50 questions about Punta Cana and its excursions, answered
These are the 50 questions most asked by people traveling to Punta Cana who want to do more than the beach, with a short answer to each and a link to the full explanation. The answers about excursions use the facts on the tour pages of Jhoraji Tours, a local operator in Punta Cana.
Prices per person taken from each tour page on November 10, 2026.
What to do and for how long
What is there to do in Punta Cana besides the beach?
Excursions to islands such as Saona and Catalina, buggies and ziplines, freshwater caves, horseback rides, catamaran and snorkeling, cultural visits and day trips to Samaná or Los Haitises. Jhoraji Tours has 31 excursions from US$35 per person. See the 31 excursions with price and duration.
What are the best excursions in Punta Cana?
For a first trip: Saona Island (US$65), the classic full day; the buggy (US$35), the cheapest; Buggy and catamaran (US$95), land and sea in one day; and Samaná (US$110), the nature one. The best for you depends on your days, your budget and who you travel with. See the guide to the best excursions.
If I can only do one excursion, which one should I choose?
Saona Island: it is a full day and includes the boat ride, the beach, the natural pool and lunch for US$65. The tour page advises against it for pregnant women and people with heart problems. See how to choose.
Is it worth leaving the resort in Punta Cana?
Yes. Near the resorts there are beaches such as Macao, freshwater caves and Dominican countryside, and islands such as Saona are one excursion away. Half-day trips start at US$35, with pickup included. More in the first trip guide.
How many days do you need in Punta Cana?
With 5 to 7 days there is time for the beach and for three to five excursions without rushing. With 3 or 4 days you can cover the essentials: an island, an adventure on land and a beach day. More in the first trip guide.
What can I do in Punta Cana in 3, 5 or 7 days?
In 3 days, an island, an adventure on land and the beach; in 5, add Samaná; in 7, alternate five excursions with free days. The three plans cost about US$160, US$360 and US$420 per person. See the day-by-day plan.
Booking and paying
How much do excursions cost in Punta Cana?
Between US$35 and US$140 per person with Jhoraji Tours, with hotel pickup included. Half-day trips start at US$35 and full-day trips with lunch at US$65. More in the booking guide.
Should I book excursions before going to Punta Cana or once I am there?
Before you travel, at least for the ones you care about most: you choose the day calmly, compare prices and do not depend on what is left. With Jhoraji Tours there is little at risk: you can pay on the day of the activity and cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before. More in the booking guide.
Where is the best place to book excursions in Punta Cana: the resort, an online platform or a local operator?
All three work. What changes is who acts as the middleman and who you talk to if something comes up: the most direct way is to book with the local operator that runs the excursion. More in the booking guide.
How do I pay for an excursion? Do I have to pay in advance?
You book online or by WhatsApp and then receive a payment link for a 20% deposit. If you prefer not to pay in advance, say so and pay on the day of the activity. More in the booking guide.
Is pickup from my hotel or Airbnb included?
Yes. On every Jhoraji Tours excursion the price includes pickup from your hotel or Airbnb in Punta Cana and Bávaro, and the ride back at the end. More in the booking guide.
What is included in an excursion and what costs extra?
Usually round-trip transport from your hotel and a guide; on full-day trips, lunch too. Tips, photos and alcoholic drinks where there is no open bar are extra. More in the booking guide.
Is it safe to do excursions in Punta Cana with a local operator?
Yes, if you choose an established company. Organized excursions with hotel pickup, a guide and safety equipment are the simplest way to leave the resort. More in the booking guide.
What happens if it rains or I have to cancel my excursion?
A shower usually changes nothing: rain tends to be brief and land excursions go ahead. If bad weather forces a cancellation, you can change the date free of charge or get a full refund. More in the booking guide.
Shared or private excursion: which should I choose?
Most are shared: you go with other travelers and pay per person, which is the cheapest way. Private trips suit families and groups who want to go at their own pace. More in the booking guide.
What languages are the excursions in?
Jhoraji Tours has guides in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian and Russian. You request the language when they contact you after you book. More in the booking guide.
How much should I tip guides and drivers in Punta Cana?
Tips are not included and are optional. As a reference, a suitable tip for the guide is US$5 to US$10 on a full-day excursion, and a little less on half-day trips. It does not have to be per person. More in the booking guide.
