Morir soñando — 'To die dreaming' is a creamy drink of orange juice and evaporated milk poured over ice, a sweet Dominican favourite.
- Presidente beer — The Dominican Republic's best-known lager, served very cold in large bottles to share, often in frosted glasses.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. June has the warmest evenings, with lows around 24°C (75°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 18:17 | 21°C (70°F) | 8 |
| April | About 18:50 | 22°C (72°F) | 7 |
| July | About 19:14 | 24°C (75°F) | 10 |
| October | About 18:11 | 23°C (73°F) | 13 |
Getting home late
- Taxi — Ask your hotel's front desk for the posted fare to your destination.
- Bus — Guaguas and local buses run along the Bávaro–Verón road and towards Higüey, stopping when flagged down.
- Walking — You can walk long stretches of beach between resorts, but walking along the roads is not practical.
Late-night bites
- Chicharrón — Roadside chicharronerías on the way to Higüey and in local towns.
- Tostones — Every Dominican restaurant and beach shack.
- Empanadas and pastelitos — Street carts in Friusa and Verón and colmados across the area.
Staying safe at night
Resort areas are generally calm, but petty theft from beaches and rooms happens, so use safes and watch belongings. Respect red flags on Atlantic beaches with strong currents, and agree taxi fares in advance.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, ambulance, fire)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, nightlife and beach
Bávaro
Bávaro is the largest and busiest part of the Punta Cana coast, where dozens of all-inclusive resorts line a continuous beach facing reef-sheltered water. Shopping plazas, restaurants and nightclubs sit along the road behind the hotels, and walking the beach links one resort to the next.
- Good
- Widest choice of resorts; Long walkable beach; Restaurants and nightlife outside the resorts
- Watch out
- Busy beaches in front of big hotels; Vendors on the sand; Sargassum seaweed in some months
- Nearby
- Bávaro Beach, Los Corales, El Cortecito, Palma Real Shopping Village
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Punta Cana?
Bávaro, Los Corales and El Cortecito and Resort entertainment. Coco Bongo's show club and a few nightclubs near the shopping plazas.
+Which area of Punta Cana is best for nightlife?
Bávaro: The main resort strip, with big all-inclusives along a long white-sand beach.