13 Insider tips on how to find the best all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana

The selection of all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana can be overwhelming. There are over 45 properties and more than 80 all-inclusive resorts in this part of the Dominican Republic. So how to choose the right one when planning a vacation in Punta Cana as there are major differences to take care of? The following resort guide definitely will help, as I am happy to share my personal recommendations (all based on first-hand experiences) from our stays in around 50-60 all-inclusive hotels in Punta Cana. After reading, you will be able to find the best Punta Cana resort for your vacation in the Dominican Republic.

After you have found the perfect all-inclusive resort for you, make sure to continue reading with “12 expert tips on how to save money when booking an all-inclusive vacation“!
Looking for a list of the best resorts? Check out the following articles:
– best Punta Cana Resorts with a water park
– best affordable all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana
– cheapest all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana
– best all-inclusive family resorts in Punta Cana
– the best resorts for couples in Punta Cana
– the best honeymoon resorts in Punta Cana
– best party resorts in Punta Cana
– best swim-up rooms in Punta Cana
– the best resorts in Bayahibe

Completely UPDATED December 2023

Quick overview – the best Punta Cana Resorts 2026

 I often see people cluelessly browsing through the tons of available resorts in Punta Cana, not knowing the actual differences between resort A and resort B (and C, D, etc.). Exactly for this reason this resort guide was written – to give you an idea of what the different resorts in Punta Cana are about. That’s why it is highly recommended to read the full guide, especially as it is based on my experiences of visiting more than 50 Punta Cana all-inclusives. That’s why each section comes with a helpful box of resort suggestions. 

 Still, if you don’t have time to read it all, I have picked the very best of the best resorts in Punta Cana for each category, so you can quickly check if rooms are available and if prices are according to your travel budget (you can find more about the right budget further below in the blog post):

All those suggestions are valid for 2026 and have been verified and checked.

 Even though those places mentioned are indeed some of the best resorts in Punta Cana, I’d highly advise you to read through the entire blogpost to understand more about the characteristics and differences of the all-inclusive hotels in the Dominican Republic. 

Resort updates: what’s new for 2026?

If you’re looking for resort openings in Punta Cana 2026 or those hotels which have been rebranded (or closed), this section is for you:

Scheduled and planned resort openings 2026:

• Funeeq Punta Cana is set to open (an upscale family-friendly resort next to Live Aqua from the same company as Live Aqua, see photos and details here*)
• Moon Palace Punta Cana is set to open (an upscale all-generational resort next to Hard Rock from the same owners as Hard Rock, see photos and details here*)
• Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana is set to open (an upscale wellness-oriented resort at the location of former Jewel Palm Beach, see photos and details here*)
• Serenade (3rd resort) is set to open, probably more towards 2027 (a new resort from Serenade right next to their two other existing resorts)
• Lopesan (2nd resort) is set to open, probably more towards 2027 (a new resort from Lopesan right next to their existing resort)
• Secrets Macao Beach is set to open, probably more towards 2027 (a new resort from the well-known Secrets brand right next to Dreams Macao Beach)

Newest resorts in Punta Cana, recently opened:

Most recent rebrandings of resorts in Punta Cana and beyond:

• Hilton La Romana Adults Only rebranded to Secrets La Romana
• Hilton La Romana Family rebranded to Dreams La Romana
• Sunrise Resort Miches rebranded to Marriott Resort Miches
• Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana rebranded to Dreams Cap Cana
• Radisson Punta Cana/Blue Beach Punta Cana rebranded to Bakour Suites Punta Cana
• Falcon’s Resort by Melía rebranded to Paradisus Grand Cana
• Garden Suites by Melia rebranded to Zel Punta Cana
• Iberostar Grand Bavaro rebranded to JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar

Recent closures of resorts:

• TRS Cap Cana closed
• Ancora Cap Cana closed
• Jewel Palm Beach closed (will reopen after full renovations and remodelations as Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana)
• Jewel Punta Cana closed (has reopened after full renovations and remodelations as Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana)

Preamble – what is the best all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana?

There is a reason why this article about the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana is one of the most popular here on Punta Cana Travel Blog – because there is no clear answer to this question. Each hotel has its advantages and different resorts cater to different groups of travelers. For example, what might be the best resort in Punta Cana for families might be awful for couples and the best all-inclusive in Punta Cana for party people is probably not very suitable for young kids.

This is why it is important to know the differences among all the resorts – and that’s what this article is for. Among the approximately 80 Punta Cana resorts, I’ve visited at least 50-60 over the last years, hence I have a pretty good overview of what is the best all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana for you – depending on what you expect.

For this reason, I have divided the question of the best place to stay in Punta Cana into a lot of categories, hence you should be able to find a suitable place for you. Among the categories are the best resorts for families, party people, adults and honeymooners as well as the hotels with the best beaches, best rooms, best entertainment, best service and the best location. I’ll also have a look at where you can get the best food in Punta Canas’ all-inclusive resorts and – of course – the best bang for your buck.

Punta Cana resort reviews

Before I start with a detailed analysis of how you can find the best all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, it is also important to mention that my super detailed Punta Cana resort reviews can help you get a better impression of each hotel. Thanks to our many recent visits, I have been able to get a better impression of so many resorts in Punta Cana and have put my and our experiences into some of the most extensive and comprehensive resort reviews you will find on the internet.

So far, the following resort reviews of Punta Canas’ and Bayahibes’ all-inclusive resorts have been published on Punta Cana Travel Blog:

Furthermore, I have published several blogposts according to specific themes (see images below) which can help you find the best all-inclusive in Punta Cana for a specific category:

Map of Punta Cana Resorts

In case you want to know where all of the Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts are located, you have two options to check out a proper map:
– a Punta Cana resort map designed by Punta Cana Travel Blog with all the exact locations of the hotels 2026
– a standard map where I have selected exclusively the all-inclusive resorts*, the overview won’t get interfered by other hotels. This map shows live availability. For the map, click on the link* and then on “show on map”.

But now let’s start with the 13 ways which help you to find the best all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana.

1) Know your budget!

 When people are asking about hotel recommendations in Punta Cana during my personal travel coaching, I am always asking for their budget first as this gives the first hint on where to look. If someone got attracted by a cheap all-inclusive promotion offer, you don’t have to recommend high-end all-inclusive resorts and if someone is looking for the best possible option and the most luxurious hotel, I won’t recommend them a budget accommodation.

 Likewise, if people are thinking that the Dominican Republic is a super cheap holiday destination and they can splurge for just a few bucks they might be right compared to other countries, but you still have to pay your share if you’d like to expect exceptional quality.

 Speaking in numbers, you can get an all-inclusive holiday in Punta Cana for as cheap as 80-100 USD per person per night – including all meals, drinks, entertainment, activities and all the offers from the resort. Taxes and fees are included as well. That’s an amazing bargain compared to if you just would book an ordinary hotel and go dining at a decent restaurant plus have a drink at the bar. Just the spa, bottled wine, private dinners or exclusive Bali Beds with VIP services usually have to be paid extra in most resorts.  

 And while you have to lower your expectations when booking the cheapest all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana (for further information, check here for plenty of tips and recommendations about how to save during your all-inclusive vacation), you can have a worry-free holiday as the quality in nearly all hotels is pretty good, especially the price-value ratio. That’s my experience from over 60 hotel visits in Punta Cana. Still if possible, I always recommend to spend a few extra bucks on your resort as this can significantly improve your holiday experience.

