Punta Cana

Punta Cana draws visitors to white-sand beaches and calm turquoise water on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic.

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Punta Cana is a resort town on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, in La Altagracia province, within the municipality of Higüey. The 2022 census counted 138,919 inhabitants, making it the country's most populous district. Its beaches have white sand and calm turquoise water, with coasts facing both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Offshore, a coral reef runs for nearly 30 km, and the marine area was declared a marine reserve in 2012.

Bávaro is the main service center, with shopping malls, restaurants, supermarkets, banks and clinics, while Punta Cana Village is a planned area with a main avenue, shops and gated communities. Snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing and catamaran cruises run from the beaches, and land trips include safari tours, horseback riding and dune buggy rides into the countryside. Saona and Catalina islands are day trips by boat. November to March brings cooler evenings, around 20 °C (68 °F). From May to October it is hot and humid, with daytime highs up to about 35 °C (95 °F).

Punta Cana in five

Fill in the e-Ticket before you travelThe Dominican Republic uses a free electronic entry and exit form. Complete it online before your flight and keep the QR code.Official e-Ticket
Check sargassum before choosing a beachBrown seaweed can pile up on east-facing beaches, most often in the warmer months. Ask your resort how it cleans the beach and whether it has a sheltered pool area.
Pre-book the airport transferPunta Cana airport is about 15–30 minutes from Bávaro. Taxis use fixed zone fares; agree the price before leaving the terminal.
Do Saona Island from BayahibeBoat trips to Saona Island in the Cotubanamá National Park leave from Bayahibe, about 1.5 hours by road. Resort pickups make it a long day.

Things to do in Punta Cana

See all attractions in Punta Cana

Sight · Punta CanaHoyo azulWear comfortable walking shoes for the forest trail and swim shoes for the pool.

Sight · Punta CanaBávaro

Landmark · Punta CanaMarinarium Snorkeling CruiseAim for a sunny day when conditions are better for snorkeling.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Punta CanaPut the places you like in Punta Cana on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Punta Cana (PUJ), about 15–30 min to Bávaro
Getting there: Direct flights from North America and Europe
Getting around: Resort shuttles, taxis at fixed fares
Best base: Bávaro for beaches, Cap Cana for quiet
Time needed: 5–7 nights

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryRain18 rainy daysHigh27°Low24°Dry, breezy
FebruaryRain19 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°Dry, busy
MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°Dry, warm
AprilRain19 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°Warm, drier
MayRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Hot, showers
JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Hurricane season
JulyRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low26°Hot, humid
AugustRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Hurricane risk
SeptemberRain19 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Peak hurricanes
OctoberRain22 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low26°Hurricane risk
NovemberRain22 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rain easing
DecemberRain20 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°Dry, holidays

Average daily high and low in Punta Cana, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Punta Cana

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 32°
Humidity: 72%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 76%

Punta Cana

07:29 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-4

Today30°25°76%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 76%.
Tue30°25°64%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 64%.
Wed30°24°69%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 69%.
Thu30°24°96%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 96%.
Fri29°23°90%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 90%.
Sat30°23°95%Saturday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 95%.
Sun30°23°68%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 68%.

Updated 04:42 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 60.72 DOP

Amount

Converted to

DOP · Dominican Peso

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Saona IslandSaona Island is a day trip by boat from Punta Cana. Confirm the tour includes the boat crossing.Read the guide
Catalina IslandCatalina Island is a day trip by boat from Punta Cana.Read the guide
Higüeyabout 1 hour by carThe Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, a major Catholic church built in 1962, about 45 km from Punta Cana.
Santo Domingoup to about 2 hours' travelSanto Domingo, the capital, with the Colonial Zone and its older streets.

Before you go to Punta Cana

Saona Island and Hole boat tripsBayahibe departures and resort pickupsCompare day trips

Beach stays near BávaroAll-inclusives and apartment staysCheck availability

eSIM for Punta CanaData for transfers and resort bookingRead the guide

Insurance for a resort stayHurricane delays and missed flightsRead the guide

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Rules for Punta Cana, checked

Many nationalities need a tourist card or visa to enter the Dominican Republic. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX) site before you fly, and confirm your passport's validity.
Beaches in the Dominican Republic are public, but many are reached through a resort. Ask hotel staff before you walk through a hotel's grounds to reach the sand.
The marine area off Punta Cana was declared a marine reserve in 2012. Avoid touching or standing on the coral reef while snorkeling or diving.
Dial 911 for emergencies. Private clinics include Hospiten Bávaro and International Medical Center, so confirm that your travel insurance covers them.

Plan around Punta Cana

Santo Domingo

Colonial Zone and the capital, 2.5 to 3 hours by road

Read the guide Samaná Peninsula

Whales, Los Haitises and a quieter coast

Read the guide All of the Dominican Republic

Entry, money and the regions

Read the guide Insurance for hurricane season

Cover for storm delays and cancellations

Read the guide Phone and data plans

eSIMs for resorts and day trips

Read the guide

Punta Cana FAQ

When is the best time to visit Punta Cana?

December to April is drier and less humid, with the highest prices. June to November is hurricane season, and sargassum is more common from spring into autumn.

Do I need to fill in a form to enter the Dominican Republic?

Yes. Complete the free e-Ticket online for both arrival and departure and show the QR code at the airport.

Is Punta Cana good if I do not want an all-inclusive?

It works, but choices outside resorts are more limited. Look at Bávaro, where there are apartments, beach bars and restaurants within walking distance.

Is Punta Cana safe?

Resort areas are the most visited part of the country and mostly see petty theft. Use the room safe, keep valuables out of sight on the beach and take official transfers. Check your government's current travel advice.

Bávaro or Cap Cana: which is better?

Bávaro has the long beach, big all-inclusives and places to walk to. Cap Cana is gated, quieter and more upmarket, with a marina and golf, so you depend on resort dining and taxis.