I found out that, whenever I require some real peace and quiet, it is better to select a couples only resort during the popular spring break vacations around March, when thousands of students from the US and Canada visit the Bavaro region to party. I will never forget last year’s stay when I realized I planned my vacation in the middle of the spring break vacations! Not exactly the best time for having a quiet beach vacation. Thankfully I adapt fast and soon enough this fun loving girl ended up participating in a hilarious late afternoon karaoke contest on the Bavaro beach, organized by a large group of students from Boston who I joint later that week for a night out to Imagine Punta Cana Disco which is just absolutely amazing. Bavaro does not look or feel like a beach town. For this reason I like to leave the resort at least once. I might go on an excursion or go souvenir shopping in El Cortecito, one of only a few original villages left in this area, which is especially popular amongst backpackers and independent travelers. In addition I enjoy having my hair braided on the laidback beach and hang out with the locals. Higüey, the capital of the Altagracia province, with its amazing church, La Basílica de Nuestra Señora De La Altagracia is also worth a visit.
How to get there
Whenever possible I fly to Punta Cana International Airport, it takes only about 30 minutes by car to reach your resort! Other options are La Romana Airport, a 1-1/2 to 2 hours drive from the major Punta Cana hotels or Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport, from where it takes you about 4-hour drive to reach Punta Cana.
– Dominican Republic International & Domestic flights
The most economic way to get to and from Santo Domingo is by the commuter express bus.
For bus information arriving from other destinations, please see: Caribe Tours
Tours and excursion
I always feel slightly overwhelmed by the incredible amount of water related activities that are at my disposal. Beside snorkelling, scuba diving, the regular beach activities like the fun banana boating rides, catamaran sailing and windsurfing activities, you can go fishing, try parasailing (I loved it!), get your kicks during a speedboat ride or chill out on a glass bottom boat while checking out the underwater world. Excursions featuring four-wheel bikes, monster trucks and even helicopters offer the adrenaline rush you might be looking for.
People rave about Bavaro Runners Safari Adventures which offers day tours that include a variety of activities like horseback riding, a visit to a school, cigar and rum factories and include a buffet featuring Dominican food.
When you travel with kids there are some excellent theme parks to consider like The Marinarium, a marine park on the sea offers snorkelling with sharks and rays, Dolphin Island where you can swim with trained dolphins and Manati Park Bavaro, which offers a permanent exhibits of birds, reptiles and fish as well a show with parrots, dolphins and dancing horses. Guaranteed fun for the little ones!