Here is what to expect price-wise when booking a resort in Punta Cana 2026, including some examples:

	Low Season* (May, June, Sep-Nov)	High Season* (Jan-Mar; public holiday weekends)
Low-Budget Resort (e.g. Princess, Occidental, Vista Sol, Catalonia)	under 200 USD per room per night	under 300 USD per room per night
Mid-Price Resort (e.g. Melia, Riu Palace, Royalton, Serenade)	approx. 200-300 USD per room per night	approx. 300-400 USD per room per night
Premium Resort (e.g. Majestic, Dreams, Excellence, Live Aqua)	approx. 300-450 USD per room per night	approx. 400-600 USD per room per night
High-End Resort (e.g. Hyatt, W, Secrets, JOIA)	450 USD and up per room per night	600 USD and up per room per night

April, July and August are intermediate season, prices can vary between low and high depending on the resort. Christmas holidays and the days around New Years Eve usually see higher prices compared to high season. If you’d like to read more information on the seasons in Punta Cana, check out this article.

Editor’s Choice: the best experiences 2025

Most unique experience in a small group: Authentic rum tasting* (rating 4.81/5)
Best Rated Punta Cana excursion: Isla Saona Premium in small groups* (rating 4.95/5)
Most booked through Punta Cana Travel Blog: Small-Group Snorkeling* (rating 4.92/5)
Best off-the-beaten-track excursion: Montana Redonda & Costa Esmeralda* (rating 4.77/5)
Best excursion for family fun: Jungle Buggies + Zipline Combo* (rating 4.89/5)
New and trending for 2025: Mimosa Cruise*

Not the right tour for you?
Check out the 45 best Punta Cana excursions here at Punta Cana Travel Blog!

My personal travel hack: don’t forget your health insurance*! Ite only costs a few bucks, but it can save you a fortune as doctors and hospitals in Punta Cana usually charge hundreds or thousands, even for simple treatments. Compare prices here* (Trustpilot review score 4.8/5.0)

Best budget all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana

When looking for affordable all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, some of Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites are:

Sunscape Coco

Just opened in December 2023, Sunscape Coco Punta Cana is one of the newer resorts in Punta Cana for budget travelers. The former Be Live Punta Cana was completely renovated and upgraded and is a great option for families in Punta Cana. You shouldn’t expect high-end luxury here, but you can expect modern rooms, decent food and service according to the World of Hyatt standards, as Sunscape Coco belongs to the World of Hyatt.

Grand Bavaro Princess

Grand Bavaro Princess is without a doubt one of the best affordable resorts in Punta Cana. Completely renovated rooms, a large selection of restaurants, beautiful resort grounds, even some wildlife, a great stretch of beach and full resort amenities are just a few of the things you can expect here. It’s impressive how much they offer for usually very low prices.

Catalonia Punta Cana

Catalonia Punta Cana is another cheap all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, but one which really delivers for the low price point. Decent food, a huge buffet (perfect for vegetarian travelers as well), a juice bar at the beach with fresh fruit juices, wonderful tropical gardens and a beach lined with picture-perfect palm trees are just a few of things you can expect here. While the standard rooms are pretty old and definitely have seen better days, the Privileged rooms at Catalonia Punta Cana are absolutely recommendable and are fully modernized.

Please note that this is only a selection of the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana if you’re on a budget. I could mention dozens of them here and you will find many more affordable options further down in this article.

If you are interested in further cheap all-inclusive resorts of 100 USD per person and under, continue reading here. There is also a list of the best affordable all-inclusive resorts here, such as Vista Sol, Grand Sirenis Punta Cana, Occidental Caribe, Occidental Punta Cana, Riu Bambu or Melia Caribe Beach.

It might also be worth checking if a holiday package to Punta Cana (flight + hotel booked together) is cheaper. If you already have chosen your favorite resort you can check with the following link for some of the best package prices from your departure airport.

Best medium-budget all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana

If you’d like to enjoy a higher quality during your Punta Cana vacation and are ready to spend a few dollars more, the following medium-budget all-inclusive resorts are some of the best Punta Cana has to offer. No high-end luxury, no cheap crap, but in general a very attractive price-value ratio is characterizing these resorts.

Majestic Elegance

Majestic Elegance is just one resort among the trio of Majestic Resorts in Punta Cana: Majestic Colonial (the lowest tier), Majestic Mirage and Majestic Elegance. I could name them all 3 here in the list of the best resorts in Punta Cana 2026 as they all offer a great value for money in the upscale segment and are suitable for multi-generational travel and all kinds of travelers.

Serenade Punta Cana

Serenade Punta Cana currently consists of three resorts: the multi-generational Serenade Punta Cana (suitable for travelers), the adults-only resort Serenade All Suites and a third resort next door which is currently (as of October 2025 (under construction). All three offer a solid quality in the mid-price segment and are highly recommendable if you’re looking for a relaxed, above average all-inclusive resort without breaking the bank.

Best high-end all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana

If you’d like to splurge, some of the best luxury all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana are:

Live Aqua Punta Cana

A pure couples’ heaven is Live Aqua Punta Cana. Spacious suites, outstanding food, relaxed pool, plenty of Bali Beds and a huge array of activities (even though usually on a lower pace with not much hustle and bustle) are just some characteristics of this very couple-friendly resort in Punta Cana. You’ll love this resort if you’re looking for pure relaxation, upscale dining and an elegant atmosphere.

Excellence El Carmen

Excellence El Carmen is a modern luxury hotel in the Uvero Alto area with plenty of small pools, a very intimate vibe, excellent service and large suites with terraces, rooftops and private pools. Is there anything more you can ask for for your Punta Cana vacation?

Paradisus Palma Real

Paradisus Palma Real was completely renovated in 2023 and has (finally) changed its classy (and outdated) rooms to modern and contemporary suites.
The perfect beach location, excellent service and top-notch restaurants (even though with new menus) are still the same.

2) Pick the right resort depending on your travel companions

 While most all-inclusive resorts cater to many different crowds and can’t be narrowed down to a certain target group, some resorts have found their specific niche. Obviously, as a spring-breaker you would not pick a family resort, a gourmet foodie would not want to visit the cheapest hotels with average restaurants and families with kids are not allowed to book an adults-only resort. Therefore, it’s important to know the specific characteristics of the hotels to make sure you book the right all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. 

When traveling as a couple

 When visiting the Dominican Republic on a romantic getaway, you probably have the biggest choice of all-inclusive resorts, as most properties have certain amenities for couples, such as honeymoon suites, romantic dinners and adults-only zones. Furthermore, couples are the most predominant form of travelers in Punta Cana, so you can be sure to find like-minded people in every resort.

 However, if you’d like to dig a bit deeper and get a more couple-oriented atmosphere in your hotel, you might opt to pick an adults-only all-inclusive resort. There are plenty of them in Punta Cana, which only allow access for travelers of 18 years and older. This guarantees you the right setting as a couple and the one or other additional romantic experience. Here is a helpful overview of ALL adults only resorts in Punta Cana.

Best adults-only all-inclusive resorts for couples with a decent price level in Punta Cana (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

Barceló Bavaro Beach

Barceló Bavaro Beach is an all-time favorite among Punta Canas’ resorts, thanks to its fantastic beach and the huge amount of amenities they are offering. Located at the southeastern end of Bavaro Beach, it is an adults-only resort perfectly suitable if you don’t want to break the bank.

Luxury Bahía Principe Ambar

Combining all the 7 hotels of Bahía Principe, this all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana is the biggest one in the entire Dominican Republic with more than 3000 rooms. Among them, Luxury Bahía Principe Ambar is a particularly recommendable option with satisfying food, affordable rates, very modern rooms, good drinks and a perfect beach location. While Luxury Bahía Principe Ambar is an adults-only resort, neighboring Luxury Bahía Esmeralda accepts all ages.

Catalonia Royal Bavaro

Catalonia Royal Bavaro is a particularly small resort with just around 250 rooms, perfect for those looking for peace and tranquility. With interesting restaurant concepts, a beautiful design and hidden romantic corners, this hotel is perfect if you’d like to experience a different vibe than the typical all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana.

Best high-end adults-only all-inclusive resorts for couples in Punta Cana (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

If you are looking for a high-end adults-only resort, Punta Cana has several great options so that it might be hard to decide. You can check one of the following hotels to see if it suits your budget and your comfort level.

