Hafen
Punta Cana

Cruise to nearby Catalina Island and spend hours doing whatever you please at the beach, even if it is nothing more industrious than sunbathing. The island is only a mile and a half from the mainland, but it seems to be light years away from civilization. Small and just 60 feet high at its peak, Catalina Island contains several diverse eco-systems, including sand dunes, mangroves and reefs. Still, it is the long stretch of unspoiled beach that is most impressive, perhaps even to Christopher Columbus, who named the island when he landed in 1494. Most of the diversions on Catalina Island revolve around beach activities. Sip a cool welcoming drink, stretch out on the sugar-white beach and watch the waves gently break on the shore. You might also read a book in a cushy lounge chair, enjoy a meandering walk with absolutely no destination in mind and swim in the inviting turquoise sea.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Cruise to an idyllic island just off shore and spend hours relaxing at the beach.
• Stretch out on a lounge chair and bask in the sun or put up the provided beach umbrella.
• Stroll along the beach, which becomes less crowded the farther you walk from the dock.

OVERVIEW

Ride through the wooded countryside in an open-air, all-terrain buggy and experience the adrenaline rush. After an orientation and test drive to familiarize yourself with the four-wheeled buggy, you'll travel caravan-style along the back roads that crisscross the rural landscape surrounding the town of Cumayasa. You can expect it to be an adrenaline-filled adventure all the time, but especially when you drive off the beaten path. It'll be even more fun if the terrain is muddy. You'll take a short break at a cave filled with mysteriously lit geological formations and drive through a rugged area where caliche mineral deposits are mined, join us on this exciting adventure.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through the beautiful Dominican countryside in an open-air buggy.
• Expect a fun-filled high-energy experience, especially when driving off-road.
• • Explore a cave with unusual geological formations.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride through the wooded countryside in an open-air, all-terrain buggy and experience the adrenaline rush. After an orientation and test drive to familiarize yourself with the four-wheeled buggy, you'll travel caravan-style along the back roads that crisscross the rural landscape surrounding the town of Cumayasa. You can expect it to be an adrenaline-filled adventure all the time, but especially when you drive off the beaten path. It'll be even more fun if the terrain is muddy. You'll take a short break at a cave filled with mysteriously lit geological formations and drive through a rugged area where caliche mineral deposits are mined, join us on this exciting adventure.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through the beautiful Dominican countryside in an open-air buggy.
• Expect a fun-filled high-energy experience, especially when driving off-road.
• • Explore a cave with unusual geological formations.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Gain an overall understanding of the area by visiting the most representative attractions, including the spectacular Cave of Wonders. Although it took eons to form, the cave wasn’t discovered until 1926, when a group of Boy Scouts just happened to stumble upon it. Although the cave is noteworthy geologically, it is even more highly regarded for its ancient, but well-preserved wall paintings. The aboriginal Tainos created them. You will witness a different sort of creativity at the Tabacalera La Vega Fina, where artisans hand-roll cigars from a blend of aged tobaccos. It is a fascinating process to watch, as it takes years to master the art of constructing the cigar’s different layers for the ideal taste, aroma and mouthfeel. Visiting Altos de Chavon will offer an unusual multi-cultural perspective. The replica 16th-century Mediterranean village features a Grecian-style amphitheater, a medieval-looking church and an archaeological museum full of pre-Columbian artifacts.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Behold hundreds of ancient Taino Indian wall paintings in the Cave of Wonders.
• Watch artisans hand-make premium-quality Dominican cigars.
• Meander the narrow atmospheric streets of a replica 16th-century Mediterranean village.

