While Punta Canada is renowned for its stunning beaches and luxurious resorts, the local markets offer a different side of this tropical paradise.

Punta Canada is the souvenir shopping capital of the Caribbean.

Here, you’ll find hidden gems that capture the essence of Dominican culture and make for extraordinary souvenirs.

From handcrafted jewelry to intricately woven textiles, you’ll find an array of one-of-a-kind treasures to take home. 

Shopping in Punta Canada is not just about purchasing goods, but also about connecting with the community and immersing yourself in the local way of life. 

The memories and treasures you bring back from these captivating marketplaces will serve as cherished reminders of your time in this tropical paradise. 

Come to Punta Canada this winter and get yourself, or someone special - that special keepsake.

Canadians affectionately refer to the popular holiday destination Punta Cana as Punta Canada! 

Every year more than 10 million visitors come to Punta Canada.

They come to:

relax

spend time with family and loved ones

get away from cold, wintry days.

They come for:

the sun - long, leisurely days of endless sunshine

the beaches - 40 miles of white sand powder

the food - all-you-can-eat gourmet cuisine

the music - the infectious rhythms of Bachata

the people - friendly, respectful, and welcoming.

Punta Canada is the:

Adventure Capital of the Caribbean

Gambling Capital of the Caribbean.

Rio Los Patos, at a length of 61 meters, is the shortest river in the Dominican Republic, as well as in the entire Caribbean.

Punta Canada is the perfect destination for a Culture Trip, where visitors can immerse themselves in Dominican culture, food, and history. 

One of the indigenous Taíno names for the island of Hispaniola is Quisqueya - “Mother of All Lands”, so it seems fit that today, modern Dominican culture is influenced by cultures from all around the world.

The Dominican people were at the center of the mass colonization of the Americas. 

They were the native Taíno, the African slaves, the Dutch merchants, the French and the British pirates, and the Spanish colonizers that would become the diverse people you'll see today, living free in an independent nation.

At the core of Dominican culture is a spirit of happiness, easy living, and family. 

Dominican’s are full of pride for their heritage of food, music, and dance.

Dominicans have a reputation for being some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. 

Family is of primary importance to Dominicans. 

Go to the beach or rivers on weekends and you will discover the love Dominicans have for spending time with their loved ones, cooking outdoors and sharing laughter. 

Dominicans come together, go to work, go to school, go to church, go shopping, and generally get around by using a motorbike which functions as a taxi, and is called a moto-concho.

The moto-concho is at the heart of almost  everything that a Dominican does, and is as much a part of the Dominican culture as is a smile hello.

Just as is the colmado (the corner store where you can buy 1 egg, 2 slices of salami, 1/8 pound of sugar, 1 piece of bread, and 5 pesos worth of coffee).

The colmado is the community's hanging-out spot, as it is there that Dominicans, meet, talk, get up to date on the latest gossip, listen to music, dance, and play dominos.

Dominos, like baseball, is the national pastime of Dominicans.

Enjoy an All-Inclusive vacation with a twist.

You get to live in a fully furnished, fully equipped, 2-bedroom apartment in a gated, residential complex - complete with pool, and nightly security . 

You get to live among Dominicans. 

Greeting and passing them in the hallways. 

Meeting and chatting with them by the pool.

Seeing the parents and kids leave for, and return from work and school respectively. 

Hearing the kids play after school.

You get to see the sights, hear the sounds, and sample the daily life of Dominicans.

You get to:

Punta Canada offers you the ability to immerse yourself in another culture, to experience what someone else's life is like, to leave your comfort zone and to embrace another perspective - but only for a week. 

Punta Canada is a resort town found in the easternmost region of the Dominican Republic. 

Very few cities can lay claim to having changed the world forever.

Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome are obvious champions to that title.

But nestled on the southern coast of the island of Hispaniola, facing the calm blue Caribbean sea, the city of Santo Domingo - in the Dominican Republic - is probably the most unlikely contender to the title.

Santo Domingo was at the heart of the European discovery of the New World. 

For over two centuries it is from Santo Domingo that the Spanish controlled their greatest find - the Americas.

At the heart of what is today the sprawling capital city of the Dominican Republic is a little bit of Europe - the Zona Colonial - the nerve center of the Spanish empire in the New World.

It is in these tiny yet beautiful buildings that the history of the world was rewritten - with 

seemingly inconsequential decisions, a continent of rich civilizations was plundered, slavery at a 

larger scale then ever imagined enforced, and the map of the world redrawn!

Zona Colonial is designed in a Grand Place-Plaza Mayor grid pattern. 

Zona Colonial was given the nickname "Cradle of Civilization of the New World" because its 

checkerboard layout later became a reference for almost all the town planners of the New World (nearly every major city in North America is designed in this grid pattern).