Secrets Royal Beach

Completely renovated and in a new location, Secrets Royal Beach Adults Only awaits you with a beautiful setting and a spectacular Preferred Club section, which features a two-story infinity pool, a long lazy river with a waterfall and an excellent beachfront à-la-carte restaurant for breakfast and lunch.

Secret Tides

Secrets Tides is the first Secrets Resort in Uvero Alto. You can expect the same flawless quality as at Secrets Royal Beach or Secrets Cap Cana. With 688 rooms and 9 restaurants (among them 6 à-la-carte), it offers something for everyone in an upscale and elegant adults-only environment – perfect for couples in Punta Cana.

JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar

Attention wine lovers! With one of the biggest (included) wine selections of all all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar is your place to go when looking for some of the best food and drink options during your vacation in Punta Cana. And for some extra pampering, you have a butler and 24-hour room service included as well.

Do you need further help in picking the right resort? Contact me and we can speak about your preferences and which hotel might be most suitable for you.

When traveling as a family

 Families are the second-biggest traveler group in Punta Cana. That’s not surprising, considering the conditions in the Dominican Republic which might appear like a land of milk and honey, especially for kids. Large pools, free use of waterparks, finest sand to play and to build sandcastles, entertainment and activities with other children, food and drinks around the clock and so much more – there are only a few reasons why families should not spend their Caribbean holiday in an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. 

 While nearly all resorts offer the features mentioned in the last section, there are some which are particularly suitable for families, especially thanks to its large waterparks (Grand Sirenis Punta Cana, the Riu Palace hotels, Hyatt Ziva, Dreams Onyx and Royalton Splash/Punta Cana do have the largest waterparks in the entire Punta Cana area), spacious family suites and special kids entertainment, hence it pays off to take care of these specific amenities when booking your family vacation in Punta Cana.

Best family all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

Paradisus Grand Cana

Paradisus Grand Cana is a pretty new family resort in Punta Cana, which welcomes travelers with particularly great food, a compact resort design and super spacious modern suites. It’s a pretty new resort, hence everything is very modern. Families will love the water park, the kids amenities in the room and the kids club, which is divided into 4 different age groups instead of just the usual 2.

Nickelodeon Punta Cana

The name says it all! When booking your family holiday in Punta Cana at Nickelodeon, you are sure to fulfill every kid’s dream. Sponge Bob, Cosmo, Wanda and all the other Nickelodeon stars will make this a unique Punta Cana holiday with kids and booking one of the creative and outstanding Pineapple Villas will complete the trip to paradise.

Please note that this is only a selection of amazing Punta Cana family resorts. Other options for family hotels in Punta Cana include the very affordable Tropical Princess Deluxe, the high-end resort Finest Punta Cana, the newly designed Princess Family Club, the water park favorite Grand Sirenis Resort or Hyatt Ziva*, one of the best overall resorts in Punta Cana.

If you’d like further ideas on where to stay with your family, you can check out this post about the best all-inclusive resorts with a water park in Punta Cana. It is always great fun for the kids if they can splash around in several pools and rapid slides.

TRAVEL COACHING

Save money and time!

Do you need help planning a customized vacation in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic? Is it difficult for you to decide what and where to book? Would you like to take advantage of someone with years of experience in the tourism industry (knowing all the travel hacks ) and living right in the place where you would like to spend your holiday?
That’s what my personal travel coaching is for. I will design your tailor-made itinerary, tell you how to save money on your trip and send you the best insider tips and recommendations. All the information I send you are crafted with love and passion – and comes with a money-back guarantee. Let me know how I can help you (check my packages here) and send me a request here!
For further information, you can also find verified reviews about my travel coaching services here*.

When traveling and looking to party 

 If you are coming to Punta Cana to party, some all-inclusive resorts get you more than covered. Alcohol included, pool and beach always within walking distance, unlimited food (most resorts have food available 24 hours) and activities and parties every day and night – you won’t get bored during your vacation in Punta Cana. It doesn’t matter if you travel as a group of party animals, if you are hopping over to the Dominican Republic for spring break or if you are a couple who want to connect with like-minded travelers – Punta Cana offers perfect conditions for everyone. And if you would like to venture out of your all-inclusive resort, the party continues at Booze Cruises, Coco Bongo or Imagine Disco.

My personal expert tip: For the most massive parties in Punta Cana, make sure to check out the Riu Party events, which are happening 4 times a week. Guests from Riu Resorts do have free access to these parties, other resort guests can’t access them.

Best party all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

RIU República

If parties, spring break activities and a young crowd to socialize with are what you are looking for, RIU República might be your best choice when booking an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. On top, you get plenty of restaurants, various and large pools, a beautiful beach section and even an adults-only in-resort water park.

Riu Palace Bavaro

Sorry to have Riu mentioned twice among the best resorts in Punta Cana for parties, but their Riu Party events are indeed massive and unique. If you don’t want to stay at Riu Republica with its always spring-breakish vibe, try one of the Riu Palace Resorts (such as Riu Palace Bavaro) with much better food, rooms, service and even 4 weekly Riu party events. While Riu Palace is usually super quiet, you can change into party beast mode when hopping over to the neighboring party place.

Royalton CHIC Punta Cana

Royalton Chic is another Punta Cana all-inclusive resort where themed activities and social upscale entertainment is one of the top priorities. With some good live performances, great dining options and a beautiful pool area, you’ll get everything you need to spend your Punta Cana vacation in style.

For further hotels in Punta Cana with a party focus, make sure to check out the list of the best party resorts in Punta Cana.

When traveling to Punta Cana as a single

In my opinion, there are no specific all-inclusive resorts for singles in Punta Cana. However, single travelers can find something in nearly every hotel in the Dominican Republic.
If you are traveling alone and are a party-avid traveler, you can check out the recommendations mentioned in the section above, as those would be perfect for you. If you want to connect with like-minded people but without having too much booze, you can check some of the resorts catering for a general crowd, such as Dreams Royal Beach, Riu Palace Punta Cana or Iberostar Punta Cana. Thanks to the activities and open-minded people as well as other single travelers, you will have plenty of options to socialize in every all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana.

Best all-inclusive resorts for single travelers in Punta Cana (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

RIU República

Obviously, a hotel good for parties and activities is also a perfect option for singles to socialize and get to know others. You definitely won’t have any problems in doing so at RIU República. Furthermore, you can enjoy drinks from more than 10 bars, plenty of pools, several à-la-carte restaurants and an on-site water park just for adults.

Grand Bahía Principe Aquamarine

Grand Bahía Principe Aquamarine is Bahía’s newest concept of combining an affordable Punta Cana holiday with a daily activity program created to enable the connection among travelers. Adding a new beach club and an improved quality in food and drinks you have the perfect recipe for a worry-free all-inclusive vacation in Pùnta Cana and good chances to meet some other guests.

Breathless Punta Cana

Elegant entertainment and plenty of well-elaborated social activities – this is what you can expect at breathless Punta Cana. Add some very recommendable restaurants, international brands for your drinks and access to neighboring Dreams Onyx and you’ll get one of the most complete all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana.

3) What kind of beach you are looking for?

 The good news ahead: all all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic are located right at the beach or have beach access through their sister resorts. Furthermore, when coming from the US or cold Europe, all beaches in Punta Cana are pretty, beautiful and will satisfy your daily need for Vitamin Sea. They are some of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic.

 However, there are still differences when it comes to the beach. For me, one of the best stretches is located in the main Bavaro area, as it is the widest part, palm-fringed and you can walk along the beach without interruption for more than 10 miles. Furthermore, there is some public access, so even if you are staying outside of an all-inclusive resort, you can easily reach Bavaro Beach. Hotels such as Dreams Royal Beach, Secrets Royal Beach, Paradisus Palma Real and Melia Punta Cana are located along Playa Bavaro.

 For other people, Playa Juanillo or Playa Blanca in the southern area of Punta Cana – Cap Cana – might be the best beaches in Punta Cana, as they are the whitest beaches with very calm and turquoise water. Sanctuary Cap Cana, Secrets Cap Cana and both Hyatt Hotels, Zilara and Ziva, are located here. 

