September 2, 2026 · 13 min read
Last updated:
A shallow patch of turquoise sea a few miles off Bávaro where dozens of boats raft up, the music goes on and everybody stands waist-deep with a drink. Here is how it actually works — and how to do it properly.
A few miles off the Bávaro–Cabeza de Toro coast, the sea floor rises into a long, shallow bank of white sand. The water there is waist-to-chest deep, warm and almost fluorescent turquoise — surrounded on all sides by open ocean. Boats drop anchor, raft up next to each other, the sound systems come on, and everybody steps off the swim ladder into the sea.
That is the sandbar. Not an island, not a beach, not a resort. Just a patch of shallow Caribbean where a few hundred people end up standing in the water with a drink in hand, music echoing across the boats. It is the single most photographed moment of most Punta Cana holidays, and it is the reason the party boat is our most-booked excursion.
We are Cana Tours, based in Bávaro. Our boats run to this sandbar three times a day, every day. This guide is what we would tell a friend.
See the party boat — US$ 75 all-inclusive →No. There is no walking route, no shuttle, no beach access. The sandbar sits in open water and the only way to stand on it is to arrive by boat.
Every party boat serving the sandbar departs from Cabeza de Toro marina, roughly 10–15 minutes from most Bávaro hotels and about 20–25 from Punta Cana Village or Cap Cana. You do not need to organise that drive: hotel and Airbnb pickup is included and we collect you 30 minutes before your departure slot.
If you are trying to work out how to move around the rest of the week, our getting around Punta Cana guide covers taxis, Uber and car rental honestly.
The rhythm is the same on every departure. Pickup at your hotel, short drive to Cabeza de Toro, welcome drink on the double-decker catamaran, and out along the coast with music playing.
Stop 1 — the reef. Masks and snorkels come out over a protected reef. Twenty minutes of parrotfish, sergeant majors and the occasional ray. Good for beginners; you can stay on the ladder.
Stop 2 — dolphins. Wild dolphins live along this stretch of coast. They are not fed, not fenced and not guaranteed — but we see them on most runs, and when they show up the whole boat goes quiet for a second and then very loud.
Stop 3 — the sandbar. The main event. Anchor down, ladder out, and an hour of standing in warm shallow water while the boats around you do the same. Drinks keep coming, the crew runs games, and the water is bright enough that photos look edited when they are not.
Then back to the marina and the transfer home. Total: three hours on the water, plus transfer time.
Ask us which slot to pick →One price, no extras at the dock. For US$ 75 per person you get: round-trip hotel or Airbnb transfer, an all-you-can-drink open bar for the full three hours (national rum and liquor, local beer, soda, water), snorkel gear and the reef stop, the dolphin sighting, and the sandbar pool party.
Three departures daily: 9 AM–12 PM, 12 PM–3 PM and 3 PM–6 PM, with pickup half an hour before. Not included: underwater photos and tips.
Yes, the open bar is genuinely unlimited — and yes, that means the afternoon boat has a different energy than the morning one. Choose accordingly. If you want the full comparison of what is on the water in Punta Cana this year, read our best party boat guide for 2026.
Book the party boat on WhatsApp →If you are travelling as a group — a birthday, a bachelor or bachelorette party, a family reunion, a company trip — booking the whole boat changes the day completely. Same sandbar, same reef, same dolphins, but it is your boat and nobody else is on it.
What a private charter can include:
Unlimited drinks, your way. The open bar stays unlimited, and we can upgrade it: premium rum, sparkling wine for a toast, specific cocktails, or a completely alcohol-free setup if that suits the group better.
Your own music. Connect your playlist, or we bring a DJ. No shared sound system, no fighting over the aux cable with strangers.
Party hosts and animation. Bilingual hosts who run the games, keep the energy up and make sure nobody stands around. Dancers and live percussion are available if you want the full show.
Dominican food on board. Fresh fruit, grilled skewers, fried fish, tostones, empanadas — a proper local spread instead of a bag of crisps.
Your schedule. Longer at the sandbar and skip the reef? Sunset instead of midday? Decorations, a cake, a flag with a name on it? All of that is normal for us.
We do not publish private prices, because they honestly depend on the boat, the date, the group size and what you want on board — and a fake number here would only waste your time. Message us with your dates and headcount and you get a real quote the same day. If you are weighing a catamaran against a yacht, our private yacht vs private catamaran comparison explains the difference.
Get a private charter quote on WhatsApp →9 AM–12 PM. Calmest sea, clearest water, fewest boats. Best for families, snorkelers and anyone who wants photos without a crowd in the frame.
12 PM–3 PM. The busiest and most social slot. Most boats at the sandbar, best atmosphere, hottest sun. This is the one most people picture when they say "party boat".
3 PM–6 PM. Softer light, the sea cools down, and the return leg runs into golden hour. Our pick for couples and for groups who want to keep the night going afterwards.
Seasonally it runs year-round. The water is calmest roughly from April to August; December to February brings a bit more swell and slightly cooler air, which nobody who lives here calls cold.
Bring: swimsuit worn under your clothes, reef-safe sunscreen, a waterproof phone pouch or floating case, a hat, and small US dollar bills for tips. Our money guide for Punta Cana explains what to tip and in which currency.
Leave behind: anything that cannot get wet or lost. Phones go swimming more often than you would think.
Sun and rum. Three hours of open bar under Caribbean sun dehydrates fast. Alternate with water — the crew will hand it to you all day, free.
Kids and non-drinkers. Completely welcome. Soft drinks and water are included, the sandbar is shallow, and the morning slot is the family-friendly one. Life jackets are on board in all sizes.
Seasickness. The catamaran is stable and the ride is short, but if you are sensitive, take something an hour before and stay on the upper deck looking at the horizon.
Safety. Licensed boats, insured crew, life jackets, and a headcount before every anchor lift. More context in our honest safety guide for 2026.
Browse all our excursions →If you want a quiet nature outing, no — take the morning slot at least, or look at a private charter. If you want the moment where you are standing in the middle of the Caribbean, waist-deep, drink in hand, music from six boats around you and the horizon in every direction: there is nothing else like it in Punta Cana, and it costs US$ 75.
Planning a celebration around it? Our bachelor party guide puts the sandbar into a full weekend plan.
Message us and we'll sort your date →cana.tours
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