Punta Cana day trips: 7 adventures worth the drive

I’ve been coming to the Dominican Republic for more than a decade. There’s something about this island that warms my soul: the wide white-sand beaches, the cloud-topped mountains, the waterfalls, the people. I love the DR so much that it has become my second home: Five years ago, my family and I moved to the less developed North Coast, which has drawn surfers and wind-sport gurus for decades. But there’s no denying that Punta Cana, on the island’s eastern tip, is the vacation getaway that gets most of the attention.

Punta Cana—or PC, as everyone here calls it—is home to nearly 100 hotels. When I first visited, I thought PC would have little to offer beyond buffets and swim-up bars (and sitting by the pool sipping cocktails isn’t something I can do for much longer than an afternoon). Boy, was I wrong.

This area is filled with hidden gems—underground caves, undiscovered islands, blue lagoons—and the more that I have ventured out, the more secret spots I have discovered. Here are seven of my favorites, organized by distance.

These locations are within a 30-minute drive from the main resorts in PC, reachable by taxi or rental car (the good news is you won’t need to navigate the DR’s crazy rural roads).

Secluded and upscale, Cap Cana is home to some of Punta Cana’s most spectacular white-sand beaches. But it’s also expensive (think $700-a-night hotels). But I’ve discovered a budget-friendly way to experience Cap Cana: a day at Juanillo Beach.

My family and I embarked on this journey during our most recent trip to PC, and our goal was simple—to escape our crowded resort pool. We couldn’t have been happier by the change of scenery. An entrance fee of roughly $25 per adult per day (kids under 18 are free) grants you access to the public beach, which has some of the softest sand I’ve ever seen and is lined with open-air restaurants, beach clubs, and even a bird sanctuary.

Where to eat: Head to Juanillo Grill and Beach Club for a relaxing lunch by the water with fresh fried dorado, red snapper with flavorful vegetables, and piping hot French fries and tostones. I was almost lulled to sleep by the tranquil setting (then jolted back to the present by the music from the nearby Margaritaville resort). The cover charge to access Juanillo Beach goes toward the cost of your lunch.

Where to stay: If you want to stay the night, there are options—from Eden Rock Cap Cana (the epitome of refined elegance) to Margaritaville Cap Cana (an homage to Jimmy Buffett).

This definitely qualifies as secret: It’s a blue lagoon in Punta Cana just outside the main resort area. The beauty of this place is that it’s cheap (there’s a $5 entry fee) and off-the-beaten-path. The challenge: There are no facilities. And you can’t drive directly to the lagoon—you have to drive on a rugged road into the woods to what’s essentially a parking lot, then hike a quarter mile or so of flat terrain to get to the lagoon.

If you’re able-bodied and willing to trek alone to an unmanned wooded area, the payoff is worth it for this gorgeous, swimmable cenote. But do know—this isn’t for kids, and it isn’t for the first-time Punta Cana visitor. I highly recommend going with a guide (if you can find one).

If you have kids and you’re in the mood for a blue lagoon adventure, here’s your place: Hoyo Azul, which is bigger and more accessible than Hoyo Claro. It’s located in Scape Park, a huge (and I mean huge) adventure park near Cap Cana. There are beach buggy tours, a water park plunge, and ziplining—but trust me, it’s all about that blue lagoon.

Willing to travel an hour beyond PC? You’ll find secret islands and a charming village.

If you ever saw Pirates of the Caribbean or The Blue Lagoon, you’ll recognize my next favorite escape: Isla Saona, where the movies were filmed. Isla Saona is a large island off the southern tip of the DR that’s home to two fishing villages and about 500 residents. Catamarans and speedboats shuttle visitors there for swimming, beachside feasts, and party hopping from boat to boat.

Not far away is Isla Catalina, a smaller island that’s also accessible only by boat and well-known for its snorkeling and diving, with natural coral reefs and vibrant marine life (but no residents). If you want to get lost in the beautiful ocean surroundings, Catalina is the place I recommend.

An hour west of Punta Cana in beachfront La Romana, Casa de Campo is the most exclusive and priciest resort on the island. And for good reason—its stunning villas, golf courses, and marina attract the rich and famous. If you want to visit Casa de Campo without spending thousands of dollars a night on a villa, head to Altos de Chavon, a cultural center modeled after a 16th century Mediterranean village.

For $50 per adult, you get access to Casa de Campo, including the marina and Minitas Beach. Meander around the archaeological museum (which is full of artifacts from the indigenous settlers) and shops (don’t miss the concept store by Dominican clothing designer Jenny Polanco). If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a concert at the amphitheater, which has hosted performers like Elton John, Gloria Estefan, and Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra (a national treasure). I recently saw Latin pop icon Ricky Martin here and was blown away by the venue’s sound quality and intimacy—I swear that Ricky and I made eye contact. The colosseum-style seating means there’s no bad seat in the house, but go early to snag a seat—they’re first come first serve.

Where to eat: The hip pizzeria Onno’s is straight out of Brooklyn, but with beach vibes. At the marina, you’ll find one of my favorite restaurants on the island: SBG, a Mediterranean-Latin fusion spot.

Where to stay: Villas are the popular–and expensive–choice in Casa de Campo, but for a family-friendly all-inclusive, try the highly-rated Hilton La Romana in nearby Bayahibe. The resort is a quick five-minute ride from the embarcadero, or pier, where the boats for Isla Saona and Isla Catalina depart.

If you fancy a road trip, these adventures are one to two hours away from downtown Punta Cana. The payoff for the long trek? Some of the most visually stunning locales on the island.

There are numerous caves around the DR that often give way to secret lagoons and swimming holes underneath. One of the largest is Cuevas de las Maravillas, a sprawling underground maze a little more than an hour outside Punta Cana that was discovered in 1926 by a group of young explorers. You’ll feel like you landed on Mars: My space-obsessed 6-year-old meandered up and around the cave with amazement.

Be sure to sign up for a guided tour to see the rock formations, the ancient artwork by the native Tainos, natural pools, and clay pits. It’s well-lit, with ambient light and guard rails throughout, but wear sneakers—the floor can be slippery.

Outside the cave is yet another delight: an iguana conservatory that’s home to nearly 200 rhinoceros iguanas under threat of extinction. It’s an educational and low-cost way to delight your kids.

There are so many picturesque places to take photos on this island, but one place on my photo op list is north of Punta Cana is an area called Miches. It’ll take you an hour and a half to drive here from downtown Punta Cana, but it’s worth the journey.

Head to Montaña Redonda to take in a 360-degree view of the island from a thousand feet above sea level. Once there, hop on the swings or hammocks and stage your Instagram-worthy photo shoot—you’ll appear as if you’re swinging off the edge of the earth.

Arrange the ride with your hotel or organize a day trip with a local tour company that includes extras (a dune buggy ride, a beach visit). If you make the drive yourself, you’ll need a 4x4 to get up the steep terrain; there’s also a special shuttle truck that takes visitors to the top of the mountain for about $2.

Where to eat: There’s a small restaurant serving Dominican food at the peak—grab a snack before you head back down.

Where to stay: Families love the newly opened Club Med Miches near Playa Esmeralda, which has a European vibe, wellness-focused activities, and an eco-chic design.