Welcome to the Dominican Republic. Famous for its emerald rainforests, turquoise seas, and white sand shores, this place is heaven on earth — and just a couple hours from Miami!
To get started with planning your dream escape, let’s dive right into the 3 best beaches in Punta Cana and why we love them.
1. Tucked Away Treasure: Playa Juanillo
Spanning from the Sanctuary Cap Cana Resort to the Cap Cana Marina, the picture-perfect shores of Playa Juanillo are amongst the most beautiful in the Caribbean.
The panoramic palm-lined beach with its white sand and shallow sapphire seas is straight out of a postcard.
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Why We Love It
Playa Juanillo is one of the best-kept secrets of Punta Cana.
While it is a public beach, you can only get there by going through Cap Cana Resort.
This confuses a lot of people and leaves the sun-soaked sands largely abandoned, which is a very good thing for us!
Booking.comDitch the crowd, make your way through the resort, and find countless empty beach chairs calling your name from Punta Cana’s best-hidden gem.
How To Get There
From Punta Cana International Airport, Playa Juanillo is about a 20-minute drive.
You can take a taxi or drive your rental car. You can also hop on a catamaran from Punta Cana.
Planning Tip – Be sure to bring a photo ID with you. When you enter Capa Cana Resort, they often ask for your ID and will hold onto it until you leave.
2. Playa Bavaro, the Queen of the Punta Cana
The longest beach in all of the Dominican Republic, Playa Bavaro is the most popular beach in Punta Cana.
It’s a well-maintained wide open space with all of the bells and whistles.
The crystal clear azure seas are shallow and calm with hardly a pebble to be found on the plush sandy sea floor.
Why We Love It
Playa Bavaro is an absolute must-see when you’re in Punta Cana.
Not only does it tick all of the boxes for a dream day at the beach, but it’s got some high-tech perks.
We loved that the beach has webcams so you can check out the conditions in real-time.
Booking.comSee how crowded the beach is before you go.
Check out the waves. The webcam is only delayed by about ten minutes so you know pretty much exactly what you’ll see on arrival.
If you’re on the fence between the 3 best beaches in Punta Cana, this is also a helpful sneak preview.
How To Get There
From Punta Cana airport, you can get to the beach in a taxi in less than 20 minutes.
For a cheaper but less direct option, you can also hop on the Guagua bus and get there in about an hour.
3. Surfs Up at Playa Macao
Of the 3 best beaches in Punta Cana, Playa Macao is the best pick for adventure lovers.
Like most of the beaches in La Altagracia province, you’ll find lush white sand beaches and azure seas here.
What makes this beach different is that it’s packed with options for adventure lovers.
From ATVs to surfing, this is the perfect place for active adventurers.
Why We Love It
While the Dominican Republic is famous for its resorts, Playa Macao is its own private hideaway.
It’s less developed than most and is one of the very few beaches that you’ll find not connected to a resort.
Wilder and waver, it’s perfect for sunbathing and snapping picks.
Booking.comPlaya Macao is also one of the only places in the Dominican Republic for surfing.
Test your balance on a board or try your hand at windsurfing or parasailing. Just be aware; however, it’s not the best pick for swimming.
How To Get There
Playa Macao is less than a 30-minute drive from the Punta Cana International Airport.
You can jump in a taxi or drive there.
If you’re already checking out Playa Bavaro, you can get to Playa Macao in less than ten minutes in the car.
Booking.comConclusion
When it comes to the 3 best beaches in Punta Cana, you can name your own adventure. Whether you are looking to soak in the sun, catch a wave, or drive off into the sunset on a four-wheeler, Punta Cana has it all.
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