Saona Island
Where is Saona Island and how far is it from Punta Cana?
Saona Island is in the southeast of the Dominican Republic, off Bayahibe, inside Cotubanamá National Park (formerly Parque Nacional del Este). You cannot drive there: you go by road to Bayahibe, about 70 km (43 miles) from Punta Cana, around one hour, and from there by boat. More in the Saona Island guide.
How long is the Saona Island excursion?
All day. Pickup is between 6:30 and 7:15 am, depending on where your hotel is on the route, and you are back in the afternoon. More in the Saona Island guide.
How much does the Saona Island excursion cost?
From Punta Cana, US$65 per person for the classic excursion and US$120 for the small-group VIP tour, both with hotel pickup and lunch. More in the Saona Island guide.
What does the Saona Island excursion include?
The classic trip includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned transfer to the port, a catamaran or speedboat ride with music and entertainment, a stop at the natural pool, free time on the beach, a Dominican buffet lunch with drinks and a visit to the fishing village of Mano Juan. More in the Saona Island guide.
Is Saona Island worth it?
Yes, if you want a full day on a Caribbean beach away from the resort: for US$65 you get the boat, the natural pool, the beach and lunch. It is not for you if you do not want an early start (pickup is between 6:30 and 7:15 am) or about two hours on the road, there and back. More in the Saona Island guide.
Saona Island or Catalina Island: which is better?
Saona if you want beach, catamaran and atmosphere; Catalina if you are after snorkeling or scuba diving. They cost almost the same: US$65 and US$70. More in the Saona Island guide.
Adventure and sea
What is the buggy excursion like and what should I wear?
It takes about 4 hours: you drive a buggy along rural dirt and mud tracks, swim in a cave with crystal-clear water, taste coffee and cacao, and finish at Macao Beach. Wear clothes that can get dirty and closed shoes, and bring a swimsuit and a towel. More in the adventure and sea guide.
Where can I go ziplining in Punta Cana?
In the hills of Higüey, inland: the Higüey Zipline has a circuit of 8 ziplines with hanging bridges, costs US$60 and takes 5 hours including the transfer. More in the adventure and sea guide.
Where can I swim in a cenote or a cave in Punta Cana?
With Jhoraji Tours there are three options: the Cueva Azul (Blue Cave), part of the Mundo Taíno excursion (US$35); the lagoons of the Ojos Indígenas reserve (US$90); and the cave where the buggy and ATV excursions stop (US$35). More in the adventure and sea guide.
Can you go horseback riding on the beach in Punta Cana?
Yes. The horseback ride on Macao Beach follows rural trails and the shoreline: it lasts 3 hours and costs US$55, with a helmet and a guide for beginners. More in the adventure and sea guide.
Where is the best snorkeling in Punta Cana?
On the reefs you reach by boat. The Catalina Island excursion (US$70) is the one most focused on snorkeling, with a stop at a coral reef and gear included. More in the adventure and sea guide.
What is included in the Punta Cana Party Boat?
Four hours on a catamaran along the Bávaro coast with an open bar of local drinks (rum, beer and soft drinks), snorkel gear, a stop at a natural pool, snacks or fruit and transfers from your hotel. It costs US$60. More in the adventure and sea guide.
How much do parasailing and deep sea fishing cost in Punta Cana?
Parasailing costs US$80 per person and sport fishing US$110. Both include hotel pickup. More in the adventure and sea guide.
Full-day excursions
Can I go to Samaná from Punta Cana and back in one day?
Yes. The Samaná excursion picks you up between 6:00 and 7:30 am, crosses the bay by boat and returns in the afternoon. It costs US$110, with lunch. More in the day trips guide.
When and where can you see humpback whales in the Dominican Republic?
In Samaná Bay, every year from mid-January to the end of March: the official whale-watching season runs from January 15 to March 31. More in the day trips guide.
What is Los Haitises and how do I visit it from Punta Cana?
It is a national park of mangroves, rock islets and caves with Taíno paintings, in Samaná Bay. You tour it by boat and, from Punta Cana, it is a full-day excursion: US$120. More in the day trips guide.
Can I visit Santo Domingo on a day trip from Punta Cana?
