Before you come

The Punta Cana travel guide

What the weather actually does, how much to budget, how to get around, and which excursion suits which kind of trip. Written by people who live here.

When to come

Punta Cana is warm all year — daytime sits between 28 and 31 °C whatever month you land. The difference is rain and crowds. December to April is dry and busy, and prices follow. May, June, October and November bring short afternoon showers that pass in an hour, with the beaches far emptier. Hurricane season runs June to November, with August and September the months to watch.

Humpback whales are in Samaná Bay from 15 January to 30 March. That window is fixed and enforced, so if whales are the reason for your trip, the dates choose themselves.

Getting here and getting around

Punta Cana International (PUJ) is the airport, around 20 minutes from Bávaro and 15 from Cap Cana. Taxis at the airport work on fixed zone rates rather than a meter, and they are considerably more expensive than a transfer booked in advance.

Once you are here, most people move between hotel, beach and excursion pickup points. Public guaguas run along the main road and cost very little; they are slow and crowded, and most visitors use them once for the experience.

Money

The currency is the Dominican peso, but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere a tourist goes. Excursions, transfers and tips are usually quoted in dollars. Carry small notes — change for a hundred is a common problem at beach bars and roadside stops.

Tipping: 10% is already added to most restaurant bills; anything extra is for the person, not the house.
Guides and drivers: five to ten dollars per person on a day excursion is normal and genuinely appreciated.
Cards work in hotels and bigger restaurants. Beaches, markets and small colmados are cash.

Which excursion suits your trip

First time here

Saona Island

The postcard beach, a full day, easy on everyone
Catamaran out, speedboat back
Works for couples, families and groups alike

Travelling with teenagers

Buggies and ATV

Mud, river crossings and Macao beach
Three and a half hours, back for lunch
Drivers need a licence; passengers do not

One big night

Coco Bongo

Twenty-seven acts, acrobats and tributes
Round-trip transport included
Closed Mondays

Something quieter

Deep-sea fishing

Four hours, out early, back by lunch
Shared from US$ 120 or the whole boat for US$ 750
The crew cleans your catch at the dock

Practical things worth knowing

Tap water is for washing. Drink bottled; hotels supply it.
The sun here is stronger than it feels in the breeze. Reef-safe sunscreen, reapplied.
Sargassum seaweed appears on some east-facing beaches between April and August. Hotels clear it daily, and the boat excursions go to beaches it rarely reaches.
Spanish opens every door, but English is widely spoken wherever visitors go.