Outdoors · Punta Cana · Dominican Republic
8 best outdoor things to do in Punta Cana
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Bávaro Beach, Macao Beach and Juanillo Beach. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 22–30 hours across 6 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 22–30 hours
- Areas
- Bávaro, Macao and Cap Cana
Outdoors in Punta Cana
Beach · Bávaro
1.Bávaro Beach
Walk north to El Cortecito in the morning to see the fishing boats and find beach bars outside the resorts.
- Time needed
- Half a day or more
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Beach · Macao
2.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
3.Juanillo Beach
Ask your taxi to drop you at the public beach access and arrange your return pick-up in advance.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Cap Cana
4.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
5.Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve
Bring insect repellent and swimwear; the lagoons are cool and clear.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Bávaro
6.Catamaran and snorkelling trip
Choose a smaller boat for more snorkelling time and less of a party atmosphere.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Couples
- Active
- Outdoors
Beach · Cabeza de Toro
7.Cabeza de Toro beach
Bring water shoes; the sea floor near the reef has patches of rock and coral.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Beach · Uvero Alto
8.Uvero Alto beach
Check flags before swimming and walk early in the morning for an empty beach.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Bávaro | Bávaro Beach and Catamaran and snorkelling trip | Half a day or more + 3–4 hours |
| Macao | Macao Beach | Half a day |
| Cap Cana | Juanillo Beach and Hoyo Azul at Scape Park | Half a day + 2–4 hours |
| Punta Cana Resort area | Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve | 2 hours |
| Cabeza de Toro | Cabeza de Toro beach | Half a day |
| Uvero Alto | Uvero Alto beach | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 5 free, 1 mid-priced, 2 expensive. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Bávaro Beach; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 8 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Bávaro): Bávaro Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Bávaro): Catamaran and snorkelling trip, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Macao): Macao Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Cap Cana): Juanillo Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Cap Cana): Hoyo Azul at Scape Park, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Punta Cana Resort area): Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 7 (Cabeza de Toro): Cabeza de Toro beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 8 (Uvero Alto): Uvero Alto beach, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- February: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 6 rainy days, very busy crowds. Dry, sunny and one of the most popular months; whale-watching season on the Samaná peninsula.
- March: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 6 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warm and dry with spring-break crowds and high prices.
- April: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 7 rainy days, busy crowds. Still mostly dry and sunny; prices begin to fall after Easter.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Bávaro — The main resort strip, with big all-inclusives along a long white-sand beach
- Los Corales and El Cortecito — Walkable beach village of small hotels, condos and local restaurants
- Cabeza de Toro — Quieter beach cove of mid-size resorts between Bávaro and Punta Cana
- Punta Cana Resort area — Low-rise resorts, golf and the ecological reserve near the airport
- Cap Cana — Gated luxury development with a marina, golf and Juanillo Beach
- Uvero Alto — Remote northern strip of large resorts on wilder Atlantic beaches
- Macao — Undeveloped public beach with surf schools and fried-fish shacks
More of Punta Cana
All things to do in Punta Cana · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Punta Cana?
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.
+Which of these are free in Punta Cana?
Bávaro Beach, Macao Beach, Juanillo Beach, Cabeza de Toro beach and Uvero Alto beach.