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Punta Cana holidays

Holidays in Punta Cana

The Coconut coast

A lavish coastline of all-inclusive resorts and long stretches of beautiful Caribbean sand and sea.

Dominican Republic

Hotels in Punta Cana

Retrieving our hand picked hotels...

Essential information for Punta Cana

Local Time
-5hrs
Currently
Language
Dominican Republic flag
Spanish
Currency
Dominican Peso
Official currency
Flight information
13h
Punta Cana (PUJ)
Indirect flight
Flight schedule
Fly to Atlanta with Virgin Atlantic and connect onwards to Punta Cana with Delta Air Lines.

Do I need a visa?

Yes. Tourist visas are required for British citizens. They cost US$10pp and can be obtained pre-departure or on arrival.

Departure Tax: US$20

Find out more about Travel Visas here »

Departure tax

Departure tax is US$20. Scheduled airlines sometimes include this charge in the price of the ticket. Please check at time of booking.

Holidays on the Coconut Coast: Punta Cana

Close your eyes and picture paradise for a second. Okay then, what do you see?

Crystal-clear waters? Check. Powder-soft white sandy beaches? Check. Swaying palms? Check. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic is the place you’ve been looking for. Chill chasers and serenity seekers, you’re going to love Punta Cana; the town has all of this and so much more. It’s the Caribbean coastal town that daydreams are made of.

A super popular Dominican Republic destination, Punta Cana holidays make the ultimate break for honeymooners, couples on a getaway, sun-seeking friends, families and lone travellers alike. Don’t just take it from us: this beautiful town has often been voted one of the best places to go in the Caribbean.

Relax on the beach from dusk ‘til dawn, get sporty with Punta Cana’s golf scene and abundant water sports facilities, and watch the sunset with a cocktail. Punta Cana holidays are all about kicking back and unwinding, however you like to do so, in one of the most idyllic settings on earth.

If you need some top tips for making the most of your Caribbean getaway, we’ve got you covered. Here’s some Punta Cana holiday highlights, plus our recommendations for things to see, do and… well, eat.

Known as the Coconut Coast, holidays to Punta Cana are about one thing above all else: B-e-a-c-h-e-s. With a 50-mile stretch of incredible sandy beaches punctuated by coconut-bearing palms, you’re not exactly at a loss for places to relax by the ocean in Punta Cana, that’s for sure. And really, how much more heavenly can it get than a place nicknamed the Coconut Coast?

All of our incredible Punta Cana resorts are located right at the beachfront, with their own private beaches for you to spend your days relaxing on. If you do feel like venturing further afield to find some new beach spots, we recommend the area between El Cortecito Beach and Bavaro Beach. Either way, the ocean will never be more than a gentle stroll away from your room, and at night you’ll be falling asleep to a soundtrack of the ocean. Bliss.

Like other Caribbean islands, the Dominican Republic has its fair share of tropical delights to tuck into. One of our very favourites has to be all the incredible fresh fruit on offer left, right and centre; the country is famous for the best fruit in the world. While eating your way around Punta Cana, try:

  • Perfectly sweet guava, mango like you’ve never had before and more exotic fruits like Sapodilla and guanabana
  • Drink-wise, you’ll find freshly-squeezed passion fruit juice everywhere — it’s deliciously sharp but sweet, and the perfect breakfast accompaniment.
  • Local Caribbean dishes, from various meat and bean stews to pastries (the meat-filled pastelitos are insanely good) and specially-flavoured fried chicken (pica pollo).

All of our fantastic Punta Cana resorts offer exceptional dining experiences; our restaurants’ menus are packed with local specialities.

Every one of our phenomenal Punta Cana resorts also have multiple bar options for you to take your pick from. While you may be tempted to stick to your usual cocktails, be sure to sample the local favourites, too...

  • Presidente Beer is well known all around Dominican Republic, and we’re sure you’ll find it just as refreshing as the locals do.
  • You can’t go to the Caribbean without drinking some rum, now, can you? Of course you could opt for rum and coke every time without any judgement from us, but definitely try the zingier local drink, Santo Libre.
  • Of course, anything with coconut is bound to be especially delicious on the Coconut Coast, so go forth and Piña Colada.

Tear yourself away from your sunlounger and there’s some serious sightseeing to be done and activities to take advantage of, too. For some culture, Punta Cana’s biggest attraction is Altos de Chavon: A re-creation of a 16th century Mediterranean-style European village. If you’re lucky, this weird and wonderful venue will be hosting some live music performances during your stay.

Prefer your sightseeing to be aquatic? You simply cannot miss out on the excursion out to Punta Explorer, a floating island just off the coast. With multi-activity itineraries available, you can dive, snorkel, paddleboard or kayak around the Punta Cana Reef, or simply switch between the island and the glass-bottom boat. Admire the stunning ocean life, from fish of all shapes, sizes and colours to stingrays and even nurse sharks (don’t worry — they’re pretty docile!) Try and make time to visit Astron, the famous shipwreck and world-famous diving spot. The beauty of Punta Cana? There’s something for everyone, and you can “do” it exactly how you want to, however suits you.

