What is the difference between punta cana and santo domingo

And there is also the small seaside community and tourist destination Juan Dolio, which is 45 minutes away by car. In conclusion, we can see that if you are looking for a beach holiday, Santo Domingo is not the best choice. Because to lie on the beach and swim, you will need to rent a car or take a taxi and go out of town, which takes time.

Because just walking to the beach will not work for you there. Probably one of the best things that await you in Punta Cana is the beaches. They have white and warm sand with crystal clear water. Find yourself on one of these beaches, you feel like in paradise. And the total length of beaches is about 32 kilometers.

The most popular one is stunning Bavaro Beach. The length of the coastline is about 2 kilometers, there are many pubs and restaurants, so you can enjoy the food looking at the ocean. The water in Punta Cana is usually calm, but if you want to do water sports, there is no problem.

Macao Beach is the best one for windsurfing, kite surfing, and much more. There are also a large number of hotels, villas, and apartments on the coast. So you can literally live on the beach without having to go anywhere to swim. First of all, we should say that staying in Santo Domingo probably will be cheaper for you. And this is natural because this is not a resort town with beaches. And most people go to the Caribbean because of the ocean and stunning white sand beaches.

But prices in Punta Cana are not always higher. In order to understand, we have prepared the main points regarding the prices. So, now let us take a closer look at the price difference in both directions. For example, milk will cost you the same at both destinations, it costs about one dollar. Other products cost almost the same, but are mostly more expensive in Punta Cana. Nevertheless, chicken fillets, cigarettes, a bottle of wine, local cheese, a loaf of bread are cheaper in Punta Cana.

These cities are very different in atmosphere, as Punta Cana is a more relaxed city, as opposed to a busy and noisy capital. Oddly enough, in this case, Santo Domingo is more expensive. Perhaps the smallest city but the perfect tourist destination that keeps growing by leaps and bounds. Here you can participate in numerous fun activities that include zip lining at the Scape park although in order to get here, you will be required to scale some rocks and crawl through a small cave hence you will need to be physically fit before to visit this place.

You can also explore this small city by horseback at a ranch of your choice. The Rancho Caribeno for example, offers well-behaved and calm horses as well as some of the most experienced and knowledgeable guides thus you will get the opportunity to sit back and enjoy a horseback ride along the beautiful beaches and through the breathtaking forested hillsides.

Although Punta Cana is limited in terms of the nightlife scene, you will still find some resorts offering great nightlife activities. Santo Domingo is not a good place to party alone especially if you do not speak Spanish. You may also have to contend with a few security issues if you decide to use the taxi transportation hence it is advisable to take a direct flight to Punta Cana where you will find more local people, incredible beaches, night clubs and discos.

Tarik is the founder of ExpatKings. If you need personalized consulting or advice, I am available for hire. Please check out my Services. Your email address will not be published. The resurgence of the DR as a popular vacation destination owes a lot to the development of Punta Cana. Many tourist associate this coastal region as the most ideal when they stay in the Dominican Republic. Some of the most popular tour packages sold in Europe are designed for visitors land at the Punta Cana international airport and be whisked away to beachfront all-inclusive resorts.

Punta Cana is a bona fide resort town built especially for tourists. Staying here will make you feel as if the city was designed for you because it was. There are 11 beaches to enjoy, two of them surfing spots with popular schools. All the sun and sand activities you can think of are offered here: snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, golf, aquatic parks for children, and much more.

You will not get to see any colonial architecture in Punta Cana. This is brand-new and very modern resort city. Lodging options begin with beach hostels, which are fancier and pricier than you would expect elsewhere in DR, but are definitely worth staying in. The all-inclusive resorts are the main draw, and pricing is fiercely competitive.

The most impressive beach resorts are impressively priced, but you may find more reasonable accommodations right next door. There are also nice guest houses and long-term rentals at fair prices, but the all-inclusive resorts have so much to offer that they tend to attract most of the tourists. If you are into diving, oceanic activities, and underwater exploration, Bayahibe is where you should stay in the Dominican Republic. The diversity of marine ecosystems and species in Bayahibe will rival that of Costa Rica, and the beaches feature more wilderness than Punta Cana.

To make scuba diving and snorkeling more attractive, pieces of historical wrecks have been sunk just off the coast, so you better book a trip here soon before they completely transform into coral reef. As for lodging options, they range from a couple of all-inclusive resorts to small beach hotels at extremely reasonable prices.

If you only stay in Bayahibe while you visit the DR, you will not be disappointed because it is a gorgeous place. Chances are that you have heard about major celebrities such as Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Marc Anthony booking extended vacations to DR; now you know where they stay. Historically, La Romana has always attracted wealthy visitors. During colonial days, you would not have caught Spanish soldiers staying here; only high-ranking officers and nobles kept fancy quarters.

Every single hotel in La Romana is wonderful and stylish. This is not the kind of destination where backpackers will find budget accommodations, but it is still worth the day trip. The port and marina facilities are very upscale , and the same goes for dining and lifestyle. La Romana is also home to an important archaeological site where you can learn about the Taino people who likely arrived aboard vessels they made in Venezuela centuries before Columbus discovered Hispaniola.

Before Punta Cana became a primary center for family-friendly tourism , Juan Dolio had already been transformed from a fishing village into a coastal resort.

If a family with younger children stays in Santo Domingo, for example, a good idea is to take the minute drive to Juan Dolio, where you can find amusement parks, fishing trips, and agricultural tourism. If you are a rum connoisseur, you will want to visit the Barcelo Center on a distillery tasting tour; we are talking about premium rums made from special sugar cane strains.

Juan Dolio offers more affordable accommodations compared to Punta Cana. The range of lodging options starts with all-inclusive resorts all the way to small beach hotels complete with swimming pools and tiki bars that can be booked at very affordable rates. See also: Best places to stay in La Havana , best places to stay in Cancun , best places to stay in Costa Rica , best places to stay in Panama City , best places to stay in Miami , best places to stay in The Bahamas.

While the noble Spanish settlers mostly chose La Romana as their favorite place to stay in the Dominican Republic , those who sought a more bourgeois life settled in Santiago, a region where agriculture has always been a way of life. Life is simpler, more affordable, and friendlier in Santiago; this is a place where you will find backpackers staying at local hostels despite the lack of a bohemian district.

Some will argue that Santiago offers more culture than Santo Domingo, and this is reflected by the restored colonial architecture a nd a few museums in the center of town. There are more modest than luxurious hotel s in Santiago, but all of them feature very attractive pricing.

Santiago is also a good city for long-term vacation rentals, and it also offers various ecotourism options as well as guided tour to the beaches.