Most of Punta Cana is Bávaro: a long, lively strip of resorts and beach. Cap Cana, just south of the airport, is the other side of the coin — a large gated community of luxury hotels, villas, a marina and a golf course, quieter and considerably more expensive.
Cap Cana at a glance#
| Where | South of Punta Cana International Airport |
|---|---|
| What it is | A gated resort community |
| Beach | Juanillo |
| Highlights | Marina Cap Cana, Scape Park and Hoyo Azul, golf |
| Feels like | Calm, exclusive, spread out |
| Compared with Bávaro | Quieter, pricier, fewer places to walk to |
Juanillo beach#
A long, calm stretch of white sand with palms and shallow water, far less crowded than Bávaro. Access runs through Cap Cana, so most visitors arrive as hotel guests, with a beach club or restaurant booking, or by boat. The best beaches in Punta Cana guide compares it with the rest.
Marina Cap Cana#
Yachts, sport-fishing boats, and seafront restaurants. It is the base for many fishing charters and private boat trips — see the fishing and boat tours guide — and one of the better places in Punta Cana for a special dinner.
Scape Park and Hoyo Azul#
Scape Park is an adventure park inside Cap Cana with zip lines, caves and cenote-style pools. Its best-known spot is Hoyo Azul: a sinkhole of clear turquoise water at the foot of a cliff, reached along a jungle path. It is one of the most photographed places in Punta Cana. Go early for fewer people in your photos.
Getting in#
Cap Cana has a security gate. If you're not staying there, go with a reason and arrange it before you arrive:
- A Scape Park ticket
- A restaurant or beach club reservation
- A boat trip or fishing charter from the marina
- A booking at one of the hotels
Turning up at the gate without one is the usual way people get turned around.
Staying in Cap Cana#
It suits couples, honeymooners and families who want calm and don't need to walk to bars. The trade-off is distance: you'll use taxis for anything outside the enclave, and they are not cheap. For how it compares with Bávaro, Uvero Alto and the rest, see where to stay in Punta Cana. It is close to the airport, which helps — see the airport transfer guide.
Beyond Cap Cana#
If you're staying in Cap Cana, the rest of Punta Cana is a short ride away: where to eat outside the resort, things to do in Punta Cana, and the wild beach at Macao.
Cap Cana is a favourite for honeymoons — see Punta Cana for couples.
A Punta Cana Local Friend can show you the Dominican side of the coast beyond the gate.
Browse Local FriendsRenting a villa here for a group celebration? How to plan a Punta Cana bachelorette party.
The most photographed spot in Cap Cana is the blue cenote inside Scape Park: how to visit Hoyo Azul.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cap Cana?
A large gated resort community just south of Punta Cana International Airport, with luxury hotels, villas, a marina, golf and Juanillo beach. It is quieter and more expensive than Bávaro, and it feels more like a private development than a town.Can you visit Cap Cana if you're not staying there?
Cap Cana has a security gate. Visitors usually come in with a reason: a restaurant or marina reservation, a Scape Park ticket, a boat trip or fishing charter from the marina, or a booking at one of the hotels. Arrange it before you go rather than turning up at the gate.What is Hoyo Azul?
A natural sinkhole of clear turquoise water at the foot of a cliff, inside Scape Park in Cap Cana. It is one of the most photographed spots in Punta Cana. You reach it through the park, on foot along a jungle path, with a park ticket.Is Juanillo beach public?
Beaches in the Dominican Republic are public by law, but access to Juanillo runs through Cap Cana, so in practice most visitors reach it as hotel guests, with a restaurant or beach club reservation, or by boat.Is Cap Cana better than Bávaro?
It's different. Cap Cana is quieter, more exclusive and more expensive, with fewer places to walk to. Bávaro is livelier, with more beach, restaurants and choice. Couples and families after calm often prefer Cap Cana; people who want to go out prefer Bávaro.
