With over 40 km of coastline, Punta Cana on the east coast of the Dominican Republic has beaches that will seduce any traveler. In this article, I’ll share with you the best beaches in Punta Cana on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic.
I traveled around the Dominican Republic for over a month (traveling slowly truly is my passion). As Punta Cana is known for having some of the finest beaches in the Caribbean (and I love the Caribbean), I loved being there.
Did you know that the Punta Cana beaches are often included in various top 10 of the world lists? Calm or wavy waters, white sandy resort beaches, or a more natural rugged setting.
They definitely lived up to the hype.
Where Is Punta Cana in the DR?
Punta Cana is the most famous Caribbean resort and beach paradise in the Dominican Republic, located on the eastern tip of the island.
This is where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, and only a short distance across the waters is the eastern part of Puerto Rico!
The area has lots of all-inclusive resorts, nice hotels, and budget holiday homes and hostel accommodations.
The common denominator is that wherever you stay in Punta Cana, you are always close to a paradisiacal beach!
8 Best Beaches In Punta Cana
1. Macao Beach
Macao Beach is a public beach with strong waves and windy conditions, making it a perfect surfing spot for active travelers.
There is even a surf school close by here if you are not already a seasoned surfer soul and would like to try some lessons.
Local restaurants along the beach arrange tables on the sand and create a laid-back and chill atmosphere.
Unlike many other beaches in Punta Cana, Macao Beah is often less crowded, as there are only a handful of resorts built in the immediate surroundings of the sands.
One hotel there is the beautiful Dreams Macao, which is a great place to stay if you are a chilling surfer and a luxury animal!
2. Bavaro Beach
Playa Bavaro is the most famous tourist beach in the Bavaro region, in the northern part of Punta Cana, and with good reason.
This beach boasts powdery white sand and coco palms that lean onto the shore, just like the perfect image of a tropical beach. It is around three miles long, and strolling slowly along it during the evenings might seem endless.
Access the beach from the clearly marked road just south of the Melia Caribe Tropical Resort, which ends in a huge parking lot.
You typically have calm waters outside the huge stretch of beach where you can walk a long time on beautiful soft sand.
Ignore the shops and markets here (unless you are in shopping mode), and head the few steps onto the beach to find your perfect Caribbean sandy dream spot.
3. Juanillo Beach
Juanillo is a stunning and somewhat secluded beach in the southern part of Punta Cana, situated in the Cap Cana area close to the Sanctuary Cap Cana Resorts.
There’s a wonderful beach restaurant here, complete with cabanas and comfortable beach lounge sofas. As it is a high-end area, the food venues are a bit on the pricy side.
In addition to lounging, you can play a variety of sports or take advantage of the local fishermen for a fresh catch.
To get there, take the road towards Cap Cana. You’ll arrive at a gated area, where you’ll need to provide your ID, driver’s license, or passport to enter.
4. Uvero Alto Beach
Uvero-Alto is a lesser-known but no less stunning beach in Punta Cana, and it definitely is one of the ones you don’t want to miss.
It is located to the north of Macao and is the farthest beach from Punta Cana’s airport.
The sand on this beach is yellowish, and the ambiance is more laid-back compared to other Punta Cana beaches. It is one of the quietest beaches in terms of visitors and resorts.
Uvero-Alto is located in the western part of the resort zone and has only a few tourists and locals outside the hotel’s beach territory. A top-rated luxury resort here is the Zoetry Agua Punta Cana.
There are quite strong waves on this beach that make it great for surfing but not great for families with children.
5. Arena Gorda (Fat Sand) Beach
The beach named Arena Gordo is called Fat Sand Beach because of its wide size and gently sloping sandy shore that leads into shallow blue waters.
As the beach is so shallow, it is considered a great beach for families with children. Most access points to this beach are through the resorts along the stunning stretches of sand.
However, you can get here even as a non-staying guest through the Ocean Blue & Sand Service Entrance.
6. Playa Arena Blanca Punta Cana
Playa Arena Blanca, the white sand beach, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Punta Cana. With the delicate warm white sands, surrounded by palm trees and resorts, it is a wonderful place for a lazy beach day.
Along the beach, there are mainly resorts and bungalows, and not a lot of shops, restaurants, or beach vendors. As it is popular, it is lively without any kind of beach club vibe.
One of the best resorts along the Playa Arena Blanca in Punta Cana is the Paradisus Punta Cana Resort All-Inclusive.
7. Cabeza de Toro Beach – The Bulls Head
The area around Cabeza de Toro Beach is a luxurious vacation spot, offering high-end hotels and villas that sit directly on the beach.
One of the best ones is the Serenade All-Suites Adults Only, which has top ratings.
It is located south of Bรกvaro and is also close to a nature reserve and lagoon for any traveling explorers.
The beach has hundreds of coconut trees along its shore, and it has a wilder and more rugged feel than other beaches in Punta Cana.
Its name, Cabeza de Toro, comes from the shape of the shore, which resembles a bull’s head.
In addition, Playa Cabeza de Toro holds the “Blue flag” status, indicating that the water there is usually calm despite the possibility of some current.
However, there might be occasional seaweed floating around drawn in by the current, but it’s hard to predict when and how much.
8. El Cortecito Beach
El Cortecito Beach is a lively beach with white sand that is great for water sports and sunbathing, and there are many resorts, restaurants, shops, and bars nearby.
It is a vibrant and picturesque coastal spot that offers a variety of seafood and international cuisine, as well as souvenir venues and handicrafts for sale.
Situated on Bรกvaro Beach, it has a broad stretch of white sand that’s perfect for activities such as swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, or simply soaking up the sun.
One of the best resorts here is the Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa, which is adults-only.
Taking a stroll along this beach is a delightful experience, and there are ample opportunities to grab a cocktail, socialize, and people-watch.
Catamaran Tour To Stunning Isla Saona Beach
As the name implies, this beach is not really on the mainland island but on a small islet called Isla Saona just outside in the waters south of Punta Cana outside the National Park Kotubanamรก.
To get here, you need a boat, and there are various ways to get yourself on a boat to experience this amazing little islet.
I did a day trip here with a catamaran, and I loved both the boat trip and the stay at Isla Saona.
You can join a group tour on a catamaran and make lots of new friends, or you can book a private boat tour for yourself and your squad if you want the privacy and the special experience.
Regardless, this little island has stunning sands.
On your way, you can stop on coral-scattered sand banks and test your snorkeling gear, interacting with myriads of tropical fish. It’s a perfect day tour!
Wrap-Up Best Beaches In Punta Cana
Presenting the best beaches in Punta Cana is almost a ridiculous task, as there are so many paradisiacal beaches here on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic.
The best I can do is present the characteristics of each one, and so, based on whether you are a lazy luxury traveler for your holiday, a vagabond, or the sporty kind who needs to get moving, you can find your perfect one!
As the Dominican Republic is not a very big island, you can easily travel between destinations and visit beaches on all sides of the island.
There are plenty of amazing Caribbean beaches around Santo Domingo, as well as the colonial city of Puerta Plata along the Dominican Republic’s northern coast!
I hope this overview has helped you get some planning done. Check out more general information about Dominican Republic travel to boost your planning motivation!
Related blog posts:
7 Top-Rated Best Punta Cana Day Trips By An Expert Traveler!
Dominican Republic Luxury Resorts: Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana Review