Zona Colonial consists of 32 streets crisscrossing 116 blocks, sitting on 106 ha and bordered by walls, forts, and bastions. 

The city has retained its original plan, and its streets and buildings are intact becoming the only living, breathing urban center to have a 15th-century design. 

There are over 300 pieces of history and medieval buildings including monuments, museums, forts, historical buildings, homes, streets and churches dating back to the time of Christopher Columbus' arrival in 1492 - which call Zona Colonial home - and all of which are unique in the western hemisphere.

Because of its monumental heritage ensemble and Gothic buildings, Zona Colonial - the Colonial City of Santo Domingo is a (UNESCO) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site.

Zona Colonial and Santo Domingo are considered collectively to be a city of firsts. 

The firsts of everything in the Americas exists there -  including but not limited to: the first seat of government, cathedral, university, hospital, supreme court, convent, fort, city hall, tax collector's office, skyscraper, customs warehouse, monastery, hydraulic sewer system, street, official clock, airbnb, and fight for human rights.

Do you want to know why some people think that they should stay at a 4 or 5-star, luxury, all-inclusive, beachfront resort on their winter vacation?

That is because all-Inclusive resorts are just that - resorts which include everything for one up-front price. 

They know exactly what is:

They know the total cost.

There are no surprises at check-out time.

Do you want to know why we believe that you should stay at a 4 or 5-star, luxury, all-inclusive, beachfront resort on your winter vacation?

We believe that you should stay at a 4 or 5-star, luxury, all-inclusive, beachfront resort on your winter vacation for all that which is:

The most significant reason for choosing all-inclusive resorts - and what is often overlooked because it is not advertised - is what your staying at an all-inclusive resort allows for your vacation to not include.

Staying at a 5-Star, beachfront, all-inclusive resort in Punta Canada allows for your vacation to not include:

What are some of the causes of stress? 

Bills and money. 

Household chores, and time sensitive obligations like work, scheduling, and deadlines. 

You have none of those on vacation at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Canada.

There is also no smog, traffic, honking of horns, or sirens on the beach - only peace & quiet, and sun.

What could be better than that?

Do you know that there is an all-inclusive, beachfront resort complex in Punta Canada which has 39 restaurants on its compound?

That means that you can:

eat a different dinner, 

in a different restaurant, 

each and every night for a month

- not eat the same meal twice - 

- not eat at the same restaurant twice -

- not have to do any grocery shopping - 

- not have to figure out what to cook -

- not have to do any preparation or cooking -

- never have to do the dishes or to have to wash a single glass, plate, cup, bowl, pot, pan, spoon, fork, or knife

And at the end of that month, 

you still would not have eaten dinner at all of the restaurants available to you on the compound.

How crazy is that?

Visitors to Punta Canada can enjoy the tastes of luxury wine, award-winning cigars, and decadent chocolate.

Boasting the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central America, the Dominican Republic (DR) is known for many things, notably tourism, crystal-clear blue waters, sandy white beaches, and baseball.

The island nation’s climate and beautiful topography is also home to some of the richest tobacco fields in the world.

Many of the most talented cigar-making families from Cuba relocated to the Dominican Republic and other Central American nations to pursue their craft following the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba in the 1960s.

Dominican cigars are sought after for their creamy, complex, and approachable taste.

You will find tasting notes of cedar, cashews, almonds, coffee bean, and buttered toast in many cigar flavor profiles from the Dominican Republic.

Today, the country is home to many renowned brands, including Arturo Fuente, Ashton, and Davidoff, as well as a number of famous Cuban-legacy brands, such as Cohiba, Montecristo, and Romeo y Julieta.

There is no better cigar to represent the Dominican Republic’s finest than one made entirely from Dominican tobaccos: binder, filler, and wrapper. 

The most sought-after Dominican Puro in the world is Fuente Fuente Opus X. 

Carlito Fuente blended this prized profile over many years with the utmost patience in growing a wrapper leaf in the Dominican Republic – a feat many said he would never achieve. 

Clearly, he has proven any naysayers wrong. 

A rich and oily wrapper grown on the Chateau de la Fuente estates embraces an extensively aged core of Dominican long-filler tobaccos that deliver undertones of leather, cedar, oak, figs, and spices with an exquisite and potent finish. 

Due to their limited production, Opus X cigars can be tough to find on a regular basis.

Fuente Fuente Opus X is not the first, nor even the only, Cigar Aficionado's #1 cigar in the world from the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic has produced 5 of the last 9 consecutive Cigar Aficionado #1 Cigar of the Year (2016 thru 2025):

La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull - 2016

Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark - 2017

E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic - 2018

E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel - 2020

Fuente Fuente OpusX Reserva D’Chateau - 2023.

