Attractions

Las Terrenas

Once a fishing village, Las Terrenas has emerged as one of the most highly rated destinations in the country, offering a unique combination of entertainment, dining and hotels, in addition to the spectacular beauty of its 18 miles (28.2 kilometers) of untouched beaches. Las Terrenas is the most modern and commercial town in the peninsula with hotels, gourmet restaurants, beach bars, craft shops, supermarkets, sports facilities, tour operators and other services, all of which reflect a rich European influence.

Land Whale Observatory

The Ministry of Environment opened Dominican Republic’s first land whale observation point in order to celebrate the annual whale watching season. The observatory is located at Punta Balandra on the Southeast Coast and allows visitors to view the thousands of humpback whales that migrate to the protected area of the Marine Mammal Sanctuary in Samaná Bay by land rather than boat.

Shopping

You will find a wide variety of shops for souvenirs in Samaná City and Las Terrenas, while smaller boutiques and gift shops can be found in the resort complexes. Local vendors can be found throughout the beach towns selling paintings, Taino ceramics, larimar jewelry, amber artifacts and hand-crafted figurines from Dominican tropical wood. Local artisans also work with elements of palm, bamboo, decorative objects with yagua and coconut that is widely used in various craft pieces. Others make beautiful pieces of crafts with higüeros. There are many boutiques that offer beachwear and jewelry from European designers.

Gastronomy and Nightlife

A main attraction in Las Terrenas is “Pueblo de Los Pescadores”, a row of small restaurants and bars right on the beach that offer a wide range of options like seafood, tapas, Italian, and American, among others. It also is rightly celebrated for its busy but laid-back after-dark ambience, particularly at weekends when locals and tourists mingle and you can get a taste of the local sounds. The Samaná Peninsula is known for the use of coconut in their signature dishes such as seafood or fish with coconut, in a flavorful sauce of tomato, garlic, and coconut milk. Also, the local coconut bread and coconut sweets are very popular.

Puntacana Resort & Club Marina

The full-service marina is located at the Puntacana Resort & Club. With two docks and mooring for 43 yachts up to 70-feet (21 meters) LOA, the marina is well-liked by big game fishermen and is one of the most popular areas to hold billfish tournaments in the Dominican Republic. The established marina includes a swimming pool, restaurant, cable television, telephone, laundry facilities, ice bags, and drinking water.

Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park & Reserve

The southern end of Punta Cana harbors more than 500 species of exotic plants and trails that snake along 12 natural lagoons, each with a unique name from the native Taino language. The park has 1,500 acres (600 hectares) set aside as conservation land and is owned and managed by the Puntacana Ecological Foundation. The reserve is also categorized as a “transition zone sub-tropical forest” due to the flora and fauna exhibiting characteristics of both the dry and humid sub-tropical forests. The Park is open daily to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and offers tours with tour guides.

Scuba Diving

Conditions for diving in Punta Cana are often difficult due to strong currents, the open sea, and the unprotected coastline; as a result, there are few coral reef habitats. For experienced divers, it is still an area of interest with impressive walls, white sandy sea bottoms, rays, and schools of fish. Also, it is home to the remains of several ships, some sunk by hurricane winds, others intentionally to create new marine habitats, and an underwater museum featuring over 20 sculptures representing Dominican Republic’s indigenous legacy, created by the award-winning artist Thimo Pimentel.

Bavaro Adventure Park

Ideal for those seeking an adrenaline rush, Bávaro Adventure Park offers nature-friendly and sustainable activities such as ziplining, a climbing garden, a Segway circuit, paintball, a bungee trampoline, a Jurassic Park, and if you want to fly, a flight simulator takes you to the sky to enjoy a panoramic view of 360 degrees. Discover spectacular sunken pirate ships and so much more! The park operates to meet world-class standards and provides guests with knowledgeable international and multilingual staff, each with the proper certification. Bávaro Adventure Park is located near the hotel zone of Bávaro and Punta Cana and opens every day from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Deep Sea Fishing

The waters around Punta Cana and Bávaro feature some of the best places in the world for sport fishing and they are cataloged as among the five best areas for fishing for billfish and marlin. This is why the annual tournaments attract international participants during the summer months. In late October, the waters are sufficiently calm for fishing for mahi-mahi, mackerel, swordfish, blue marlin, barracuda, sea bream, and many more.

Spa

Whether it is for a girlfriend getaway, a romantic trip for two, or a stress-relief holiday from the hustle and bustle, a visit to Punta Cana, Cap Cana, and Bávaro’s all-inclusive resorts and spa facilities is an ideal way to decompress. The world-class properties specialize in some of today’s hottest and most luxurious spa services.