Cap Cana

Playa Juanillo

Cap Cana's star beach: the finest white sand, palm trees, calm turquoise waters, considered one of the loveliest in the east.

Playa Juanillo is the jewel of Cap Cana and one of the most beautiful beaches on the whole Dominican east coast. It's a strip of white sand, fine as talc, lined with coconut palms and bathed by shallow turquoise waters that are usually very calm, protected by the coral barrier. Its postcard of palm trees leaning over the water is one of the visual icons of the Dominican Caribbean. The beach has a free public section and a services section, with beach clubs, restaurants and bars where you can eat seafood, have a drink and rent umbrellas and loungers (lounger and umbrella rental usually runs about US$ 15–25 the set, and beach clubs with pool and facility access charge an entry fee or minimum spend). The calm, shallow sea makes it ideal for families with children and for swimming or snorkeling near the shore. Although it's inside the private Cap Cana complex, Juanillo is accessible to visitors; on reaching the Cap Cana checkpoint you have to state that you're going to the beach. It's best to go early to enjoy it with fewer people and get a good spot. Getting there: by car or taxi/transfer within the Cap Cana complex, a few minutes from the Marina and the resorts. Best time: sunny days in the dry season (December to April) for the best water color. Tips: bring small cash for the beach services, reef-safe sunscreen, water and a hat; the Caribbean sun is strong at midday.

ℹ️ Distance: Within the Cap Cana complex, a few minutes from the Marina (car/transfer) · Best time to go: Sunny days in the dry season (December to April); go early · Entry: Public section free; lounger/umbrella rental US$ 15–25; beach clubs with a minimum spend (verified July 2026) · Duration: Half a day or more

Cap Cana Marina

One of the most elegant yacht harbors in the Caribbean, with restaurants, shops and the departure point for nautical excursions.

The Cap Cana Marina is the social and nautical heart of the complex: a calm-water yacht harbor, surrounded by a natural amphitheater of coral-rock cliffs and lined with Mediterranean-style buildings. It's considered one of the most beautiful and complete marinas in the Caribbean, with capacity for hundreds of boats, including megayachts. Beyond the boats, the marina is a stroll in itself: around the docks there are restaurants and cafés by the water, ice-cream shops, stores and bars, ideal for lunch, dinner or a drink at sunset watching the yachts. It's a pleasant place to walk, especially at the end of the day, when it lights up and fills with atmosphere. From the marina depart much of Cap Cana's nautical experiences: deep-sea sport fishing (the area is famous for marlin and mahi-mahi, with private 4-hour charters from about US$ 900–1,200 the boat, or from US$ 113 per person on shared outings), catamaran trips, boat rides, snorkeling and boat rental (from about US$ 297 per hour). It's the starting point for experiencing the Caribbean Sea from the water. Getting there: by car or transfer within the complex, very close to the main resorts. Best time: any day; sunset and evening for the best dining atmosphere. Tips: ideal to combine a morning nautical excursion with lunch or dinner at the marina; check schedules and reservations at the restaurants in high season.

ℹ️ Distance: Center of the Cap Cana complex (internal car/transfer) · Best time to go: Sunset and evening for dining; morning for nautical outings · Entry: Strolling is free; sport fishing from US$ 113/person (shared) or US$ 900+ (private 4h charter); boat rental from US$ 297/hour (verified July 2026) · Duration: A few hours (stroll and food) or more with an excursion

Scape Park and the Hoyo Azul cenote

An eco-adventure park with zip lines, caves, trails and the spectacular intensely blue Hoyo Azul cenote.

Scape Park is Cap Cana's great adventure and nature park, an option for those who want activity and contact with the tropical surroundings without leaving the complex. It's set up in a landscape of dry forest, limestone rock formations, caves and cenotes, and integrates ecology, adventure and Taíno culture. Its most famous attraction is the Hoyo Azul cenote, a natural freshwater pool of the most intense turquoise blue, at the foot of a roughly 75-meter cliff covered in vegetation. You reach it after a walk along a trail through the native flora and it's one of the most photographed places in the area; you can swim in its cool, crystal-clear waters. The park also offers other experiences included in the full-admission pass: zip lines, cave tours (Cave Expedition and Iguabonita), the Blue Falls, the Eco Splash area and interpretive trails. It opens daily from 9:00 to 17:00. It's a good half-day or full-day plan, especially for families and nature lovers. Getting there: within the Cap Cana complex, by car or transfer; many hotels offer transfers. Best time: in the morning, with less heat and better light for the Hoyo Azul. Tips: bring comfortable footwear for the trails, a swimsuit, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and cash; the full-admission pass includes round-trip transfer from the hotel.

