Hello fellow lovers of travel! I would like to dedicate my first blog to Punta Cana. Punta Cana can be found at the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic. This trip was one of my favorites because of how beautiful the place was and the countless opportunities of things to do. I found that whether you’re a beach bum, adventurist, or pool lover, there are endless possibilities of things to do for everyone.
Spend a day at the beach! The island is surrounded by warm turquoise waters that meet white sandy beaches. On the beach, relax in a chair under the shade of a palm tree, or build sandcastles. Cool off in the ocean where water is so clear you can see the shells at the bottom. You could even catch a glimpse of a beautiful tropical fish. With a walk down the beach, encounter huts full of handcrafted items and goods as well as people who will braid your hair with beads.
Go on an excursion. Punta Cana offers so many different excursions like horseback riding on the beach, snorkeling, zip lining, and much more. While on my trip, I went snorkeling. If snorkeling is your forte, grab your family and friends and head to the docks where you’re picked up by a catamaran and taken to the snorkeling spot. During the journey to the destination, the crew supplies snacks and drinks. Once you’ve arrived, you suit up in snorkeling gear and dive into the water where you are greeted by sharks, stingrays, and colorful fish. You have the opportunity to hold and pet stingrays as well as take pictures with them. After the snorkeling, the catamaran stops at its next location: the sand bar. The sand bar is an area out in the water where it’s really shallow compared to the surrounding ocean. There you have the opportunity to chat among the group and swim in the water.
Spend the day exploring the resort. I stayed at the Iberostar Bavaro for my trip and it was absolutely beautiful. There was a wide variety of birds walking around the resort to snap pictures of, such as flamingos and peacocks. The resort itself contained countless restaurants, shops, and even nighttime entertainment to enjoy. After staying for a week, there were still numerous places at the resort that I hadn’t had the chance to visit. Pathways to explore cover the resort, all lined with palm trees and other beautiful tropical plants. If you are a pool lover, this resort is paradise with its huge pool overlooking the beach. Quenching your thirst wasn’t a problem with a swim-up bar located in the pool. The employees of the resort always offered activities to do in the pool such as water aerobics, volleyball, and “walking on water”. Walking on water is where they lay out a floating mat on top of the water, the challenge- see how far you can get before falling off.
One thing to consider when traveling to a tropical destination such as Punta Cana is the potential of hurricanes or tropical storms during the summer months. Although the weather for my trip was almost perfect, I just missed tropical storm Bertha, which hit the day after I left. You should seriously consider the weather outlook before planning your trip, to avoid tropical weather systems. After determining the weather I would definitely choose Punta Cana as your next tropical vacation getaway!