You can find Punta Canada’s tallest sand dune, which stands at 164 feet (the height of a 15-storey building), at Dunas de Bani.

You can Go Sand Surfing on the tallest sand dune in the Caribbean.

The name consists of two Spanish words:

• Punta: point, tip or cape
• Cana: a type of palm tree known locally as “palma cana”

Together, Punta Cana translates into “Cape of the Cana Palms” or “Point of the Cana Palms.”

Long before becoming a world-class tourism destination, the region was known by other names. These older names provide valuable context about its cultural and geographic history.

The earliest known reference to the area is Yauya, a term believed to have Taino origins. Although the meaning is not completely clear, historians suggest that Yauya may have referred to a local chiefdom or a specific part of the coastal landscape.

While the name is no longer used in daily life, it highlights that the region had its own identity long before European contact.

Before the area was formally renamed Punta Cana, it was known locally as Punta Borrachón. This name appeared in maps and stories from residents who lived there before tourism development began.

Reasons for the name vary:

• Some believe it referred to a tall local tree known as “borrachón.”
• Others say sailors used the point as a reference during long voyages.
• A few versions claim it was a humorous nickname among fishermen.

Regardless of the explanation, the area was remote, covered in dense forest and difficult to access.

The name Punta Cana became official during the first stages of tourism investment in the late 1960s and early 1970s. A group of investors recognized the beauty of the coastline and decided to develop the region.

They chose the name Punta Cana for three reasons:

1. It reflected the natural vegetation that defined the area
2. It was easy to pronounce in many languages
3. It had the potential to become a strong international brand

From that moment forward, Punta Cana began transforming into the major tourism destination that it is today.

At Scape Park - the only natural theme park in the Caribbean - you can zipline through the treetops, splash into waterfalls, and meet some of the island’s quirkiest wildlife. 

At Scape Park, adventure and nature come together to offer you a unique experience in Punta Cana. 

What truly sets us apart is that you’re free to create your own adventure: 

choose the order of the attractions, 

repeat them as many times as you want, and 

enjoy them at your own pace - no pressure, no fixed schedules.

Explore thrilling zip lines, swim in cenotes and crystal-clear lagoons, venture into lush jungles, and discover local wildlife. 

For those seeking even more adrenaline, we offer 4×4 buggy rides and catamaran parties on paradisiac beaches.

With over 15 attractions that combine adventure, culture, and natural beauty, Scape Park is the perfect place to live an unforgettable experience in Cap Cana. 

Here, you decide how to enjoy every moment.

Ready to design your own adventure? 

Come and escape the ordinary!

It never snows in Punta Canada, and with 15 golf courses, it is the perfect destination for golfers.

Golf in the Dominican Republic isn’t just about the courses – it’s about the complete experience. 

Where else can you play a championship course in the morning, relax on a pristine beach in the afternoon, and enjoy world-class cuisine in the evening?  

Leading the pack is the iconic Teeth of the Dog, a Pete Dye’s masterpiece, where seven of its holes hug the dramatic rocky coastline, with waves crashing against the shore.

Just down the coast, Punta Espada showcases Jack Nicklaus’s architectural brilliance. 

Eight holes play directly along the ocean, including the spectacular 13th, where your tee shot must carry over a section of the Caribbean Sea. 

Corales, and La Cana are a sight to behold, as they both breathe new life into the meaning of oceanfront golf.

PGA Ocean's 4 was just named the best golf course of 2025 (Americas Edition) by IAGTO, and Barcelo Lakes is a perennial favorite.

With Punta Canada On Sale you can play all 15 of the Golf Courses in Punta Canada - even during the winter months of December, January, February, March, and April, because in Punta Canada:

Punta Canada is home to 40 miles of sandy, white beaches. Playa is the Spanish word for beach. 

The Dominican Republic is home to 1,200 miles of beaches.

a. Powdery-white sand beaches, golden-brown sand beaches, and black sand beaches.

b. Beaches with pebbles and beaches with rocks.

c. Beaches near jungles and beaches near cities.

d. Deserted beaches and beaches near to a desert.

The Dominican Republic has more beaches than there are days in the year.

Bavaro Beach - one of the 30 beaches in Punta Canada -  is regularly rated among the best beaches in the world.

Trip Advisor, with over 400 million active users, asked their millions of users to rank the best beaches across the globe.

And yes, yet again, Bavaro Beach is one of the top 10 beaches in the world to visit in 2025.

Bavaro Beach is the #7 beach in this year's (2025) Trip Advisors list of the top 10 beaches in the world.

Punta Canada On Sale can take you to all 30 Beaches. 

04. Every year, 10,000 humpback whales migrate for the winter, to this area - the only protected area for whales in the Caribbean. 

