Things to do in Punta Cana › Places
Places to visit in Punta Cana
Updated October 30, 2026 Admission and transport details from attraction sites and tourism authorities
Saona's boats leave from Bayahibe, while Catalina takes you to reefs for diving off La Romana. Hoyo Azul sits inside Scape Park in Cap Cana, which has a hotel shuttle; Coco Bongo hosts shows in Bávaro. Santo Domingo's Colonial City means a long road west; Samaná's whales mean heading north from January to March. These six places have entry costs and hours to compare, with transport details for each; the beaches have their own page.
Which place for you
Best for one day, for a family, or without a car
Many Saona group days take 9 to 10 hours from your hotel and back, including the boat from Bayahibe. Santo Domingo's Colonial City is a 2.5-hour drive away for a day of museums. Skip Monday for museums: the Alcázar and Fortaleza are closed.
Hoyo Azul has no separate ticket: Full Admission costs $129 from age 13 and $69 for ages 6 to 12. Children aged 5 and under enter free but can't use the main zip lines or water hammocks. Book ahead for Cap Cana's access control, and expect rough trails with your stroller.
Scape Park includes a round-trip shuttle from most Bávaro and Punta Cana hotels, so you don't need to arrange a driver. Coco Bongo offers transport from listed hotels for its show night. The night show is 18+, with official photo ID required.
6 places
Places near Punta Cana worth a day
An island visit starts with the departure pier, while Santo Domingo starts with the road west. Your ticket may cover transport or just admission; don't treat those prices as the full cost of your day.
Saona Island
Boats from Bayahibe
Saona is an island in Cotubanamá National Park with beach stops and the offshore Palmilla sandbank. Your boat's itinerary decides if you also stop at Mano Juan, the island's fishing village.
Hoyo Azul and Scape Park
Cap Cana
Hoyo Azul is a freshwater cenote inside Scape Park, reached on foot through the forest at Cap Cana. The trail is uneven, so wear closed-toe shoes with grip for your walk to the water.
Santo Domingo from Punta Cana
About 190 km west
The Colonial City puts the cathedral and Alcázar within a district you can explore on foot. Mondays cut your museum choices, since the Alcázar and Fortaleza close while the public streets and squares remain accessible.
Samaná whale watching
310 km by road
Samaná Bay is a whale-watching destination, with El Limón waterfall elsewhere on the peninsula. The road route is long; your alternative goes through Sabana de la Mar before a boat crosses the bay.
Catalina Island
Off La Romana
Catalina is a reef destination off La Romana for diving or snorkeling from a boat. The crossing isn't the whole trip: your day from Punta Cana also needs the road transfer to the departure pier.
Coco Bongo Punta Cana Downtown Punta CanaCoco Bongo brings aerial acts and musical tributes to a nightclub in Downtown Punta Cana. Regular tickets don't include reserved seats; choose Gold Member or Front Row if you'd like to sit during the show.
Compare
Punta Cana places at a glance
| Place | Entry | Hours | How you get there |
|---|---|---|---|
Saona Island
Boats from Bayahibe |
RD$250 park ticket per person, in some tour prices | Day trips all year | Boat from Bayahibe after your hotel transfer |
Hoyo Azul and Scape Park
Cap Cana |
$129 from 13, $69 from 6 to 12, under 6 free | Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the cenote trail to 4 p.m. | Free park shuttle from most Bávaro and Punta Cana hotels |
Santo Domingo from Punta Cana
About 190 km west |
Alcázar RD$100 per adult; the cathedral lists no fee | Alcázar and Fortaleza closed Mondays | RD-3 by car with four tolls, or the bus from Verón |
Samaná whale watching
310 km by road |
Sanctuary RD$200 per person; El Limón and Los Haitises RD$100 each | Mid-January to March, boats 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | By road, or via Sabana de la Mar and boat |
Catalina Island
Off La Romana |
RD$250 per person entry | Daily boats from La Romana and Bayahibe | Boat from Bayahibe or La Romana |
Coco Bongo Punta Cana
Downtown Punta Cana |
Regular $90 per person, Sunday and Tuesday to Thursday | Tuesday to Sunday, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. | Club transport from listed hotels |
Fees and hours from the official pages of each place; distances by road from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), measured along OpenStreetMap roads.
More
The beaches, the tours and the weather
Good to know
People also ask
- What are the best places to visit from Punta Cana?
Saona suits you for an island beach day. Catalina puts diving and snorkeling first. Hoyo Azul suits a park day with freshwater swimming. Santo Domingo offers the Colonial City's streets and museums.
Samaná's whales fit trips from January to March. Coco Bongo gives you a show after dark. Choose around your travel time and who's coming with you.
- Is Saona Island worth it?
Yes, if you want an island beach and the Palmilla sandbank. Many group trips take 9 to 10 hours hotel to hotel. Your boat leaves from Bayahibe. The RD$250 park ticket may already be included.
You won't spend the whole day on sand; road transfers and boat travel use part of it. Compare beach time on the Saona list before choosing your trip.
- How far is Santo Domingo from Punta Cana?
It's 120.2 miles (193.5 km) by road from Downtown Punta Cana in Bávaro to Parque Colón in the Colonial City. The tourism ministry gives a 2.5-hour drive. Your resort's location changes the road distance.
The bus costs RD$400 one way. It leaves from Verón or Friusa. Allow time for both road legs when you plan your museum stops.
- When can you see whales in Samaná?
January to March is the whale season in Samaná Bay. The viewing window runs from mid-January through March, with boats allowed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You watch from a boat.
Swimming with whales isn't allowed in the bay. Your day can include El Limón waterfall or Cayo Levantado. A Samaná trip doesn't always include whales, so look for a whale-watching stop on your chosen itinerary.
- What can you do in Punta Cana without a car?
Scape Park and Coco Bongo both offer hotel transport. Scape Park's round-trip shuttle is included for most Bávaro and Punta Cana hotels. You can't assume pickup from a private rental. Book your park transfer by 4 p.m. the day before.
Saona works with a hotel transfer and boat. The bus from Verón lets you reach Santo Domingo without driving. You'll still need to reach the bus station.