Travel blog: excursion guides for the Dominican Republic
History, tips and everything you need to know before booking your next adventure.
Guides to the best excursions in Punta Cana, La Altagracia, La Romana (Saona Island, Catalina Island, Altos de Chavón), Santo Domingo and Samaná, with prices, what is included and tips. If you do not have transportation yet, see the private airport transfers; if you want to see all activities and book, go to tours and excursions.
White sand, palm trees down to the water's edge and a natural pool with starfish: the Saona Island excursion from Punta Cana is the most famous beach day in the Dominican Republic. Here is everything you need to know before booking.
About 30 minutes by boat from La Romana, an island of quiet beaches, coral reefs and a pirate history awaits you. This guide tells you what to do on Catalina Island, how much the excursion costs and what to bring.
Dust, mud and lots of adrenaline: the buggy tour in Punta Cana takes you along dirt roads and rural landscapes away from the hotel zone. We explain what it is like, what to bring and how to do it safely.
A quad bike, a guide and natural trails: the ATV is the most direct way to explore the interior of Punta Cana. Learn what the tour is like, how much it costs and how to prepare.
An ecotourism park with ziplines, caves, a postcard-perfect cenote and a beach club: Scape Park is a full day of adventure in Cap Cana. This guide helps you plan your visit.
At the foot of a jungle-covered cliff, Hoyo Azul offers a swim in freshwater of an almost unreal turquoise. Find out how to get there, how much it costs and what to bring to enjoy the most famous cenote in Punta Cana.
Hop on a boat, take off gently and look at the Bávaro coast from above: parasailing in Punta Cana is adventure with no experience needed. We tell you how it works, how much it costs and how to fly safely.
Glide along cables above the treetops and feel the Dominican jungle from above. This Punta Cana zipline guide explains the equipment, the price and how to prepare for your first zipline.
Acrobats, live music, special effects and a dance floor: Coco Bongo is the most spectacular night in Punta Cana. This guide tells you what it is like, where it is and how to prepare.
Walking through the Colonial Zone means retracing Europe's first steps in the Americas: cobblestone streets, palaces, fortresses and the first cathedral of the continent. This Santo Domingo city tour guide tells you what to see and how to make the most of the day.
Sailing along the Punta Cana coast, swimming in a shallow-water natural pool and snorkeling on a reef: the catamaran is the most relaxed way to spend a morning or an afternoon at sea. Here is what you should know before booking.
With a mask, a snorkel and a little curiosity you can discover a world of coral and colorful fish minutes from the beach. Here is how snorkeling works in Punta Cana and what to know before diving in.
Breathing underwater and floating among fish and coral is simpler than it seems. This guide explains how diving works in Punta Cana, whether it is your first time or you are already certified.
Interacting with a dolphin up close is one of the memories travelers take home most. Here is how the program works in Punta Cana, what to bring and what to consider before choosing it.
Music, drinks, swims in the sea and a great atmosphere: the party boat is the liveliest excursion in Punta Cana. Here is how it works and how to enjoy it without surprises.
Every winter, thousands of humpback whales arrive in Samaná Bay to mate and give birth. Watching them leap from a boat is one of the most impressive nature experiences in the Dominican Republic. Here is what you should know.
Heading out to deep sea at dawn, with the coast fading away and the rod ready, is one of the most exciting excursions in Punta Cana. We tell you what you can catch, what the outing is like and how to prepare.
Jungle-covered islets rising from the water, mangroves, caves with Taíno art and thousands of birds: Los Haitises is one of the most spectacular parks in the Caribbean. This guide tells you how to visit it from Punta Cana.
The Samaná peninsula combines postcard islands, waterfalls deep in the jungle and a huge bay. One day is enough to taste the best: Cayo Levantado and Salto del Limón. Here is how the excursion from Punta Cana is organized.
A waterfall of more than 40 meters falling in the middle of the jungle, reached on horseback or on foot: Salto del Limón is one of the most spectacular nature excursions in the Dominican Republic.
A safari in Punta Cana is not about wild animals but about seeing how people live in the Dominican countryside: plantations, traditional houses, local flavors and lots of music. This is the experience.
Riding along country roads and ending with sea views is a calm and different way to see Punta Cana. It suits beginners and experienced riders alike. Here is how it works.
Seeing monkeys up close and visiting a tropical plantation is a very popular excursion for families in Punta Cana. This is what you should know before going, including how to behave around the animals.
A viewpoint high up with wide views of the coast, lagoons and countryside: Montaña Redonda, near Miches, is a popular stop for those who want to see a less touristy side of the east coast.
A lagoon surrounded by vegetation, a long quiet beach and far less mass tourism: Laguna Limón, in Miches, is an excursion for those seeking nature away from the crowds.
Right in Punta Cana, among subtropical forest, there are freshwater lagoons to swim in. The Ojos Indígenas ecological reserve is a nature escape very close to the hotels.
Beneath the eastern Dominican Republic there is a cave with hundreds of Taíno drawings and rock formations that look sculpted. The Cave of Wonders can be visited on an excursion from Punta Cana.
Cobbled alleys, a stone church and an amphitheater above the Chavón River: Altos de Chavón looks like a 16th-century Mediterranean village, but it was built in the 20th century. This is its story and how to visit.
A few kilometers from Punta Cana is Higüey, the city home to the country's most important shrine: the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia. A short visit that brings you close to faith and local life.
Rock canyons, waterfalls, jumps and natural slides: the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua are a water adventure in the north of the country. From Punta Cana it is a long excursion, but a memorable one.
Speed, splashes and coastal views: jet skiing is one of the most fun ways to explore the sea in Punta Cana. Here is how it works and how to enjoy it safely.
Seeing the beaches, resorts and turquoise sea from the air is an experience you will not forget. A helicopter flight is the fastest and most spectacular way to appreciate Punta Cana.
Punta Cana is one of the best-known golf destinations in the Caribbean, with courses by famous designers and oceanfront holes. We tell you what options there are and how to book your tee time.
Paddling over turquoise water, at your own pace and without hurry, is one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the sea. Paddle board and kayak are easy activities to start with.