Resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Blessed with one of the Caribbean region’s longest white sand coastlines–a whopping 48 kilometers (30 miles), punctuated with sky-reaching coconut palms–Punta Cana is the land of rest and relaxation by the sea. Here, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean, from the northern tip at Uvero Alto to the southern at Cap Cana, all-inclusive resorts and boutique hideaways offer all the whims and comforts of modern beachfront living. Families enjoy miniature entertainment centers and water parks for children, while couples-only enclaves boast dream wedding locations, with secluded beachside lodging for an ultra-romantic stay. But it’s not only about fun in the sun, soft sand brushing against your toes, and iridescent, clear water to swim in, go fishing, or dive for underwater life and shipwrecks. Punta Cana is also a golfer’s destination, with 10 courses located all along the strip, a seaside escape with luxurious marinas and fine dining, and a wellness corner home to the country’s top spas, including the only Six Senses in the Caribbean. The name Punta Cana in Spanish means 'tips of white palms'. And Punta Cana, situated on the Caribbean island of Dominican Republic, rightly proves so. It is the most sought after tourist destination of the Caribbean and known for its beautiful and pristine beaches. The beaches are lined with an alley of dense palm trees. For this reason Punta Cana and Bavaro are nicknamed La Costa del Coco, or the Coconut Coast. Punta Cana features a tropical wet and dry climate under the Köppen climate classification. The weather is fairly consistent all year, with an average temperature of 26°C (79°F). The hot and humid season lasts from May to October, and during the day temperatures might reach 35 °C (95 °F). From November to March, temperatures during the evening are around 20°C (68°F). Very little rain falls around the area, primarily because of the mostly flat landscape, a combination of savanna and mountains. 10 Punta Cana Fun Facts The Punta Cana we know today is only about 45 years old One of the lesser known Punta Cana facts is that the area was only developed around 45 years ago. In 1969, what is now Punta Cana was just 30 square miles of undeveloped, impenetrable brush that stretched for five miles along the easternmost coast of the Dominican Republic. It was in this year that investor Frank Rainieri, Ted Kheel and 40 other investors bought this land and constructed the first resort, the Punta Cana Club. It was once called Drunkerd’s Point The name Punta Cana was a commercial brand name for the group of investors, chosen for the fan-shaped Cana palm leafs that flourish in the area. The group has now changed their name to the one word title Puntacana due to the popularity and use of Punta Cana as a generic brand. So the name Punta Cana was a brand name, which completely took off and has been wildly successful. This is probably one of the most interesting Punta Cana facts, don’t you think? One of the top vacation destinations The Dominican Republic’s number one source of income is tourism, and Punta Cana is the country’s most important tourism region. Since the 1970 Punta Cana has been a popular tourist destination, and its popularity continues to grow at a dizzying pace.Punta Cana tourism brings in more than a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product. This Punta Cana fact has been supported by Trip Advisor, who rated Punta Cana the #1 vacation spot, and by the Euro monitor International’s 100 most visited places in the world, as Punta Cana holds spot number 65. Punta Cana isn’t where you think it is This is one of the Punta Cana facts that really catches people by surprise. The area you’ve been calling Punta Cana is probably not Punta Cana. The name Punta Cana has popularly been used to describe what is actually several different areas. The towns of Cap Cana, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro, El Cortecito, Arena Gorda, Macao, and Uvero Alto are often all bundled into the name Punta Cana. So Punta Cana is the name of just one part of this area, although it is widely used to describe everything. Punta Cana has 10 Beaches There are also 10 different beaches in “Punta Cana” as well, all of them are beautiful and some of them ranked the world’s best by the European Blue Flag Organization and UNESCO. If you are staying at an all-inclusive resort, there are many ways you can get out and see some of the other beaches, on horseback, jeep, or on dune buggies. The Punta Cana Airport is the only privately owned international airport in the Western Hemisphere The Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), was constructed by the Puntacana group in 1984 to accommodate the growing number of tourist who wanted to visit. It is the world’s first and most successful, privately built, owned, and managed international airport. Of all the tourist that come to the Dominican Republic, 60% of them come through the Punta Cana International Airport to get their vacation started. According to the Euromonitor International, the Punta Cana Airport receives more visitors through the airport than Washington, the French city of Nice, Vancouver, Frankfurt, Egypt, Indonesia and Honolulu. A new modern second terminal of the airport was opened in November of 2014, and is going to help bring in millions more visitors to the Dominican Republic. Home of the Patron Saint The Patron Saint of the Dominican Republic and Punta Cana share the same province. Punta Cana is located in the province of La Altagracia, the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic’s 31 provinces. La Altagracia is also the home of the 500 year old city of Higuey, the capital of the province. It is here where the Catholic Basilica honoring the Dominican Republic patron saint, Our Lady of Altagracia. The Basilica is an imposing sight, made completely of poured concrete, and every year on January 21st, tens of thousands of pilgrims come to pay their respects at the cathedral. Home to Oscar de La Renta and Julio Iglesias In addition to Saints, the late Oscar de la Renta and Julio Iglesias both have homes in Punta Cana and are partners with the Grupo Punta Cana – the guys who got it all started. Oscar de La Renta is famous for designing beautiful wedding dresses and dressing first ladies, but he also designed the Tortuga Bay Boutique Hotel in Punta Cana. Mega music star Julio Iglesias has a home close to Club Med and frequently holds concerts in Punta Cana. It’s a Golfer’s Paradise Punta Cana has become one of the premier golf destinations in the Caribbean, voted for two consecutive years in a row as the “Best Golf Destination of the Caribbean and Latin America” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. Many of the golf courses have been designed by some of the world’s best golf course architects. Designers include Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, PB Dye, Gary Player, and Tom Fazio. Punta Cana has more than a dozen pro-level golf courses, and it has played host to the PGA Champions Tour on three different occasions. It’s all included About 90% of the hotels in the Punta Cana area are all-inclusive resorts. These all-inclusive packages mean that you not only pay for lodging up front, but also food, drinks, alcoholic beverages, and some entertainment. Studies have shown that you are much more likely to enjoy your vacation when you don’t have to constantly pull out your wallet.All-inclusive deals make vacation planning really easy because it’s a one stop shop. While there are many resort areas in the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is considered the premiere destination for all travelers -whether they be a couple, a family, a group, or solitary. Punta Cana streamlines this process by offering a wide variety of all-inclusive vacation packages, allowing many North Americans to escape the harsh winters of their native lands with ease. The perks of Punta Cana include: