Hot every month, dress code at dinner, mud on Tuesday: Punta Cana's packing list is three lists.
At the resort#
By day, swimwear and cover-ups, sandals, a hat. For the à la carte dinners: long trousers, closed shoes and a shirt with sleeves for men; a dress or smart trousers for women. The buffet doesn't care. Nothing wet in the lobby.
On excursions#
| Excursion | Wear |
|---|---|
| Saona, catamarans | Swimsuit, cover-up, tied hat, water shoes, dry bag (guide) |
| Scape Park | Swimsuit under clothes, closed shoes for zip lines, water shoes for Hoyo Azul (guide) |
| Buggies to Macao | Clothes you'll throw away, a bandana for the dust, closed shoes (guide) |
| Monkeyland | Long light trousers, closed shoes, nothing dangly |
| Santo Domingo day trip | Smart casual; churches ask for covered shoulders |
Off the resort#
Dominicans dress well and modestly in town. Jeans or trousers, a clean shirt, a dress, real shoes. Beachwear stays at the beach. At a baseball game or a colmado in Verón, looking like a person rather than a tourist gets you a different evening. Punta Cana beyond the resort.
What to bring#
Reef-safe sunscreen (the reef and the natural pool need it), a dry bag, bug spray for the evenings, a tied hat, water shoes, a light layer, a rain layer in the wet months, small US notes and pesos for tips. What to pack for the DR is the full list.
By month#
- December to March: dry; one light layer for breezy evenings. January, February.
- April to August: hotter, humid, afternoon showers; water shoes if seaweed is in. May.
- September to November: a rain layer you'll use. October, November.
Ask a Dominican#
What people wear to a Verón colmado on a Saturday, whether the resort will really turn you away in shorts, which excursion ruins shoes: post your dates on Roavi Community and Local Friends who live here answer. A Local Friend is also the person to go to Verón with, dressed right.
Packing for Punta Cana? Ask someone who lives there what's right.
Post your tripFrequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to dinner at a Punta Cana resort?
Buffets are relaxed. À la carte restaurants usually ask men for long trousers, closed shoes and a shirt with sleeves, and women for a dress, skirt or smart trousers. No swimwear, flip-flops or vests after dark. Check your resort's wording.What should I wear to Scape Park and Monkeyland?
Scape Park: swimsuit under light clothes, closed-toe shoes for the zip lines, water shoes for the cenote, a hat. Monkeyland: long light trousers, closed shoes, a shirt you don't mind monkeys climbing on, no loose jewellery or food in pockets.What should I wear in Punta Cana in February or November?
The same light daytime clothes all year. February evenings can be breezy enough for a light layer. November may need a rain layer for the first half. Neither needs anything heavier.What do you wear off the resort in Punta Cana?
Dominicans dress smart and modest in town: jeans or trousers, a clean shirt or a dress, real shoes. Swimwear, bare chests and very short shorts belong at the beach. In Verón or at a baseball game you'll be welcomed more warmly dressed like a person than like a tourist.