 Another type of beach is Macao, which is popular among locals and very suitable for surfing. There is just one resort at this beach, Dreams Macao Beach, so if you prefer to stay away from the other all-inclusive crowds, this is your beach to go.

And, last but not least, it is also important to keep an eye on the seaweed. The seaweed season in Punta Cana was pretty intense in 2025. Even though this doesn’t mean that 2026 becomes equally crazy, but you should keep an eye on it if a picture-perfect beach is important to you. Bayahibe and Miches are usually the best options for resorts without seaweed. A couple of suggestions for seaweed-free beaches are listed below:

 As you can see, the best all-inclusive resort in terms of the beach depends on you when finding the right all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. While you can’t go wrong with any beach resort, it is important to know the differences. Check out my post about the 10 best beaches in Punta Cana to get to know more about the characteristics.

All-inclusive resorts on the best beaches in Punta Cana (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

Secrets Cap Cana

If you are looking for particularly white and shiny beaches, the area around Cap Cana shall be your area to stay at – at least outside of the seaweed season in Punta Cana. Secrets Cap Cana is one of the best all-inclusive resorts here, offering top-notch accommodation and perfect adults-only conditions, including a very shallow ocean.

Secrets Royal Beach

Bavaro Beach is without a doubt Punta Cana’s top beach with more than 10 miles of sand, thousands of palm trees and some beach areas as wide (!) as 300 feet. One of the Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts at these particular wide sections is Secrets Royal Beach, a perfect hotel in the premium segment with well-selected drinks, spacious and modern suites and an amazing Preferred Club Lounge – right at the beach.

Dreams Macao Beach

Until a few years ago, Macao Beach was a wild and unpopulated beach famous among locals during the weekend. It still is, and it still is one of Punta Canas’ most beautiful beaches, but now you also have the chance to stay at a pretty new all-inclusive resort (only opened in 2020), the wonderful Dreams Macao Beach. With Secrets Macao Beach, it will soon (probably 2027) get a well-known neighboring resort.

Travel resources

Punta Cana Airport Transfers: Info | Book It*
Santo Domingo Airport Transfers: Info | Book It*
All-Inclusive Resorts: Info | Book It*
Apartments & Villas: Info | Book It*
Excursions: Info | Book It*
Rental Car: Info | Book It*
Road-Trips & Self-Drive Tours: Info | Plan It
Health Insurance for your trip: Compare Plans* | See prices*

If you want to know at which beach your specific hotel is located, you can use the following Punta Cana resort maps:

4) Large resorts with tropical gardens or smaller properties with direct beach access?

 Another important point when talking about the beach is to pick the right all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana in terms of the size. While some resorts have beach access in less than 2 minutes from every room, there are other super large properties where you walk around 15 minutes from your room to the beach. 

The smallest all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana (size of the property)

 The advantage of these small and compact resorts is obvious. You can walk everywhere without problems, have the pool, beach and restaurants always close and might be lucky to get an ocean breeze in your room, even you have not booked an ocean view suite. However, most of these resorts can’t compete with the Caribbean charm of other resorts, as most rooms are located in bigger buildings and there is not as much space for tropical vegetation. Luckily, there are (still) no high-rise resorts in Punta Cana up to now.

Sanctuary Cap Cana

This compact luxury all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana offers high-end services and plenty of suites to choose from: rooms in a castle-style building, beachfront villas or imperial, tower and premium suites are just a few of the well-equipped and stylish rooms you can choose from. And at Sanctuary Cap Cana you are never far away from a picturesque and white sandy beach …

 Sports Illustrated Resort Punta Cana

 Sports Illustrated Resort Punta Cana is a little bit different than your typical all-inclusive resort, as it is located at the prestigious and elegant Cap Cana Marina, but doesn’t have a beach (but a beach shuttle). Within the resort, everything is super close as the maximal walking distance from any point to another is less than 500 feet.

Occidental Caribe

The room farthest away from the beach at Occidental Caribe is 550 feet, but it is much more likely that you are being accommodated less than 300 feet away from the beach in this cheap all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, which is built nearly parallel to the beach and therefore offers at least a partial ocean view from many rooms.

The largest all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana (size of the property)

 When booking a large all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana with a huge property, it might be surprising for people when they get to know that their room is 15 minutes walking away from the beach. While this indeed might be frustrating, there are other advantages of these types of resorts: they are usually set in a beautiful tropical garden with lots of colorful flowers, most rooms are located in very small units rather than big buildings, which gives it a more intimate atmosphere (and less noise from your neighbors) and you need some time to explore your resort thoroughly, which is perfect to prevent “cabin fever”, especially when you are not planning to leave your all-inclusive resort a lot. 

 And don’t worry, most of these large resorts offer shuttles and mini-train rides within the hotel for free, so you don’t have to walk if you don’t want to.

Melía Punta Cana Beach Resort

If you love tropical gardens, smaller buildings and an ample area, Melía Punta Cana Beach Resort is your Punta Cana resort to book. It features a beautiful natural area, mangroves and plenty of refugium for smaller wildlife so that you more will feel like being in a natural park rather than a big all-inclusive resort.

Grand Bahía Principe Punta Cana

Even the distance to the beach at Grand Bahía Principe Punta Cana might be a bit farther than in other resorts (but there is a free trolley covering the entire property), the impressive capacity of 3000 rooms from the entire Bahía Resort also has its advantages: plenty of activities, a huge sports program and many restaurants and entertainment options.

Grand Bavaro Princess

Grand Bavaro Princess is another huge resort in Punta Cana, but the space here is well-used. While there is a mangrove section in between the hotel which divides the property into two areas, it is a perfect place to relax as those mangroves are home to various animals, some small hiking trails and an artificial lake, which counts for a great nature experience at Grand Bavaro Princess. It is also one of the best resorts in Punta Cana to see wildlife.

5) Recent openings: do you want Punta Canas’ latest all-inclusive resorts?

 Punta Cana is always reinventing itself as new all-inclusive resorts are opening every year. If you are not caring that much about the reviews from the last 3 years (because the resort has just recently opened its doors) and don’t mind if there are some little hiccups every now and then, the newest all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana might be the best pick for you.

 Recently opened resorts in Punta Cana come with many advantages. You get the newest rooms, can enjoy contemporary designs and state-of-the-art concepts. Furthermore, all facilities are brand new and if you are lucky, you can catch a great introductory rate which is lower than what you usually pay for a comparable standard of the hotel.

 If you are looking for very new resorts, but some of which are already well established, you can check out Finest Punta Cana, Live Aqua, Serenade Punta Cana, Dreams Flora, Secrets Tides, Serenade All Suites Resort, Sunscape Coco, W Punta Cana and Dreams Cap Cana which were all opened in the last 5 years among some others.

 And the list of hotel openings in Punta Cana never ends: if you always wanted to be the first guest in an all-inclusive resort, you can have a closer look at Moon Palace Punta Cana, Hyatt Vivid or Funeeq Punta Cana, which are all scheduled to open in the next months and years.

Currently, the following Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts are among the newest, all opened or about to open during winter 2025/2026.

W Punta Cana

 W Punta Cana is about to set new standards in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic. According to what I have heard and what I have seen so far, W Punta Cana is the most luxurious, the most creative and the most comfortable all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana – even better than Hyatt, which has been leading in nearly all the rankings for more than 5 years.

Secrets + Dreams Playa Esmeralda

 Secrets and Dreams Playa Esmeralda are two new resorts at pristine Playa Esmeralda in the Miches area, approx. 80 minutes north of Punta Cana International Airport. They’re the first resorts at that beach, hence you will find an unspoilt beach, authentic experiences and natural highlights in this area which yet has to be fully developped.

