Dominican Republic: Punta Cana or Puerto Plata?

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Ron H

I've been to puerto plata and it's pretty good, but I've heard that punta cana is MUCH better and cheaper!!

travel guy

Most visitors to DR visit Punta Cana on the Eastern tip of the island, although there are several other tourist locations; Puerto Plata on the North shore (much smaller than Punta Cana), La Romana, (much more expensive than Punta Cana), Juan Dolio, and Santa Domingo on the South. There are also several in-land destinations.

Punta Cana does not have many off-resort activities or places of interest - its kind of a laid-back, chill-out and enjoy your resort vacation. All hotels have tour desks for the dozen or so tours that are available.

Most of the tours from the beach resorts happen in or on the water; the array of water sports options offered right on the beach is amazing: catamaran boat rides, double-decker party boats, restaurant dining at sunset on the sea, parasailing, glass bottom boats for marine life observation, sports fishing, diving, snorkeling, flying boats, speed boats. The boat taxis can take you from one hotel to another via the beach. There is also banana boating, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing and beach volleyball.

But here are other activities to consider:
Safari-type excursions on four-wheel bikes, buggy rides, jeep safaris, monster trucks or helicopter rides for a privileged view. A dozen of companies offer these adventure tours that take the tourists to observe tropical wilderness, visit a countryside home where typical Dominican food lunch will be served, examine tropical crops, take a dip at a deserted beach or for a swim in a cool river.

Horseback riding is also popular in Punta Cana with the option of riding on deserted white-sand beaches, making for great photography.

Marinarium. This marine park on the sea offers snorkeling with sharks and rays.

Dolphin Island. Short boat ride takes you to the artificial island created where tourists can have a swim with trained dolphins right in the sea. The package includes a 15-minute free time with the dolphins, where these will choose their new friends.

Manati Park Bavaro. 130,000 square meter preserve with permanent exhibits of birds, reptiles, and fish. A show with parrots, dolphins and dancing horses is included in the admission fee. Free shuttle bus to and from principal hotels in the area.

Punta Cana Ecological Reserve. Short guided tour through tropical flora with an optional refreshing bath in a cool spring at the end. You will be walking through a real jungle. Located 15 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport.

Rancho Jonathan has caving excursions to Boca de Diablo, a large cave system south of Los Haitises.

Half an hour to 45 minutes away:
La Otra Banda
If you take the Saona, Catalina, Altos de ChavÃ³n, Higuey or Santo Domingo excursions, on your way west ask your guide to point out the small town of La Otra Banda, with its pretty little houses, right out of a Caribbean architecture book and perfect for picture-taking.

I've been to several hotels in Punt Cana and have visited others. The Iberostar Bavaro Beach is a great resort - lots to do all day and night, plus the rooms are ALL Jr. suites and the food is great.

Was at the new RIU Punta Cana Palace in May - WOW. Drop dead gorgeous and what a beach! Actually, all the RIU resorts in Punta Cana line-up one right after the other on this beautiful stretch of beach, covered with palm trees. The RIU right next to us was the RIU Palace Macau, also a beautiful resort. Next to the Macau was the RIU Bambu, then the RIU Tiano, both a little down-scale from the "RIU Palace" resorts, but really nice places. I found the staff to be great at all of them, as I walked down the beach and sampled the food and beverages at them all.

Punta Cana has year round beach weather - with the high season from mid December to mid April. The rainy/hurricane season is mid August to mid October, so take that into account when planning your vacation.

Go on line to www.applevacations.com and check-out everything. They have full details and pictures of all the hotels, and you can design your own package and switch the hotels in and out until you have exactly what you're looking for. Then it allows you to send what you've created over to a local travel agent to take care of everything for you at no additional cost!

I hope this info is helpful. Have fun

Armani C

I def recommend Puerta Plata- it was one of the most fun vacations I took. You should stay in cabarete. It is not too commercialized, but there is a good combo of modern and past elements.

yaritza

Hi Cari:

Talking about sands, I preffer Punta Cana, because are white and at Puerto Plata (Playa Dorada) are gold.

Excursions at Punta Cana are best, you can decide go to Saona Island, a Horse back riding, four wheels excursion in front of the beach, catamaran, golf, swiming with dolphins, we have bowling, great discotheques, like MangÃº, Areito, PachÃ¡, etc.

At Puerto Plata, you can also swim with dolphins, and there you will find a great night life, with discotheques like MangÃº, and others in the Cabarete area.

I was working at Bavaro, Punta Cana, for a spanish chain, most of the investors are spanish.

I hope you enjoy your trip to DR.

Yaritza
Santo Domingo

jstj1234

I say Punta Cana.

dirkmonsieur

I live in the DR now for 6 years and there is no answer to this, both places are good but different.
+ for Puerto Plata : if has a town centre and it is easier if you want to go out of your resort . The nature is beatifull with some small mountains
- it is an older tourist location with older resorts
+ for Bavaro-Punta Cana : the nicest beaches from the island and from most other islands, new resorts so most rooms are new.
- there is no town centre and roads are very bad, best way to come out is with excursions.
both places have friendly local people and crime exists but is under control, new law forbids selling of alcohol after 12pm outside the resorts, this has really lowered the night crime.
you can always ask me more info if you want,see my website www.supertobo.com

krystal c

Puerta Plata, punta cana is more of a "spring break" type of cancun place.

green eyes

both places look beautiful! i've never been there but would like to some day.
I think Punta Cana is more advertised..
i am sure either one you go to, you will love!

have fun!

dawn

We didn't know where to go in the DR. Our TA said that you get a higher end resort for the same money in Puerto Plata than in Punta Cana (she has been to both) and said both places are amazing - so its off to Puerto Plata for us.

Sanmigsean

You were right the first time - it's Puerto Plata, and this is the better place. The best thing is to stay as far away from the "All Inclusives" as you can. They serve very cheap booze, discourage you to explore the country on your own (because they sell tours themselves ...), and are absolutely ruining the local economy.

Your best bet is to just fly to POP, and take a cab to a town called Sosua or the one after called Cabarete. You can find resonable nice rooms in both places, as well as good restaurants, bars, etc. Better yet, spend a few days in each place.

Sosua has the best beach, Cabarete has a better nightlife and is good for wind/kite surfing. Cabarete is a bit priceier.

morris

Punta Cana is a resort area built just for tourist. There is no "Punta Cana" Dominican town. It is a ritzy resort area made only for foriegn visitors. Evem the airport was built by hotel developers. What I am trying to tell you is that in Punta Cana you will not see the "real" Dominican Republic. Puerto Plata on the other hand is a large Dominican city. Complete with locals and a vast city of real Dominican culture. Large areas of Puerto Plata are shantytown type neigborhoods. There are nice all inclusive hotels in Puerto Plata area also. The beaches are not as nice as the white sands of Punta Cana. The jeep safari is available in both areas, and I highly recommend it.

mstrywmn

You were right the first time, it is Puerto Plata (as in it being a port not a door).

wafflehouse

punta cana

julie

One of my friend just went to D.R. last week. It is not a safe place to go anymore because of the new laws regarding prostitution that has been abolished... And Haiti is one the same island. More violence there right now. Maybe you should wait a few months...

DminiknBonita

I'm Dominican so this may sound very biased but definitely DOMINICAN REPUBLIC! No lie! I'm been to Puerto Rico twice and all over the island and no... It's got nothing on the Dominican Republic. Believe me!

shoe s

puerta plata is a dump

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