Punta Cana walking tour & city guide

Beaches, resorts and small towns

Bávaro Beach is the heart of the area, a long curve of soft white sand lined with coconut palms, beach bars and boats waiting to take visitors snorkelling. At its northern end, the fishing village of El Cortecito and the Los Corales neighbourhood have shops, small places to eat and a more local feel, while the town of Bávaro inland is where many people who work in the resorts live.

To the south, Cap Cana is a newer development with a marina, golf courses and Juanillo Beach. North of Bávaro, Macao Beach is wilder, with waves popular with surfers. Most visitors also take a boat trip to Saona Island in the Parque Nacional del Este, known for its shallow lagoons and palm-fringed sand.

A classic walk: Los Corales to El Cortecito

Start in the morning at Los Corales, when the sand is cool and the water is at its calmest. Walk north along the shoreline, past resort gardens, beach bars and fishermen preparing their boats, to El Cortecito, where the beach is busier and lined with craft stalls.

Keep going as far as you like; the beach continues for kilometres in both directions. Stop for a fresh coconut, then return in the late afternoon, when the light turns golden and the palms throw long shadows across the sand.

Good to know

December to April is the driest and busiest season; summer is hotter and quieter, and the hurricane season runs from June to November. Punta Cana International Airport is close to the beaches, and taxis are the usual way to get between resorts and towns. All beaches in the country are public, so you can walk the shore past the resorts. Use reef-safe sun cream and drink plenty of water in the midday heat.