Zemi Miches

 Elegant suites, amazing views and a high-end approach is awaiting you at Zemi Miches Curio Collection by Hilton. A Thai restaurant, a fruit market and a Taino-inspired restaurant are setting new standards in the Miches area and when you choose your room, you shouldn’t miss the fantastic and unique Bungalow Collection rooms.

6) Rooms: what type of suite do you want?

When traveling to Punta Cana, you have tons of options when it comes to choosing your room. Some Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts offer up to 20 room categories, so it pays off to take a minute and have a look at the different options.

 Among others, you have the following choices:
– do you prefer a room with a contemporary design or do you prefer a more classy style?
– is a garden or pool view enough for you or do you want to book an upgrade for a beautiful ocean view room?
– would you like to have a swim-up room with direct access to the pool?
– or are you even looking for rooms with private pools?
– it is also important to note that some all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana do have regular rooms, others do have only suites, which are bigger and feature additional amenities.
– if you are traveling as a family, connecting rooms or a 1-bedroom suite with an additional sofa bed could be the best option for you.
– many hotels and resorts in Punta Cana also offer a VIP Level, called Preferred Club, Premium, Club Level or other similar names. Those rooms are more expensive but are coming with additional amenities

 As you can see, there are plenty of options when it comes to your room in Punta Cana.

 While it is difficult to name the best rooms in Punta Cana as this completely depends on your preferences, I will name three particular hotels with unique room categories as Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ top picks for this category.

Excellence Punta Cana

Besides the typical suites with swim-up, oceanview, VIP level and all those varying amenities, Excellence Punta Cana can count on some really cool private pool suites. The best is that the suites with a private plunge pool are among the cheapest at this hotel. If you want more creative rooms, you can also check partnering Excellence El Carmen*.

Palladium Bavaro Suites

The all-suites resort Palladium Bavaro Suites lives up to its name and does not only offer regular junior suites, but also some extraordinary room categories such as a Romance Suite with a private palapa and outdoor shower or a rooftop suite with jacuzzi, Bali bed and a beautiful view from your rooftop terrace.

Live Aqua Punta Cana

We have visited dozens of all-inclusive in Punta Cana, but hardly have we seen such beautiful AND luxurious rooms as at Live Aqua Punta Cana. Attention to detail, a wonderful design, state-of-the-art technology and gadgets – Live Aqua has it all. Live Aqua is also a great option if you’re looking for a resort with a swim-up suite in Punta Cana.

7) Food: buffet or à-la-carte? Reservations or not? Gourmet or a casual eater?

 For most people, the food in their hotel might be as important as the beach and the right budget. While all all-inclusive hotels in the Dominican Republic offer decent and plenty of good food, there are differences in terms of the quality you can expect. While you have some really delicious dishes and buffets in all the hotels, you would have to choose a little bit more expensive resorts to get culinary highlights with every meal.

 Furthermore, the best choice of an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana in terms of food depends if you prefer to eat at the buffets or in the à-la-carte restaurants, especially for dinner. 

 For breakfast and lunch, you usually have a buffet. The quality varies, but usually increases more or less proportionally to the price of the hotel. However, even at the cheapest all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, you can get a decent breakfast with bread, omelet, fruit, cheese and much more. Breakfast is served as a buffet nearly everywhere, just VIP levels in some of the hotels and a couple of high-end hotels might feature an à-la-carte breakfast and lunch. 

My expert tip: Don’t worry too much about negative or conflicting reviews regarding food at all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana. Peoples’ expectations often vary widely. While some expect Michelin-star cuisine at a low-budget resort, others are flexible and know that resort gastronomy is different than at home. In general, you will find plenty of fresh and delicious food to eat as long as you come with an open mind and don’t compare it to your favourite restaurant at home.

 For dinner, the differences between the all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana are bigger. Your best choice depends on your preferences – do you prefer to eat on a buffet or would you like to have a full à-la-carte menu?

 For dinner, all all-inclusive hotels offer a buffet restaurant, usually with different themed nights, such as Mexican, Dominican, Italian, etc. 

 Furthermore, all hotels have à-la-carte restaurants, depending on the size of the resort usually around 4 to 8. While I prefer that kind of restaurants as they offer menu-style dining compared to the typical all-inclusive buffets, you have to take care of how your hotel handles the access to those à-la-carte restaurants:

 1) Free choice and no reservations required. You can visit the á-la-carte restaurants as often as you like and at the time you want (e.g. RIU Palace Punta Cana, Dreams Flora, Secrets Royal Beach, RIU República, Finest Punta Cana, Live Aqua)

 2) Reservations required. You can make reservations for à-la-carte restaurants every day, but there is a certain capacity. If they are fully booked, you can only eat at the buffet restaurant. (e.g. Occidental Caribe, Vista Sol Punta Cana, Hard Rock Punta Cana (reservations not required but recommended), Grand Sirenis, Serenade Punta Cana, Lopesan Costa Bavaro, Catalonia Punta Cana, Caribe Deluxe Princess, Paradisus Grand Cana, Grand Bavaro Princess)

 3) Reservations required with restrictions. You have to make reservations for your à-la-carte dinners and can only visit them a few times a week, for example a maximum of 3 per week. The remaining evenings you have to eat at the buffet restaurant (e.g. Grand Bahia Bavaro/Punta Cana, Viva Miches by Wyndham)

 My personal tip: There is no transparent star rating in the Dominican Republic which is why almost every all-inclusive resort falls into the category of 5 stars. Even big tour operators often copy this classification. Therefore, it is more recommendable to pay attention to personal recommendations and unbiased reviews than to the star rating of an all-inclusive hotel in Punta Cana.

 Choose wisely which option you prefer. I am always a big fan of the “no-reservation policy” as this allows me to stay flexible and spontaneous, even if there might be some waiting involved when you visit in the peak dining hours between 7 and 8 pm.

Best all-inclusive resorts for foodies in Punta Cana (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

Dreams Onyx Punta Cana

Actually Dreams Onyx (formerly called Now Onyx) is a family resort with a water park in Punta Cana and not necessarily known for top-notch cuisine. And while you shouldn’t expect the most spectacular menu, Now Onyx stands out as you have the choice between 14 reservation-free à-la-carte restaurants, 2 buffets, a beach grill and a coffee shop, thanks to the full access (for adults) to neighboring breathless Punta Cana.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has always offered top dining options with themed restaurants and creative menus. With the opening of “The Market” Hard Rocks buffet offers a kind of food truck concept. Add some unique specialty restaurants like the Lebanese bistro or the biggest ice cream shop in Punta Cana and you will find a pretty decent foodies heaven at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana is one of the best overall resorts in Punta Cana, which makes it not surprising that you can also expect top-notch cuisine. You can choose between stunning buffets, plenty of snack bars and elegant à-la carte restaurants, of which the French-Polynesian and the Indian restaurants are two of the exceptional favorites.

Besides the general idea, that you usually receive better food the more you’re paying for a resort (even though you might be surprised about the quality at cheap resorts considering you only pay 70-100 USD per person per day), there are some remarkable restaurants and food options you shouldn’t miss during your Punta Cana vacation.

Best Punta Cana resorts for vegan and vegetarian travelers

I have planned a separate post about the best vegetarian and vegan Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts. Until this is ready, the following options shall also be of great help if you’re looking for the best vegan food in Punta Canas’ all-inclusives. 

In general, it is important to understand that you find vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options in every all-inclusive in Punta Cana. Obviously, some hotels have more options, some have fewer. We are also pescatarians and mostly vegetarian travelers and therefore always have an eye for what healthy options are on the menu, particularly if it’s meat-, sugar- and fat-free.

As a general rule, you’ll always find plenty of choices at the main buffet, especially when it is a large buffet. You can count on large salad stations, plenty of cooked vegetables, bread, spreads and Dominican vegan favorites such as Mangu (mashed plantains), Moro (rice and beans) or Yucca Encebollada (Yukka with onions). 

Also at the à-la-carte restaurants, there is usually always a vegetarian dish available – but not necessarily a vegan option. However, they can usually put together a plate for you – but you might need to ask and be flexible and patient. 

