TRAVEL: Soak up the Sun in Punta Cana!

Latina travels off the beaten path to bring you the 411 on this up and coming hot spot in the DR.

Photo: Marzena Abrahamik

Although this is the land of the all-inclusive resort and vacationers rarely have to leave the confines of their cushy hotel grounds, the area does have lots to offer adventurous travelers who venture out. We’ve compiled some of our favorite places to stay, chow down, visit and the companies that will help you decipher it all.

Places to stay

Sanctuary Cap Cana Golf & Spa
Brand spankin’ new, humongous, and not all-inclusive, this hotel is luxury to the max.
809-562-9191
www.altabellahotels.com

The Iberostar Bávaro
The quintessential all-inclusive resort, it has an impressive list of amenities, round-the-clock restaurants and activities galore.
809-221-6500

www.iberostar.com

The Meliá Caribe and Tropical
Two sprawling resorts in one, this property boasts beautiful grounds and more than a dozen restaurants for the older visitors, and a Flintstone-themed area for the little ones: the Yabba-Dabba-Doo area, with a kid-friendly bazaar, gardens and swimming pools!
809-221-1290
www.solmelia.com

Places to chow down

Captain Cook Restaurant
Super fresh seafood—and we mean fresh: the local fishermen bring their catch here daily and you can pick the fish you want to eat right out of a barrel!
On Playa El Cortecito
809-552-1061

The Jellyfish
You can’t get any closer to the water—this beautiful two-story restaurant has a bit for everyone. Fresh fish? Check. Amazing pasta dishes? Check. Romantic candle-lit indoor area? Oooh. Check.
(on the beach next to the Meliá Caribe resort)
809-868-3040

The Blue Marlin
This restaurant serves simple fare elevated to upscale heights—and their mahi-mahi is to die for.
(in The Sanctuary Cap Cana hotel)
809-562-7555

Places to visit

1. Juanillo Beach: Perfect and untouched, this beach is just steps away from the Sanctuary Cap Cana hotel. Enjoy it as soon as possible—major constructions (including a huge Ritz Carlton) are in the works for later this year.

2. Saona Island: This island is a nature reserve and ecological marvel. Most hotels in the Punta Cana area offer tours to and from the practically uninhabited haven.

3. Manati Park: An amusement park where you can swim with dolphins, pet iguanas and even play with snakes! Or you can head to the souvenir shops or the Taíno museum for less one-on-one with island critters and more cultural stimulation. Check out www.manatipark.com for in-depth info.

Tour companies—here and there!
Liberty Travel
www.libertytravel.com
888-271-1584

Scuba Caribe Tours
www.scubacaribe.com
809-552-1435

El Caballo
Tours
809-240-6249
www.elcaballotours.com

Click here for the slideshow!

--Yuliana Gómez