Here we explain which are the three excursions that you cannot miss in Punta Cana.
The Dominican Republic, land of sun, beach and sand, is a country characterized by its biodiversity and the joy of its people. It transmits to its visitors that we are a town that enjoys every inch of its island.
We want the people who visit us to take away a beautiful memory and the desire to return to their beaches again.
The Dominican Republic is a country full of fun and it is impossible for you not to enjoy yourself. All visitors live unforgettable experiences in its parks, shopping centers, nightclubs, beaches and resorts. Both adults and children will find activities and ideal places to discover and enjoy. Among these there are three locations that are among the three excursions that you cannot miss in Punta Cana:
During your vacations in Punta Cana, one of the mandatory visits must be Samaná. A unique excursion that will take you to know the most paradisiacal places of this peninsula. Samana is located in the northwestern part of the country and has an exuberant natural beauty.
Samaná is also a place where many travelers choose to settle and create a second home. Thousands of Europeans have arrived as tourists and have become residents, giving the area a unique international atmosphere. In Las Terrenas, French cafes and charming guest houses mingle with European-style beachfront boutiques and bistros. In addition to its tourist attraction, the peninsula preserves its diverse cultural heritage in its picturesque houses. You will also be able to enjoy a delicious cuisine with flavors of coconut and seafood, influenced by the first Canarian settlers and the descendants of the 18th century African-American immigrants who prospered in this region.
The beautiful bay of Samaná is one of the most prominent destinations in the Dominican Republic. It is the starting point for boat trips to the Los Haitises National Park, to Cayo Levantado and to observe humpback whales. The bay features small mangrove cays, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, which attract humpback whales, turtles, and manatees.
The small and picturesque islet of Cayo Levantado, popularly known as Bacardí Island, is located just five kilometers from the Samaná Bay and has beautiful white sand beaches and palm trees.
El Salto El Limón is an adventure through a jungle landscape. The path to get there, 2.5 km long, can be done on foot or on horseback. The El Limón waterfall falls from the top of the Sierra de Samaná, with a height of 40 meters. The reward is a refreshing dip in the cool water under a majestic waterfall.
Los Haitises National Park covers an area of 1,600 km² and is part of the country’s national park system. Its name, which means “mountainous land” in the Taíno language, reflects the rock formations that rise from the water. The park attracts visitors who arrive by boat to admire its impressive rock formations and explore the lush mangroves along its bay. Additionally, you can spot endangered native species such as the Sierra de Parrot and Hispaniola Woodpecker, as well as pelicans, herons, and other majestic birds that fly across the park’s sprawling landscape. Los Haitises is also home to one of the Dominican Republic’s rainforests. Explore the park by boat from Samaná, hike through its rainforest to get a closer look at its flora, or kayak through its lush mangrove system.
The Taino Indians named it Adamanay, it was the refuge of the Cotubanama chief who fled with his family from the Nicolás de Ovando massacres. Christopher Columbus set foot on the island for the first time on September 14, 1494 during his second voyage, and named it Bella Savonesa in honor of the Savonese Michele da Cuneo (Miguel da Cunio), who warned that it was an independent island of the then already named Hispaniola.
Saona Island is the largest of the islands adjacent to the Dominican Republic, located 19 kilometers south of the mainland, a protected area of 110 km2 and part of the Parque Nacional del Este. The beautiful beaches of Isla Saona are lined with palm trees and it is known for its mangroves and coral reefs. Saona is a tropical oasis of dreams, with its giant coconut trees and its beautiful turquoise blue waters. Day trips can be made to enjoy the beaches through a variety of options ranging from speedboats to catamarans. Sailing along the impressive landscape of Saona is something you will never forget.
Saona Island also has two small populations coexisting: the first is Mano Juan; It is a small fishing village where few people live in very humble colored wooden houses. The people of the town are very friendly and they have shops where you can buy typical souvenirs of the country. The second is Catuano, located at the other end of the island, it is basically a military area where a Navy detachment is based.
As for its fauna: among the birds you can see beach gulls, waders, the crowned pigeon, and the green parrot, which is in danger of extinction. Other fascinating animals such as the rhinoceros iguana, the manatee, the dolphin and the fishing bat are also part of the inhabitants of the island.
Catalina Island also called Ikita Island. It is part of the trio of adjacent islands in the southeast of the Dominican Republic. Together with the Saona and the Catalinita they belong to the eastern national park, the Saona being the only one inhabited. Catalina Island has three main beaches and it is the west beach that has the most tourist activity. The great potential that the others have to amaze visitors is not ruled out.
Catalina Island is ideal for water sports, particularly diving and snorkeling. There are parts of the beach that are used for cruise ship excursions, but the entire beach is open for public enjoyment. Its paradisiacal beaches of fine white sand and calm waters make Catalina a truly spectacular place. The translucent waters of the island are lined with live corals inhabited by multi-colored fish. Popular dive sites include La Pared de Catalina, with a depth of over 30 meters, and the Aquarium, a flat reef teeming with marine life.
Catalina Island has a great diversity of flora and fauna protected because this island is an ecological reserve. It is part of the Parque Nacional del Este, whose space is home to more than 500 species of flowers and 300 of birds.
The terrestrial fauna of Catalina Island is mainly endemic. It includes one species of frog, one of terrestrial tortoise, two of snakes, and six of lizards. It also includes ten species of birds, four sea turtles and a few mammals.
There is a multicolored diversity of marine species that awaits the visitor. Trumpet fish, horned boxfish, butterfly fish swimming in pairs, seahorses, puffer fish with beautiful hues. We can also find sponges, the queen angel, sea urchins, yellow mullets, the painted chapín among other species.
The flora is composed of a tropical dry forest that is present throughout the island’s geography, in which the chaparro, the slippery hand, the olive tree, mango trees, coconut trees and palms abound, among them the pacta, endemic to the area, in addition to mangroves and shrubs. In its depths, Catalina Island is home to a paradisiacal garden of coral reefs.
We hope that this article has helped you to learn a little about the three excursions that you cannot miss in Punta Cana. Visit our website to book your excursions and enjoy incredible adventures during your vacation in the Dominican Republic.