If you’re a vegan, it definitely is recommended to choose one of the better resorts, at least one in the mid-price range or even better a premium all-inclusive in Punta Cana. Like this, you’ll find à-la-carte restaurants with more creative menus and usually at least 1 or 2 vegan options. The same goes for travelers who are relying on gluten-free nutrition. The better and more upscale the resort, the more gluten-free options you will find at the buffet and the à-la-carte restaurants.

Considering this, the following hotels are among the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana for food, particularly for vegan travelers:

Finest Punta Cana

Finest Punta Cana is one of the best resorts for vegans as they have a vegan/vegetarian menu in each restaurant – industry-leading and some of the best all-inclusive food in Punta Cana for vegans. You also get coconuts for free.

Grand Bavaro Princess

Grand Bavaro Princess is one of the resorts with a super large main buffet where we found tons of vegan options + Grand Bavaro Princess has vegan-friendly Indian, Asian or Italian à-la-carte restaurants.

Zoetry Agua Punta Cana

Being one of the smallest resorts in Punta Cana, Zoetry Agua Punta Cana offers carefully selected menus and is particularly capable of attending special dietary requirements such as vegan food or gluten-free meals.

Punta Cana resorts with the best à-la-carte restaurants

I don’t know how many restaurants in Punta Canas’ resorts we have visited in the last few years among our dozens of hotel visits, but we shall have dined at at least 70-80 à-la-carte restaurants in Punta Cana, probably even more. While this category is not necessarily about the best overall food in all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, it is more about remarkable menus, unique restaurants or outstanding experiences – even though all the resorts mentioned here also offer pretty well-elaborated food options in their other restaurants.

Royalton Chic

If you are looking for the best Indian food in Dominican Republics’ resorts, Royalton Chic could be the leader. Of all the Indian restaurants we tried so far, “Taj” at Royalton Chic was the best, including taste, menu choices and the general vibe.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Featuring the Lebanese à-la-carte “Bistro”, Hard Rock Punta Cana has a unique restaurant that is one-of-a-kind. Eat handmade Falafel, delicious Hummus or indulge in other Arabic specialities – something which you can’t find in other resorts in Punta Cana.

Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana

 A restaurant with a train seating, inspired by the famous Maharaja Express train with delicious Indian food? Yes please, this and more is expecting you at Hyatt Zilara, one of the best resorts for foodies in Punta Cana.

Punta Cana Resorts with the best restaurant location

Sometimes it is all about the best location – and not only about the food in Punta Canas’ all-inclusive resorts. Can you imagine having lunch or dinner with a spectacular view of this turquoise ocean or with seeing the palm trees swaying in the wind? With those views, all-inclusive food tastes even better. 

Catalonia Bayahibe

Definitely the best restaurant location all over Punta Cana and Bayahibe. The “Terrace” at Catalonia Bayahibe (only for Privilege rooms) has an amazing beachfront location with incredible views and a very decent Tapas menu, plus it’s open for breakfast, lunch AND dinner.

Zel Punta Cana

If there were an award for the best beach club restaurant in Punta Cana, Zel Punta Cana would be a serious contender for it. Contemporary design, a creative menu, impeccable service and marvelous ocean views are just a few things you can expect at the Neguri Beach Club.

HM Alma de Bayahibe

The cheapest all-inclusive resort also gets its spot in this category. HM Alma de Bayahibe, formerly called Whala Bayahibe, features an à-la-carte restaurant right over the cliffs, where you are surrounded by the ocean. It is so close that your feet are nearly getting wet. The food for sure is not top-notch, but the location definitely is.

8) Is alcohol important for you?

 All all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana always have alcohol included – so no worries about this. But the quality might vary, especially the availability of premium brands and top-shelf spirits. While you usually get no-name alcohol in the most economic hotels, better brands are served in more upscale all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana. It is hard to draw a line here as the offers are varying, but when picking a resort for your vacation in the Dominican Republic, make sure they have at least a few branded spirits. A local Brugal or Barcelo rum is a must and some basic Johnny Walker whiskey, Beefeater gin and Stolichnaya or Smirnoff vodka should be included as well – but they aren’t when you book the cheapest resorts such as Viva Wyndham by Miches or Tropical Deluxe Princess. Therefore, it’s better to spend a few bucks more to get decent drinks and save on other ends – such as those expenses mentioned here which you can easily cut down. If you are looking forward to some hand-crafted, creative and delicious cocktails with high-quality ingredients, you should book one of the upscale and high-end resorts.

 But beware, even some expensive resorts might mix your cocktails with no-name alcohol (which isn’t harmful, it just doesn’t have the best quality).

 My personal tip: When ordering a drink, always specify the brand of alcohol you want to have in it. Like this, you are preventing the hotel from using their cheapest house brand.

 By the way, it doesn’t matter which resort you choose, you always have all non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks included (beer, house wine and local spirits) throughout the entire day, usually 24 hours. As long as you don’t want to buy bottled wine, premium champagne or other exclusive drinks, you don’t have to pay a single dollar for your entire stay to get your thirst satisfied.

 In case you are a night owl, make sure that drinks are included in the disco as well. Some resorts close their bars at 11 pm and charge extra for drinks at the hotel’s night club.

Get your free e-book now – “16 amazing things-to-do for free in Punta Cana”!

The best drinks at Punta Canas’ all-inclusive resorts

Even though “you get what you pay for” with regard to the quality of alcohol, we’d love to highlight a few particular hotels which have some outstanding locations, bars or characteristics. 

Over the years, the following hotels have caught our attention with the best drinks at all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana:

Finest Punta Cana

I was positively surprised when we realized that coconuts – which most of the resorts charge extra for – are included at Finest Punta Cana. Furthermore, you have plenty of Mexican beers, premium spirits and high-quality international brands to choose from, as well as a natural juice bar.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Hard Rock Punta Cana sets standards with the 26 bars it has available throughout the resort. While you’re not getting the most spectacular cocktail at every bar, in particular the craft cocktails and pop-up bars are worth mentioning, as they are what makes Hard Rock different from other resorts in Punta Cana.

W Punta Cana

W Punta Cana is setting new standards in Punta Cana, not only for the overall resort experience, but also for the drinks. If you are looking for a place where every cocktail is a masterpiece of mixology and art, W Punta Cana is your spot to go.

Best bars in Punta Canas’ resorts

During our past all-inclusive stays in Punta Cana in different hotels, there have been some bars that called our particular attention as they are different from what you can expect in similar all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana. 

Tropical Deluxe Princess

The “Beach House Rooftop” at Tropical Deluxe Princess bar has an amazing view, probably the most spectacular view from a bar in Punta Canas’ resorts. Furthermore, it is tastefully designed and equipped with attention to detail, hence it is a joy to sit and relax at this very special place at Tropical Deluxe Princess.

Royalton Chic

“Taboo Bar” set standards when it comes to drinks in reasonably priced all-inclusives in Punta Cana. The preparation of a cocktail at this pre- and after-dinner drink bar in Royalton Chic Punta Cana lasted at least 10 minutes, but this was well worth it considering the amount of passion and love the bartender put into each drink.

W Punta Cana

Sorry to mention W Punta Cana again in this category of the best resorts, but if an all-inclusive resort is providing a real speakeasy (you can’t find a lot of information about it as it’s supposed to be really a surprise), the hotel definitely takes its target of customer excitement very seriously.

9) Entertainment & Sports: where to have the most fun

All resorts feature daily entertainment, various activities and a fun or interactive night show every evening – such as magic shows, Michael Jackson revivals, love nights or musicals.