ℹ️ Distance: Within the Cap Cana complex (car/transfer; transfers from hotels) · Best time to go: In the morning (less heat and better light at the cenote) · Entry: US$ 129 adults, US$ 69 children 6–12 years (full-admission pass, includes transport; source: Scape Park official, verified July 2026). Hours 9:00–17:00 · Duration: Half a day to a full day

Punta Espada golf course

A championship golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, with several holes facing the Caribbean Sea.

Punta Espada is Cap Cana's flagship golf course and one of the most famous in the Caribbean. Designed by the legend Jack Nicklaus, it's an 18-hole par 72 course that unfolds along the coastal cliff, with several holes played literally facing the sea, over the turquoise waterline. That combination of demanding design and spectacular views has repeatedly placed it among the best courses in the region. The course was for several years the venue for tournaments of the senior professional circuit (PGA Tour Champions), which cemented its international prestige. Its well-kept fairways, its strategic bunkers and the challenges of the sea wind make it attractive both for advanced golfers and for those who want to experience playing with the Caribbean as a backdrop. Cap Cana also has other golf courses and offerings within the complex, which makes it a true destination for this sport. Around it there's a clubhouse, services and equipment rental. A caddie is mandatory and is included in the rate, though a minimum tip of US$ 25 per golfer, in cash, is expected. Getting there: within the Cap Cana complex, by car or transfer. Best time: dry season (December to April) for the stable weather; morning tee times to avoid the heat. Tips: it's best to book the tee time in advance, especially in high season.

ℹ️ Distance: Within the Cap Cana complex (car/transfer) · Best time to go: Dry season (December to April); morning tee times · Entry: US$ 495 per round of 18 holes (Nov–Apr 2025/26 season, includes cart, caddie and practice balls); minimum caddie tip US$ 25 separate (check when visiting) · Duration: Half a day (a round of 18 holes)

Excursion to Saona Island (from the east)

The east's classic excursion: catamaran and speedboat to the paradisiacal island of Cotubanamá National Park.

Saona Island is the most popular full-day excursion in the Dominican east, and many travelers staying in Cap Cana do it as their flagship outing. It's an uninhabited island (except for small communities) within Cotubanamá National Park, with beaches of dazzling white sand, endless palm groves and shallow turquoise waters: the image of the perfect Caribbean. The excursions usually combine a catamaran ride (with music and drinks) and a speedboat ride, and include a stop at the famous 'natural pool', a sandbank in the middle of the sea where the water barely reaches your waist and starfish can be seen. On the island there's time to have lunch (a Dominican Caribbean buffet is usually included) and open-bar drinks, swim and rest under the palm trees. The outing is organized with operators and normally departs from Bayahíbe (the main pier toward Saona), so from Cap Cana it includes a bus transfer to the boarding point. It's a long day (about 10 hours in total) but very complete. Getting there: with an organized excursion (transfer from Cap Cana to Bayahíbe and from there by boat). Best time: sunny days in the dry season for the best water color. Tips: bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, money for extras and tips; respect the national park's rules and don't touch the starfish.

ℹ️ Distance: Boat departure from Bayahíbe (with transfer from Cap Cana) · Best time to go: Sunny days in the dry season (December to April) · Entry: From US$ 79–99 per person (shared tour with lunch and drinks); couple packages from US$ 600–650 (verified July 2026) · Duration: Full day (approx. 10 hours)

Los Establos and equestrian experiences

Cap Cana's equestrian center with horseback rides, polo and horse activities in a natural setting.

Cap Cana has a complete equestrian center, Los Establos, which offers a different option from the beach and golf: contact with horses and rides through the complex's natural surroundings. It's one of those activities that surprises many visitors and adds variety to a stay. The experiences include guided rides along trails through the tropical vegetation, lessons and rides for different levels, and activities linked to equestrian culture and polo, a sport that has a presence in the area. It's an activity designed both for horse enthusiasts and for families looking for something different. Cap Cana's well-kept surroundings, with its green areas and Caribbean climate, make the ride a pleasant outing, especially in the cooler hours. It usually combines well with the rest of the complex's experiences. Getting there: within the Cap Cana complex, by car or transfer. Best time: early in the morning or at sunset, to avoid the midday heat. Tips: wear comfortable clothing and closed footwear, bring sunscreen and water; it's best to book in advance.

ℹ️ Distance: Within the Cap Cana complex (car/transfer) · Best time to go: Early morning or at sunset (less heat) · Entry: Guided ride of 1 hour approx. US$ 50–80 per person (verified July 2026) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours