Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is a beautiful place to visit, and a popular Caribbean destination for many. It boasts sprawling luxurious resorts, numerous activities both on the resorts and off, and fabulous food and drinks. When traveling to Punta Cana, as with traveling anywhere, is it important to research and get a feel for the area, activities and the food and drinks before going so you can enjoy the best of the best.
Punta Cana offers a plethora of resorts, many of which are all-inclusive. There is very little need for you to carry money with you on an all-inclusive resort. Many of these resorts include food, drinks, games, entertainment, tennis, golf and water activities in their daily prices. The only thing you might have to pay for would be activities such as day cruises, equipment rental for some activities, the resort salon and the gift shop. One of the great things about an all-inclusive resort is the fact that the staff is paid to not only wait on you, but to also ensure that you have a good time, and they truly go out of their way to entertain and make the atmosphere fun and exciting.
Many activities are free of charge when you stay at a Punta Cana all-inclusive resort, but if you want to explore outside of your resort, there are also a variety of options. You can visit the famous Manati Park, take a helicopter ride to view Punta Cana from above, go on a jeep safari, golf on one of the many beautiful courses, or go whale watching, horseback riding, snorkeling or scuba diving.
Because there are so many things to do, it is important to book your activities and trips outside of your resort a day in advance. It is best to book them all prior to arriving at your resort, or at the very beginning of your trip to ensure you get to do all that you want to.
When staying on a resort in Punta Cana, there will be at least one (but most likely two) buffet-style restaurants. These offer a variety of food and have the added convenience of short lines because guests can mill around and pick from many different stations. Your resort will also have several restaurants offering options such as Chinese food, seafood, American food and Mexican food. These restaurants are usually best for dinner and sometimes may require a reservation.
Outside of your resort you will also find some excellent restaurants that will cost around $20-$35 in U.S. currency. These restaurants offer a wide variety of menu options and will offer you a taste of the local flavor.
The local beers to choose from in Punta Cana are either Presidente or Soberana. In Punta Cana you can also try the drink Mamajuana, which is popular throughout the Dominican Republic. It is prepared with 20 different herbs and roots, red wine, honey and rum. The drink is very strong, but has some claimed health benefits such as treating arthritis and headaches and is also reported to be an aphrodisiac for males. The locals jokingly refer to this beverage as the Dominican Republic "Baby Maker" and every resort or travel guide will do their best to make sure you try Mamajuana during your visit to Punta Cana.