TOP 12 Punta Cana Excursions

Isla Saona: Saona Info | Book it*
Private Saona Island Tour: Private Tour Info | Book it*
Dune buggy and ATV excursion: Buggy Info | Book it*
Punta Cana Ziplining: Zipline Info | Book it*
Party boat & booze cruise: Party Boat Info | Book it*
Best Nightlife Show: Coco Bongo Info | Book it*
Scape Park Cap Cana & Blue Lagoon: Blue Lagoon Info | Book it*
Los Haitises National Park: Los Haitises Info | Book it*
Santo Domingo: Santo Domingo Info | Book it*
Samaná (Salto El Limón & Cayo Levantado): Samaná Info | Book it*
Helicopter & airplane tours: Helicopter Info | Book it*
Whale watching (Jan-Mar only): Whale watching Info | Book it*

Looking for more inspiration? Check out the 40+ best Punta Cana tours!

Most important thing to book before your trip – what most people forget: health insurance for the Dominican Republic – get prices here*
(gets you covered in case of illness, accidents or necessary medical treatments)

 In these terms, Hard Rock Punta Cana is standing out for me due to their boulevard with various bars and (usually) daily live music, which is always crowded and where a lot of fun is going on. Also breathless is a good option as they have daily activities and parties you can’t find in most other hotels, even though it can’t compete with the massive Riu Party events, accessible from nearly all Riu hotels in Punta Cana. 

 If you are looking for sports options, check the watersport activities in your desired all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. In a good hotel, kayaking, Hobie-cats, surfing, paddleboarding, etc. are included. Golf courses are also widely available, the same as tennis or basketball courts. In the last years, a couple of hotels added a bowling alley to their amenities, however, most of them charge extra to use it.

Best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana for entertainment and sports (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

Riu Palace Punta Cana

It is not a specific thing of Riu Palace Punta Cana (you could also choose Riu Palace Bavaro or Riu Palace Macao as they have the same entertainment options) that there is so much entertainment, it is more a characteristic of the entire Riu property. You have a modern gym, one of the biggest water parks in Punta Cana, massive Riu pool parties in a separate venue, a golf course not too far away, several watersports and ball game options, a popular disco and much more. What else can you ask for?

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is not only famous for its food & drinks but also for the great variety of live shows, entertainment and music acts. Especially at night, there is hardly any other more lively all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana than Hard Rock, so if you want to get entertained, this is definitely your place to go.

Catalonia Royal Bavaro

Don’t expect any nightlife when booking Catalonia Royal Bavaro (well, there is some decent entertainment at neighboring Catalonia Bavaro Beach where you have free access to), but be prepared for some good sports opportunities, especially when you like water sports (kayak, Hobie cats and snorkeling for free) and golfing (free green fees at neighboring Catalonia Golf Course). There are also occasional pool parties at neighboring Catalonia Punta Cana.

10) Location: do you want to immerse yourself into local life?

 Another point when deciding on all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana might be the location in terms of the local life. Most resorts are located far away from everything and the only way to leave them is by rental car (check here if it’s worth to rent one in Punta Cana), taxi (prices are pretty high and Uber in Punta Cana sometimes is a bit tricky), excursion (find the best activities here) or by public transport (get to know the details of the Punta Cana public transport here).

However, there are few resorts which are right in the busy center of Bavaro, where you can walk to local colmados, food trucks, Dominican bars and other supplies of daily life. Most of them are located along the Los Corales and Cortecito stretch, where you have plenty of authentic local life just outside of your resort. Check out some further free things-to-do in Punta Cana here.

For a better overview of the location of each hotel, you can have a look at these detailed Punta Cana maps with the exact location of all the all-inclusive resorts in the area.

All-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana with the closest proximity to local life (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

Impressive Premium Punta Cana

Impressive Premium Punta Cana is (besides whala Bavaro) the closest Punta Cana all-inclusive resort to the famous beach and restaurant area of Corales, an area that can be called the center of non-resort tourism in Punta Cana. It is just a 5-minute walk to plenty of local restaurants, where you can get a better impression of Punta Cana’s daily life than in your resort.

Vista Sol Punta Cana

Vista Sol Punta Cana is located between Corales and Cortecito, two areas in Punta Cana with public beach access. Both are reachable in walking distance and popular among local tourists with plenty of restaurants and smaller shops.

Occidental Punta Cana

If you are looking for the local Punta Cana nightlife outside of the all-inclusive resorts, Occidental Punta Cana is your hotel to go to when it comes to the closest location. Less than 10 minutes walking away (or less than 2000 feet), you can find two famous places when it comes to having a drink with locals: Corner Bar is a good choice to start the evening, Drink Point next door is the place to be at night for some proper Punta Cana nightlife. Grand Bavaro Princess would be another option and is right next door.

Why you can trust me & Punta Cana Travel Blog

With my extensive travel history and industry background, I can offer the best advice from the traveler’s perspective and tourism professional perspective.

All articles on Punta Cana Travel Blog are written with love & passion, all from my first-hand experiences and without any AI. Furthermore
– I have been living in the Dominican Republic for approx. 6 years
– I have visited more than 50 all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic
– I designed hundreds of tailor-made itineraries for a tour operator in the Dominican Republic
– I have visited more than 40 waterfalls, all 31 provinces and 70 beaches in the Dominican Republic
– I have a bachelor’s degree in tourism and know all the secrets of the industry
– I have spent a total of 373 nights in accommodation in the Dominican Republic, visiting 155 hotels
– I have worked my entire life in the tourism industry and am a passionate traveler as well
Read more about me here or send me a travel coaching request if want to take advantage of my expert knowledge of Punta Cana’s tourism.

If you want to know more about the location of your all-inclusive hotel, a Punta Cana resort map might come in handy. I have prepared two different ones for you, so you can check the hotel location properly:

11) Reviews: choose the visitors’ favorites!

 I agree, with more than 80 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana it sometimes might be very difficult to find a suitable choice. One option on how to find the best resort in Punta Cana could be by relying on hundred of thousands of other opinions. Each all-inclusive resort has on average around 3000 reviews on Tripadvisor and more than 1000 reviews on Booking. com, sometimes even more than 10000. Multiply this by the number of all-inclusive resorts and you get a base of more than 200.000 hotel reviews.

 More than 200.000 opinions shall be sufficient to find the top-rated all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. While you can perfectly dismiss some of the “awards” published by Tripadvisor or other platforms, such as “Travellers Choice” or other fluff (usually, those are just driven by marketing and not the actual share of positive reviews), looking at the review results of the different all-inclusive resorts gives you an interesting idea on what might be the best all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana.

At booking.com, there are currently only 4 resorts out of more than 80 which can reach at least 9 out of 10 points (+ W Punta Cana and Iberostar Coral Selection, but they hardly have any reviews hence the score is not representative), with Hyatt Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, Secrets Cap Cana, JOIA Bavaro and Secrets Tides being the leaders. For breathless, it was expected that they drop out of thw 9.0 rating (it’s a great resort, but too special to get extraordinary ratings from every client), for Hyatt Ziva as one of the leading resorts in Punta Cana quite surprising, even though 8.9 is still an excellent result. Sanctuary Cap Cana also dropped considerably, even though I can imagine that this is mostly due to their beach, which is heavily affected if there is seaweed in Punta Cana plus their Expedia reviews are still exceptional, hence it’s not a quality problem here.

The following are the best resorts in Punta Cana according to Bookings’ reviews:

Best all-inclusiere resorts in Punta Cana according to Booking resort reviews 2025/2026

Hyatt Zilara, Sanctuary, Hyatt Ziva, Secrets Tides and JOIA Bavaro are the best Punta Cana resorts 2026 according to Expedia, scoring between 9.4 and 9.6 points. They are followed by a bunch of other resorts, which are mostly reaching a valuation of 9.0 out of 10 points.

The following table shows all of the Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts which reach at least 9 out of 10 points with Expedia.

Best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana according to Expedia resort reviews 2025/2026

At Tripadvisor, the only resorts that currently (as of October 2025) do have at least 4.75 out of 5 points are Hyatt Ziva, Secrets Cap Cana, Hyatt Zilara and JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar. These resorts are among the Top 5 resorts in Punta Cana since many years.

The following list shows the best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana according to Tripadvisor – all hotels that have (or had before) a rating of at least 4,75 out of 5 as of January 2024.