Whales return every year to the place where they were born - to play, to mate, to calf.

You can stand on the shore and see these magnificent creatures with your naked eye, you can go on a whale-watching cruise, or you can swim with whales in the open ocean.

Take a look at a video of a Triple Whale Breach 

07. There is a program that rates the quality of  beaches worldwide. Punta Canada has 25  certifications. What is this certification called? 

See Blue Flag beaches by country here. 

The Dominican Republic is home to 1,200 miles of beaches.

The Dominican Republic has more beaches than there are days in the year.

See 30 Punta Canada beaches here.

09. Punta Cana is affectionately known as "Punta  Canada" because many people from this country vacation there during the winter months. 

10. The Dominican Republic has produced 5 of the  last 9 consecutive #1 Cigar of the Year (2016  2023) as identified by this magazine.

La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull - 2016

Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark - 2017

E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic - 2018

E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel - 2020

Fuente Fuente OpusX Reserva D’Chateau - 2023. 

12. There is a resort complex in Punta Canada which  offers 39 __________ for your dining pleasure. 

That means that you can: eat a different dinner, in a different restaurant, each and every night for a month, and at the end of that month, you still would not have eaten dinner at all of the restaurants available to you on the compound.

How crazy is that?

Take a look at the 39 restaurants, as well as the menu for all of the A la Carte's here

13. All 15 golf courses in Punta Canada are  __________ for the entire winter, so you can play  golf outdoors - all winter long. 

Would you like to play golf in January, February, March, and April? Well you can in Punta Canada.

Imagine playing golf, in the dead of winter, on a golf course, on the beach, on a Caribbean island?

COME. PLAY OCEANFRONT GOLF!

Here are 15 Punta Canada Golf Courses - all of which are Open for the entire winter

If you are going to spend the money on a  vacation anyway, why pay, and only get the hotel, when you can go all-inclusive, and for the same  money - get hotel, meals, and drinks. What is receiving more without paying more called? 

Why All-Inclusive Resorts?

All-Inclusive resorts are a traveler's version of pressing the easy button. You have everything you need - all in one place.

18 Reasons why you should choose All-Inclusive Resorts in Punta Canada. 

05. Punta Canada is easy to get to, family-friendly,  safe, comparatively cheap and you do not need one  of these to travel there. 

24 Reasons to Come to Punta Canada.

06. Unlike diamonds, sapphires, or opals, which are  mined in multiple locations across the globe, this  gemstone is exclusive to just one small area in the  Dominican Republic. 

Larimar is a semi-precious gemstone that has captivated jewelry lovers and travelers alike. 

With its mesmerizing ocean-blue hues and swirling white patterns, Larimar is often called the “Caribbean Gemstone.”

This single-source origin makes Larimar one of the rarest stones in the world.

Unlike other gemstones that can be sourced from multiple locations, once Larimar mines are depleted: 

there will be no more new Larimar to be discovered anywhere in the world.

08. With all-inclusive you get the hotel, all you can eat, all you can drink, daily activities, nightly  entertainment, theatre show, and discotheque - all for one upfront __________, with no surprises at  check-out. 

One of the most significant benefits of all-inclusive resorts is the financial peace of mind they offer. 

The core appeal lies in bundling major vacation expenses like your room, meals, beverages, and many activities into a single, transparent price you pay before you even leave home. 

You can indulge in that extra cocktail, try a new dish at a specialty restaurant, or join a poolside activity without constantly doing mental math.  

Planning a getaway should be exciting, not a complex math problem. 

Imagine a vacation where your biggest decision is "beach or pool?" instead of "can we afford this dinner?

Take a look at 54 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Canada  

09. For snowbirds at an all-inclusive resort in Punta  Canada, it is not only about what you get but sometimes, it is also about this - what you do not have to do. 

When you vacation at an Airbnb, you have to:

sweep, mop, dust, clean, make the bed, do the dishes, and even put out the garbage.

What kind of vacation is that?

You have to get groceries, figure out what to cook, cook, and clean up afterwards.

That does not sound like a vacation, or like fun.

Here are 48 Benefits for Snowbirds when they vacation at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Canada

11. There is a resort complex in Punta Canada which  provides you with access to 96 fun __________ for  families with kids and teenagers to do. 

If You Are Going To Take A Family Vacation - And It Is All About The Kids - Why Not Stay At A 5-Star, Family-Friendly, All-Inclusive, Beachfront Resort Which Provides You With 96 Activities for Your Kids & Teenagers To Enjoy - So You Will Not Have To Hear - "Mom, Dad, I'm Bored. I Have Nothing To Do!"? 

See the 96 Activities for Your Kids and Teenagers to Enjoy at this Resort Complex in Punta Canada here.