OVERVIEW

See the historical highlights in the capital Santo Domingo, a colonial town that Bartholomew Columbus founded on the Ozama River in 1498. Even so, the Columbus Lighthouse honors Christopher, Bartholomew’s more famous older brother. It was inaugurated in 1992 to mark the 500th anniversary of the explorer’s first voyage to the New World. Following a revealing look at the beacon’s exterior, you will visit the Alcázar de Colon, a limestone palace that Christopher’s son Diego built while governor. It lies in the Colonial Zone, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage site because its grid layout became the model for future colonial cities. While browsing the rare artifacts at the Museum of the Royal Houses, you will discover more fascinating details about the settling of Santo Domingo and the indigenous pre-Columbian Taino people. That history will really come alive as you watch an immersive 4D movie at the Colonial Gate Cinema.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the history of Santo Domingo through its most significant landmarks.
• Gain insight into how the family of Christopher Columbus influenced the city.
• See the Columbus Lighthouse and the palace that Columbus’s son built while governor.
• Explore the Colonial Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Watch an immersive 4D movie that brings the history of Santo Domingo to life.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Relax on the golden sands of Bayahibe Beach while enjoying the amenities of a luxury waterfront resort. It won’t take long to reach Sunscape Dominicus La Romana, leaving you all the more time to take full advantage of the resort’s facilities. The sea there earned a prestigious Blue Flag designation for the clarity and purity of its water, so it is ideal for swimming. If you prefer freshwater to saltwater, you are welcome to take a dip in the resort’s swimming pools. Or feel free to just lounge about on a beach chair, bask in the sun and do nothing more ambitious than watch the waves gently lapping the shore. You might even join a game of beach volleyball. However, the real draw of Sunscape Dominicus La Romana is its easygoing ambiance so even after just a half day you will leave completely relaxed and without a care in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Spend hours relaxing however you please at a luxury resort on Bayahibe Beach.
• Enjoy access to the resort’s generous amenities, including swimming pools and restaurants.
• Thoroughly relax as there is no schedule to follow other than your own.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in casual weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enhance your knowledge of Santo Domingo’s colonial past by visiting landmarks that shed light on events that shaped the capital over the centuries. As an introduction, you will pause for photos at the Columbus Lighthouse, which honors the famed explorer even though Columbus’ brother Bartholomew founded Santo Domingo in 1496. Continuing on into the Colonial Zone, you will visit the Cathedral of Santa María la Menor, a 16th-century architectural gem that is the oldest cathedral in the Americas. It supposedly contained the remains of Christopher Columbus before they were moved into his namesake lighthouse. For an even deeper look into the past, you will watch an immersive 4D animated movie at the Colonial Gate Cinema that goes into great detail regarding Sir Francis Drake’s invasion of Santo Domingo in 1586. While walking through the Colonial Zone, be sure to notice its simple grid layout, which became a model for almost all New World cities.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Snap photos at the Columbus Lighthouse honoring the famed Italian explorer.
• Browse the interior of the oldest cathedral in the Americas.
• Watch a 4D animated movie about Sir Francis Drake’s invasion of Santo Domingo.
• Notice the city’s grid layout, which earned it a UNESCO World Heritage site designation.
• Enjoy a hearty lunch at a restaurant in the Colonial Zone.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Race through the turquoise waters off La Romana in a speedboat and spend hours relaxing on an environmentally protected island known for its natural beauty. Before arriving at Saona Island, you will first stop at Piscina Natural, a crystal-clear pool in the open sea that is only waist-deep as you will be standing on a submerged sandbank. The remarkably transparent water is ideal for a refreshing swim or you might simply wade in the shallows. Soana features its own natural wonders as it lies within the Cotubanamá National Park. The island is so undeveloped and visually dramatic that it has been a location for several movies, including two “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequels. Feel free to relax however you please on the sugar-white beach while your buffet barbecue lunch is being prepared. You might bask in the sun on a lounge chair, stroll along the shore and take another swim in the sea.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Ride in a speedboat through the crystalline waters towards Saona Island.
• Stop along the way to enjoy the shallow waters of a natural pool in the open sea.
• Thoroughly relax on one of Saona Island’s most idyllic beaches.
