Punta Cana is a coastline of all-inclusive resorts, and the honest thing to say is that most people who stay in one fly home without having seen the Dominican Republic at all. They've seen a buffet, a pool and a beach with a wristband.
A good number of them want one day out and don't know how to arrange it. That's what this is for.
What "renting a local friend" means
You pay a Dominican who lives in the Punta Cana and Bávaro area for a few hours of their time. They show you the country the way they'd show a friend: where they eat, where they swim, what things really cost.
It is not an excursion. No bus of forty people, no fixed route, no commission built into the price.
It is not a date. It's platonic, and it happens in public.
More on how it works, and how to tell a legitimate platform from one that isn't: rent a local friend: how it works and whether it's legit.
What one real day looks like
- A real town. A colmado with the music on, a comedor at lunch, and the Dominican Republic that exists fifteen minutes from your resort.
- Macao without a wristband. A public beach with Dominican families on it.
- Higüey and the basilica, the country's most important pilgrimage site, half an hour inland.
- The prices. What the excursion desk charges versus what the same trip costs arranged directly. The gap is large, and you can't see it from inside the hotel.
For the do-it-yourself version, see Punta Cana off the resort.
Two things to say in your first message
Where you're staying, and whether you need collecting. In Punta Cana, transport decides everything: taxis are expensive and there's little else. Many Local Friends drive and can pick you up; ask.
How long you want. If you're all-inclusive, a morning or an afternoon usually works better than a full day, because your meals are already paid for.
Safety
Punta Cana is one of the safest parts of the country, and the rules are ordinary ones: meet somewhere public, keep the conversation on the platform until you've met, check the profile and tell someone your plans. Is Punta Cana safe covers the risks that actually matter: the ocean, the roads, and beach offers.
How to find someone
- Browse Local Friends in Punta Cana.
- Message one or two with your dates, your resort and what you'd like to see.
- Agree the plan and the rate directly. Each Local Friend sets their own rate, and Roavi takes no commission.
Planning the rest of the week? Things to do in Punta Cana, or the capital for a day: rent a local friend in Santo Domingo.
Elsewhere in the country: Puerto Plata and Samaná.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you rent a friend in Punta Cana?
Yes. On Roavi you can browse Local Friends who live in the Punta Cana and Bávaro area, see their languages, interests and hourly rate, and message them directly. You agree the plan and the rate with them, and Roavi takes no commission.Can a local pick me up from my resort?
Many can, and it's the first thing to ask. In Punta Cana, whether someone drives and can collect you from your resort decides almost everything about the day. Say where you're staying in your first message.What can a local show you near Punta Cana?
A real Dominican town and a colmado, lunch at a comedor or a beach shack, Macao beach without a wristband, the basilica in Higüey, the cane country inland, and what the excursion desk charges versus what the same thing costs arranged directly.How long should the day be if I'm all-inclusive?
A morning or an afternoon usually works best, because your meals at the resort are already paid for. Plenty of visitors do a half day and are back for dinner.Is it safe?
Meet in public, keep the conversation on the platform until you've met, check the profile and tell someone your plans. Local Friends with a verification badge have completed an identity check.
