Everyone books "Punta Cana" and lands somewhere else, because Punta Cana is three places with one name.
The map#
| Name | What it is | From the airport |
|---|---|---|
| Punta Cana (region) | The whole east coast from Cap Cana to Uvero Alto | — |
| Punta Cana (the tip) | The original resort area at the southern point | 10–15 min |
| Bávaro | The long beach strip north of the airport: most all-inclusives, El Cortecito, Los Corales | 15–25 min |
| Cap Cana | The gated enclave south of the airport: marina, calm bays, luxury | 10–15 min |
| Uvero Alto, Macao | The quieter north, often sold as Punta Cana | 40–50 min |
Bávaro#
Where most people actually stay. One long white beach, the big resorts shoulder to shoulder, and behind them the two places you can walk to dinner: El Cortecito (fishing village turned seafood street) and Los Corales (condos, restaurants, bars). Lively, busy beach, vendors, the most going on. Where to stay in Punta Cana, nightlife.
The Punta Cana tip#
The original resort development at the southern point: calmer water, quieter, mostly one group's hotels and villas, Playa Blanca. Elegant and sleepy.
Cap Cana#
Gated, with a marina, golf, calm sheltered bays (Juanillo is the beach) and luxury prices. Very quiet; nothing to walk to. Cap Cana guide.
Which to book#
First trip, want options, like a bit of life: Bávaro. Honeymoon, calm water, don't plan to leave the resort: Cap Cana (for couples, honeymoon). Want the wildest beach and don't mind the drive: Uvero Alto (Macao and Uvero Alto). The resort name tells you which: "Bávaro" in the name means Bávaro.
Either way#
Bávaro's town side, Verón and Friusa, is where the people who work at every resort live and eat. Post your dates on Roavi Community and a Local Friend from there shows you the Punta Cana that isn't on the map above.
Booked Bávaro, Cap Cana or the tip? Spend one evening in the real town with someone who lives there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Bávaro and Punta Cana?
Punta Cana is the region and the airport; it's also, strictly, the resort area at the southern tip. Bávaro is the main beach strip to the north where most all-inclusives sit, with El Cortecito and Los Corales for restaurants and nightlife. When people say they're 'going to Punta Cana' they usually mean Bávaro.Is Bávaro Beach better than Punta Cana beach?
Bávaro's long white beach is the one in the photographs and the busiest, with the most resorts and the most beach vendors. The Punta Cana tip and Cap Cana have calmer, more sheltered water and quieter sand. Both are beautiful; one is lively and one is calm.Bávaro or Cap Cana?
Bávaro for a first trip, restaurants within reach, nightlife and choice. Cap Cana for a honeymoon or quiet: gated, calm bays (Juanillo), a marina, golf, luxury prices, little to do outside the resorts.How far is Bávaro from the airport?
About 15 to 25 minutes depending on the resort. Cap Cana is 10 to 15. Uvero Alto, further north, is 40 to 50 and often marketed as Punta Cana too.