• Enjoy a barbecue lunch on the beach and an open bar.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in casual weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise along the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic on a double-decker catamaran and pause along the way to snorkel the reefs just offshore. After settling in on board, you will be free to move about the spacious catamaran and enjoy the plentiful sunny and shaded areas. As you skirt along the shore, the tropical scenery will be absolutely spectacular in every direction. After assessing the water conditions, the captain will anchor the catamaran in an ideal spot for snorkeling. The marine life may include French grunts, spotted drums and yellow goatfish, which often travel in schools. Another stop will made near a sandbar, allowing you to swim and wade in the shallow waters. To enhance the festive on-board atmosphere, the bar will be open, rum-laced Mama Juana cocktails will be flowing and music will be playing. Back at the marina in Punta Cana, time will be allotted for shopping.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in on a spacious double-decker catamaran and cruise the waters off Punta Cana.
• Admire the gorgeous tropical scenery in every direction.
• Snorkel and swim in the crystal-clear waters along a reef and a sandbar just off shore.
• Listen to merengue, the traditional music of the Dominican Republic.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Tour two factories that make extraordinary products synonymous with the Dominican Republic – premium rums and hand-rolled cigars. Ron Barceló rum is made in San Pedro de Macoris, a city renowned for its sugar cane; the juice being the key ingredient that gives the rums their characteristic smooth round taste. During the behind-the-scenes tour, you will see how the various rums are produced, from distilling to packaging. The processes haven’t changed substantially since founder Julián Barceló produced his first rum in 1930. Back in La Romana, you will watch master rollers hand-produce La Vega Fina cigars from a variety of tobacco blends. It is a fascinating skill that results in some of the world’s most revered and affordable medium-bodied cigars. The entire process involves growing, curing and fermenting the tobacco, all of which you will learn about in detail. After touring the factories, you will have the opportunity to purchase the distinctive rums and cigars.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See how premium Ron Barceló rum is made with sugar cane juice, the key ingredient.
• Watch master rollers hand-produce La Vega Fina cigars from a blend of tobaccos.
• Browse both factory gift shops and purchase rums and cigars, if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy the ultimate adrenaline rush by racing over the jungle canopy on a series of ziplines and tearing through the countryside in an off-road buggy. The Bavaro Adventure Park provides a beautifully lush, natural setting for both exhilarating experiences. Each of the six ziplines is a different length and height. The only thing they have in common is the thrill of flying through the air at a breathtaking speed. The last zipline ends in the Mega Splash, a pool of water that will slow you down and cool you off. The ride in the open-air buggy will be just as exciting. It’s all on private roads and off-road as you drive to Cabo Engaño at the island’s eastern tip. There is even a separate track through an abandoned mine. Eventually, you will head to a waterfall, where you will be free to swim in a pool at the bottom of the cascade before enjoying a lunch of Dominican dishes.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Race over the jungle canopy on six ziplines, each one a uniquely thrilling experience.
• Drive an open-air, off-road buggy to the eastern tip of the island.
• Relax and cool off in a natural pool at the base of a waterfall.
• Savor a lunch of characteristic Dominican dishes.

OVERVIEW

Let loose at the Cumayasa Adventure Park by participating in all sorts of thrilling activities, most of them taking place high above the ground. You will be briefed on how to make the most of your adventures, which include walking across several rope-and-wood suspension bridges. Although you will be harnessed in during the crossings, the bridges typically sway in the wind and with every step, so be prepared for a breathtaking experience. The park also features a course of seven double-cable ziplines, allowing you to fly through the tree canopy for an entire mile. Along the way and while pausing on the elevated platforms between the ziplines, you will enjoy a literal bird’s-eye view of the tropical surroundings. You will also have the opportunity to walk through the park’s Hurricane House, a vertigo-inducing but fun carnival-like attraction that makes you feel like you’re moving even when standing still.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an epic day participating in exhilarating activities at an adventure park.
• Race through the tree canopy on a series of ziplines that stretch over one mile.
• Walk across swaying suspension bridges and through the eerie Hurricane House.
• Marvel at the lush natural surroundings from high above the ground.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.