Best all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana according to Tripadvisor resort reviews 2025/2026

 As you can see, Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt Ziva and Secrets Cap Cana are scoring top positions at all of the three big booking and review platforms, so it is pretty safe to say that these three are the top recommendations when you are looking for the best overall all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. It wouldn’t be a surprise if W Punta Cana enters this Top 3 along with the next update of this article, as the resort has a 100% top-notch approach and is poised to be one of the best resorts in Punta Cana. It just opened a few weeks ago so impressions are still too fresh to tell definitely.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana

This family all-inclusive resort can be considered as “everybody’s darling” in 2023 and 2024. Hyatt Ziva, only opened in 2019, is striving to offer top-notch service and amenities and can be considered as one of the high-end resorts in Punta Cana. Guests are saying thank you with some of the highest ratings in the industry.

Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana

The adults-only section of Hyatt in Punta Cana doesn’t fall short of its family neighbor and pleases guests with culinary highlights, a perfect white sandy beach and luxurious rooms and suites. When visiting adults-only Hyatt Zilara, you also have access to the family resort of Hyatt Ziva, including all the additional restaurants, bars, pools and the huge water park.

Secrets Cap Cana

Located at the beautiful white beach of Juanillo, Secrets Cap Cana is a fantastic high-end all-inclusive resort in the south of Punta Cana. Enhancing your stay with amazing swim-up, beachfront and master suites, it features unlimited à-la-carte dinners, premium drinks and an impeccable service.

12) Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts with the best spa

Another way how to find the best all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana is according to the spa – especially if you love wellness, massages, hydrotherapy and facials. With very few exceptions (whala Bavaro is the only one I can think of so far) every all-inclusive hotel in Punta Cana does have its spa, but the quality varies.

To be honest, I am not a spa expert. Even though I have seen dozens of spas already, I have so far only had one massage at Melia Punta Cana Beach Resort. Therefore I can’t help you with a lot of personal experiences in this case but have used Tripadvisor as a neutral help. 

Therefore, the following three hotels are among the best Punta Cana resorts when it comes to the wellness area and the spa. It is important to note that all spa services are not included in your all-inclusive stay and have to be paid extra, except for some room categories at Melia Punta Cana Adults Only.

Melia Punta Cana

YHI Spa at Melia Punta Cana Beach is one of the most popular and – according to Tripadvisor – also the best spa within all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana. Furthermore, Melía Punta Cana Adults Only has implemented a wellness inclusive concept, which includes daily spa treatments with some room categories. During our stay at Melia Punta Cana, we were also able to enjoy a relaxing massage at the incredibly thoughtfully designed YHI Spa, a real oasis to relax. 
 

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

The Rock spa is amongst the largest spas in Punta Cana and even in the Dominican Republic. This is no surprise, as Hard Rock Punta Cana’s spa comes with 42 treatment rooms, the Caribbean’s most complete hydrotherapy center and endless facilities such as whirlpools, steam room, sauna, foot creek pathway, hydro-reflexology, sensory expertise pool and an ice room.

Excellence Punta Cana

Miile Spa at Excellence Punta Cana (Excellence El Carmen has a Miile Spa as well) receives top reviews due to its attentive staff and the very charming and relaxing atmosphere. Therefore it scores third place when it comes to the best spas in Punta Cana

13) Not finding the right options? Alternatives to Punta Cana

Bayahibe: better snorkeling options

 If the resorts above don’t suit your preferences, you can also check some alternative options in the surrounding tourist destinations of the Dominican Republic. One of them is Bayahibe (check out the full Bayahibe travel guide here), which is particularly recommendable if you are looking for turquoise ocean water and some better snorkeling opportunities. While Punta Cana has a fantastic reef, which protects the beaches from the Atlantic waves, the reef is too far away for snorkeling. That’s why snorkeling in Punta Cana is not always possible, as you can read here in this article. Therefore, if snorkeling during your vacation in the Dominican Republic is very important for you, you can check out this article about the best snorkeling spots in Punta Cana and beyond, including Bayahibe.

 A nice side effect: as Bayahibe has a different direction of ocean currents, you’ll hardly find any of the typical Punta Cana seaweed here, which sometimes might be a problem in Punta Cana.

Bayahibe is less than one hour driving away from Punta Cana, so it is a perfect alternative to a Punta Cana vacation. Airport transfers from Punta Cana International Airport are readily available.

 The best all-inclusive resorts in Bayahibe (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus

Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus is one of the leading all-inclusive resorts in Bayahibe: impeccable service, comfortable rooms, quality food and a prime beach location – everything you can ask for when booking an all-inclusive vacation in the Dominican Republic.

Dreams Dominicus

Dreams Dominicus is one of the most recent additions to the all-inclusive resorts in Bayahibe. It features modern and spacious suites, various reservation-free à-la-carte restaurants, international drinks and an attractive price-value ratio.

Catalonia Bayahibe

Catalonia Bayahibe is located at Dominicus Beach and offers great value for money. Highlights are the Privileged Club restaurant with an amazing ocean view, the newly renovated pool with a swim-up bar and several themed activities throughout the week. Catalonia Bayahibe is a suitable hotel for adults and families likewise who want to spend their holidays in Bayahibe.

Puerto Plata: looking for adventures, mountains and local life

 If Punta Cana sounds too posh and fancy for you (which it sometimes is) and if you are looking for authentic adventures in the countryside, Puerto Plata might also be a good pick for you. While most all-inclusive resorts here can’t compete with those in Punta Cana, the surrounding definitely can. Check here how you can get from Punta Cana to Puerto Plata.

Especially the mountains right north of Puerto Plata are a highlight of the Dominican Republic. They are offering endless outdoor activity options such as canyoning, waterfall chasing, rappelling, caving, hiking or mountain biking. Furthermore, they form a dramatic backdrop and stunning scenery. Additionally, when staying in one of the all-inclusive resorts of Puerto Plata, you are much closer to the Dominican life than in Punta Cana, so you get a more authentic impression of what the Dominican Republic is about. Interested? In this article, you can find further thoughts about why Puerto Plata might be worth a consideration. 

 The best all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Plata (Punta Cana Travel Blogs’ favorites):

Emotions Playa Dorada

Emotions Playa Dorada is a fully renovated and modern all-inclusive resort in Puerto Plata with contemporary suites, some interesting restaurants and a chic appearance. Besides a family section, it does have some adults-only rooms. All the buildings are located super close to the beach.

BlueBay Villas Doradas

BlueBay Villas Doradas is one of the older all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Plata, but does offer an attractive price-value ratio, especially considering that you can choose between various à-la-carte restaurants, Bali beds at the beach and that it is an adults-only hotel at Playa Dorada.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada has always been one of the most established and most reputable all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Plata and it’s a perfect match if you’re looking for a well-managed yet affordable hotel in the area. Playa Dorada.

 Do you need further help deciding for the right destination and the best all-inclusive resort? If so, check out my travel coaching, and I am happy to help you by analyzing your needs and proposing the best options based on your preferences. You can also continue reading my article about how to save money when booking an all-inclusive vacation or check out the best budget all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana.

 Or do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments what is important for YOU when deciding on an all-inclusive resort. Have you been to Punta Cana already? What’s your favorite resort in the area? I am super excited to hear from you.

SHARING IS CARING! IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS – I WOULD APPRECIATE IT A LOT.

CHRIS

Author, Travel Coach & Industry Professional (Bachelor’s degree in tourism)

Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean soul, who has been living in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. I’d love to be your Punta Cana expert, as I have stayed at more than 45 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and the country, visited more than 70 beaches, explored more than 40 waterfalls and have seen basically all the attractions Punta Cana has to offer. I have also studied tourism for 3 years and worked in the tourism industry my entire life, which is why I am not only giving you recommendations and tips as a traveler but also the best secrets and travel hacks as an industry professional.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page, send me a travel coaching request or Contact Me here.

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