A long weekend in Punta Cana is three and a half hours from New York and two from Miami. It works if you don't try to do a week in it.
The plan#
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 | Land, transfer, beach, resort dinner, sleep |
| 2 | Saona Island (weekday) or Scape Park, then dinner off the resort |
| 3 | Beach morning, a last swim, fly |
4 days 3 nights: day two Saona, day three Scape Park or buggies to Macao, the off-resort evening on either night, fly on day four.
Choose one excursion#
Saona if you want the postcard beach and a boat; Scape Park and Hoyo Azul if you want something to do. Not both on a three-day trip. Excursions worth it ranks the rest.
Where to stay#
Bávaro or Cap Cana, close to the airport. Where to stay and the airport transfer guide explain the zones; Bávaro vs Punta Cana explains the names.
Skip#
Santo Domingo (a full day on the road), Samaná, anything billed as a "full-day cultural tour", and a second excursion. Tourist traps.
The evening#
One dinner off the resort is what turns three days of pool into a trip. El Cortecito or Los Corales for seafood on the sand; Verón or Friusa for the real town. Post your dates on Roavi Community and a Local Friend takes you. More time? The 5-day itinerary.
Long weekend in Punta Cana? Spend the one free evening with someone who lives there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Punta Cana?
For a beach break with one excursion and one evening out, yes. From Miami, New York or Toronto it's a sensible long weekend. You won't see the country; you'll see the coast and that's fine.What should I do with 3 days in Punta Cana?
Beach on day one, Saona Island or Scape Park on day two with an off-resort dinner that night, beach and fly on day three. One excursion, one evening, the rest sand.Where should I stay for a short Punta Cana trip?
Bávaro or Cap Cana: 15 to 25 minutes from the airport. Uvero Alto and Miches are beautiful and 45 minutes to an hour away, which on a three-day trip is a quarter of a day lost each way.What about 4 days 3 nights in Punta Cana?
The same plan with a real second full day: Saona on day two, Scape Park or buggies on day three, the off-resort evening on either. Fly on day four.