Yes: it is about 195 km (120 miles) by highway, a little over two hours each way, and the day trip with hotel pickup costs US$80. It is worth it if you like history, because the Colonial City is a World Heritage Site and the first European city in the Americas. More in the day trips guide.
What is Montaña Redonda and how do you get to the top?
It is a hill near Miches with panoramic views over lagoons, countryside and sea, famous for the swings and hammocks at the top. You go up in a safari truck or a 4x4. More in the day trips guide.
Depending on who you travel with
Which Punta Cana excursions can I do with kids?
Many, as long as you check the minimum age on each tour page first: 6 for the horseback ride and the zipline, 8 for Jhoraji Adventure and Hacienda Tuko, and 10 for parasailing and Scuba Doo. More in the guide by type of traveler.
What are the best Punta Cana excursions for couples?
The small-group or private-transport ones: Saona Island VIP (US$120), Ojos Indígenas with private transport (US$120) and Montaña Redonda with a horseback ride on Limón Beach (US$82). More in the guide by type of traveler.
What can a group of friends do in Punta Cana?
The Party Boat (US$60) for an afternoon on a catamaran with an open bar, Buggy and catamaran (US$95) to combine land and sea in one day, and Coco Bongo (US$90) at night. More in the guide by type of traveler.
What is there to do in Punta Cana at night?
The best-known night out is Coco Bongo: a show with acrobatics, music and tribute acts, followed by a party with a DJ. With Jhoraji Tours it costs US$90, with Regular entry and transfers from your hotel. More in the guide by type of traveler.
Which excursions have a minimum age or weight limit, or are not recommended during pregnancy?
The adventure ones and several sea trips. The tour pages advise against the buggy, the horseback ride, the zipline, Scuba Doo, Jhoraji Adventure, Hacienda Tuko, Buggy and catamaran and both Saona Island excursions during pregnancy. More in the guide by type of traveler.
When to go
When is the best time to visit Punta Cana?
December to April: it is the dry season, with less rain and highs of 28 to 30 °C (82 to 86 °F). February and March are the driest months and also fall in whale season in Samaná. More in the best time to visit guide.
When are the rainy season and hurricane season in Punta Cana?
It rains more from May to November, peaking in May and October. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the highest risk is between August and October. More in the best time to visit guide.
When is seaweed (sargassum) season in Punta Cana and where is there less?
Sargassum usually arrives between May and October, most heavily in summer, and is scarce from November to April. It varies a lot from year to year and from beach to beach. More in the best time to visit guide.
What can I do in Punta Cana when it rains?
Almost everything: rain usually does not last long and land excursions go ahead. For a truly rainy day, there are indoor plans such as the shopping tour (US$50) or Coco Bongo (US$90) at night. More in the best time to visit guide.
Before you travel
What do I need to enter the Dominican Republic through Punta Cana?
A valid passport, a return ticket and the electronic E-Ticket form, which is free. Most tourists do not need a visa for stays of up to 30 days. More in the first trip guide.
Is Punta Cana safe? Can you leave the resort?
Yes. Punta Cana is the main tourist area in the country and you can leave the resort taking the normal precautions of any destination. The simplest way is on organized excursions or with pre-booked transport. More in the first trip guide.
What currency is used in Punta Cana? Are US dollars and cards accepted?
The official currency is the Dominican peso (DOP), but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere in the tourist area, and excursions are priced in dollars. More in the first trip guide.
How do I get from Punta Cana airport to my hotel? Is there Uber?
The most comfortable option is a pre-booked private transfer with flight tracking: with Jhoraji Tours it costs US$35 per vehicle for up to 4 people. There are also official taxis and Uber. More in the first trip guide.
Can you drink the tap water in Punta Cana?
No. Drink bottled or purified water, which resorts usually provide in rooms and bars. More in the first trip guide.
What should I pack for Punta Cana and its excursions?
Light clothing, two swimsuits, sunscreen, a cap, sunglasses, insect repellent and closed shoes that can get dirty for buggies, ziplines and horses. More in the first trip guide.
Were you looking for dolphins, Hoyo Azul, Monkeyland or a private catamaran? See what the alternatives are. And if your question is not here, write by WhatsApp or see all the excursions from Punta Cana.