If you’re a keen golfer, you probably know about the Dominican Republic’s fantastic reputation; tee off at one of Punta Cana’s three amazing beachside courses, or La Cana Golf Club’s 27 holes. Is golfing your main priority? Zoëtry Agua is handily located near to one of Punta Cana’s main courses, while Hard Rock Hotel and Casino offers unlimited use of the private 18-hole championship course as part of your all-inclusive package.

If you’re looking for something a little bit (okay, a lot) special, we’ve got just the ticket. How about a tour of this beautiful country’s astounding coastlines and turquoise seas… from the air? Whether you opt for helicopter travel or hot air balloon, this is one hell of a way to impress your travel partner; the aerial views are utterly breathtaking, and pretty hard to beat. Looking for the perfect, most unforgettable honeymoon experience? This is as good (and romantic) as it gets, we reckon.

Have we convinced you? Start planning your break by perusing our range of Punta Cana holidays and hotels. From world-class spas and sunlounger beds; to adult-only and infinity pools, all-inclusive options and 24-hour room service; to kids’ clubs and zones with climbing walls and water slides... holidays to Punta Cana truly have something for everyone.

Our luxurious Punta Cana resorts are the perfect setting for your trip of a lifetime. Did someone say “cocktails”?

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Latest Foreign & Commonwealth Office repatriation travel advice

Over the past few weeks, we have repatriated our customers from overseas who wanted to come home.  

Please visit this page to keep up to date with the Government’s travel advice on returning to the UK, and to register for email alerts.
 

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Your holiday may be affected by travel restrictions or cancellations

We are continually reviewing our flying schedules, taking into account the  Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice against all non-essential travel. Depending on when you are due to travel, your holiday may be affected and we’ll email you to let you know as least 21 days before travel.

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You’ll be away before you know it

Your next holiday is only a click away - our website has thousands of options ready to book. But if you need more help, just give us a call on 0344 472 9499.

Looking for inspiration? Explore our destinations and holiday types and save your faves to your very own Wishlist. Or dive right in to our 2021 holiday offers.

For extra piece of mind, new bookings made before 30 September 2020 for travel up 30 April 2021 also have the flexibility to amend free of charge. If you need to change don’t worry, you can move your holiday as far out as 31 December 2021 subject to availability.

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How would you like to talk to us?

With many customers needing our help, we are prioritising those customers due to travel before 31 December 2020. Log in to Manage my booking where you can message us about your options or you can give us a call. Bear in mind you may have to wait longer than expected. We continue to review this and working to open up these options to more customers. In the meantime check out our FAQs to see if this can help answer any immediate questions.

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Stay tuned for the latest updates

Rest assured; we will notify you as soon as we know if your holiday has been affected.  

We are continually reviewing our flying schedules, taking into account the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice against all non-essential travel. Depending on when you are due to travel, your holiday may be affected and we’ll email you to let you know as least 21 days before travel.

Please look out for emails from us or visit our dedicated Covid-19 (Coronavirus) page for the latest updates.

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Let’s talk

If you need to speak to us to change or cancel your booking you can call our team on 0344 472 9646.

For the latest information on Covid-19 you can check our FAQs here.​

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Payment flexibility

Don’t worry if you’ve missed a payment or just need a little more time to pay; we have options available to help you. If your holiday is going ahead as planned, you can continue to pay for your holiday in Manage my booking, even if travelling in less than 12 weeks. If you’re unsure, you can delay any additional payments by choosing a new time to travel by requesting a call back in Manage My booking for one of our team to look at options. If your holiday is more than 6 months away, you may wish to set up a Direct Debit to spread the cost. This can be arranged whilst rebooking or afterwards in Manage my booking.

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We're flexible with your holiday plans

We understand that you may wish to change your holiday plans and we appreciate the need for flexibility. 

We'll be in touch by email letting you know how to register to change your holiday plans. You can also log into Manage my booking to find the details there. 

Please look out for emails from us or visit our dedicated Covid-19 (Coronavirus) page for the latest updates.

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You're holiday is going ahead as planned

If we haven’t notified you of any changes, your holiday will be going ahead as planned but if you prefer to move your holiday to a later time we can help. You can call our team on 0344 472 9499 who can look at options for you.

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Thank you for your patience and understanding

Payments are being prioritised based on when the request was made, working in order from March 2020 onwards. We will always try to process refunds at the earliest opportunity, for requests before August our maximum timeframe is 120 days. As we are steadily reducing the maximum processing time for each new request, for refund requests made in August, we expect the maximum processing time to be 80 days, from the date the refund is requested. For those requesting a refund in September, we expect it to be processed within a maximum of 60 days, and then reduce to 30 days for refunds requested in October, before returning to normal levels.

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We'll be in touch soon

To finalise the amendment, one of our customer advisors will phone you. We need to work through amend requests in departure date order so we can prioritise those with the most imminent travel plans, so you may have a longer wait than usual until we’re able to ring you back. We will help everyone that wants to move their holiday.

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I returned early from holiday and have further questions?

You can contact our team by emailing feedback.backhome@virginholidays.com to discuss options on unused portions of your holiday. If you need to contact our team about amending an existing holiday or requesting a refund please log in to manage my booking.

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