Last updated August 7, 2026 · Editorial policy
Things to Do in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: What Is Actually Worth Your Time
Quick answer: This is an honest look at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: which popular attraction to think twice about, what to do with that time instead, and the spot most visitors never reach.
The Saona Island excursion is the one most guests book first, and it’s the one I’d skip. The reality is roughly 1.5 hours by bus to the launch at Bayahibe, an overbooked catamaran with loud music aimed at the crew more than the passengers, and a beach shared with several other operators’ boats by midday. If you want water that actually pays off, trade it for Isla Catalina instead. The boat ride out of La Romana runs around 20 to 25 minutes, and the reef wall there is genuinely better for snorkeling and diving than anything off Saona.
The pick most visitors walk past is the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park (Ojos Indigenas), a private reserve run by the Puntacana Ecological Foundation since 1994. It holds 12 freshwater lagoons fed by underground springs, several open for swimming, and it’s a calmer, cheaper swim than the cenote crowds at Hoyo Azul in Scape Park. Entry is free if you’re staying at Puntacana Resort & Club; otherwise budget around $50.
One money move that adds up: book day trips with the licensed vendors in El Cortecito rather than your hotel’s tour desk. The same Saona trip often runs near $93 in town versus the marked-up resort price.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
