What is the best excursion in Punta Cana?

The most popular excursion is the Saona Island day trip from Bayahibe — natural starfish pool, white-sand beaches, open bar, hotel pickup included. For a more exclusive alternative, cana.tours runs a premium speedboat Saona tour that skips the crowded catamaran route and stops at four spots in a shorter day.

Is Saona Island worth visiting?

Yes — especially with the premium speedboat option. The mass-tourism catamaran version is cheap but very crowded (often 200+ guests per boat, 11-hour day). The speedboat is more exclusive, faster across, and stops at four locations including the natural starfish pool.

How much does a Punta Cana airport transfer cost?

Private one-way transfer from Punta Cana airport (PUJ) costs roughly USD 30–80 depending on zone and vehicle: Cap Cana ~USD 25 (15 min), Bávaro ~USD 35 (25 min), Uvero Alto ~USD 60 (50 min), Bayahibe ~USD 110 (1h 30m). Pre-booked private transfers are typically 30–50% cheaper than airport-curb taxis.

What are the best things to do in Punta Cana?

The nine headline experiences are: Saona Island, Catalina Island, Catamaran party boat, Buggy / ATV adventure, Horse riding on Macao beach, Private yacht charter, Santo Domingo colonial city day trip, Dominican Adventure Kingdom theme park, and the Taíno cultural night journey.

Is Punta Cana safe for tourists?

Yes. The resort corridor (Bávaro, Cap Cana, Uvero Alto) is one of the safest tourism zones in the Caribbean. Standard precautions apply (avoid carrying valuables on the beach, use prearranged transport at night, drink bottled water). cana.tours uses only licensed, insured local operators.

When is the best time to visit Punta Cana?

Best weather is mid-December to mid-April (dry, 27–29 °C). Best value is May, June and early November. Avoid mid-August through mid-October (peak hurricane window). Crowds peak at Christmas, US Spring Break (Feb–Mar) and European summer holidays (Jul–Aug).

Hotel guide · Macao Surf Camp

Buggy & ATV tours from your hotel · Macao Surf Camp

Off-road buggy and ATV adventures with pickup at your hotel lobby. Macao beach, cenotes, sugar cane trails and rum-and-cigar tastings. Tailored for Macao Surf Camp guests staying in Macao Beach (boutique surf lodge) — pickup organised at your lobby, paid in cash or card on arrival. Macao Surf Camp sits on the Macao coast — a family luxury resort about 30 min from PUJ and 25 min from Cap Cana Marina, the marina we use for most boat departures. Family-run surf lodge directly on Macao Beach — dorm and private bungalows, daily surf lessons and the most authentic non-resort base on this stretch of coast.

Plan it on WhatsApp

Pickup & drive times

Drive times from Macao Surf Camp to every tour meeting point

Macao Surf Camp is about 30 min from Punta Cana Airport (PUJ). Below: one-way drive from your lobby to each tour's departure point. We coordinate a complimentary shuttle and confirm pickup the night before by WhatsApp.

Macao Surf Camp → Meeting point

Saona & Catalina Island90–105 min
Bayahibe Marina
Party Boat / Catamaran15–25 min
Cabeza de Toro
Buggy & Horseback Riding5–15 min
Macao
Private Yacht charter35–45 min
Cap Cana Marina

Tour	Meeting point	Drive from hotel
Saona & Catalina Island	Bayahibe Marina	90–105 min
Party Boat / Catamaran	Cabeza de Toro	15–25 min
Buggy & Horseback Riding	Macao	5–15 min
Private Yacht charter	Cap Cana Marina	35–45 min

PUJ Airport → Macao Surf Camp: ~30 min by private transfer.

Routes & vehicles

Single or double-seat buggies and quad ATVs. Classic 3-hour loop covers Macao surf beach, a local cenote and a chocolate/coffee farm. Premium tours upgrade to RZR side-by-sides and include lunch. From Macao Surf Camp specifically, the timing works because we already know the Macao Beach (boutique surf lodge) lobby pattern and the 25-minute hop to Cap Cana Marina — that's the corridor every buggy trip on this page uses. Family-run surf lodge directly on Macao Beach — dorm and private bungalows, daily surf lessons and the most authentic non-resort base on this stretch of coast.

What to wear

Closed shoes, sunglasses, sun cream and clothes you don't mind getting dusty. We provide helmets and bandanas. Showers available at the meeting point. For a Macao Surf Camp stay, the day's anchor is the 30-minute window between PUJ and the Macao coast. We schedule each buggy trip around that buffer so couples and families staying in this family luxury resort aren't waiting at the gate for someone else's pickup.

Booking from Macao Surf Camp

When Macao Surf Camp guests book a buggy trip with us, the day is built around two fixed timings: the 25-minute hop to Cap Cana Marina and the 30-minute window to PUJ. Because Macao Surf Camp is a family luxury resort, we pre-brief the guide on the lobby layout, the resort's wristband policy, and where to wait so security never asks twice. That's the difference between a smooth pickup and 20 lost minutes at the gate.

Send your dates, group size and room number on WhatsApp

Send your dates, group size and room number on WhatsApp. We confirm pickup time at the hotel lobby, the meeting guide's name, and the cash/card price — usually within minutes, 7am–11pm. Pickup is from the Macao Surf Camp main lobby. We send a confirmation message with the driver's name and plate the evening before. Expect roughly 30 min between PUJ airport and the hotel. We're a Dominican team based in Bávaro. No call centre, no resort kick-back. Your concierge resells the same trips at +30–50% — we put you in touch with the small operators directly.

Our Selection

Curated excursions

Adventure 4 hours

Macao Buggy & Cenote Adventure

Off-road buggy ride, private cenote swim & Dominican tastings in the Macao countryside.

$55 / person · $30 / child

Book on WhatsApp

✓ Reserve now, pay on tour day

Experience 2 hours

Horseback Beach Riding

Trot along untouched Caribbean shoreline at golden hour.

$65 / person

Book on WhatsApp

✓ Reserve now, pay on tour day

⭐ Bestseller

Premium · Full Day 8 hours

Saona Island Premium 4 Beaches Tour

Premium speedboat tour to 4 of Saona's most beautiful beaches — all inclusive.

$120 / person · $70 / child

Book on WhatsApp

✓ Reserve now, pay on tour day

All-Inclusive Party 3 hours

Party Boat & Snorkeling

3 hours all-inclusive: all-you-can-drink open bar, snorkeling, dolphins and the legendary sandbar pool party.

$75 / person

Book on WhatsApp

✓ Reserve now, pay on tour day

VIP · Private Charter

Do you pick up at Macao Surf Camp?+

Yes — drivers wait at the Macao Surf Camp main lobby. PUJ airport is about 30 min away, which helps us time pickups precisely.

Which marina do boats leave from for Macao Surf Camp guests?+

Cap Cana Marina — about 25 min from the Macao Surf Camp lobby. We always pick the marina that saves drive time over chasing a slightly cheaper boat further away.

Is a driving licence required?+

No licence needed. Buggies are dune-style with a 5-min briefing. Minimum age to drive is 18; kids ride as passengers. Specifically for Macao Surf Camp guests: pickup is at your lobby, the driver is briefed on the Macao Beach (boutique surf lodge) wristband policy, and the buggy trip runs on the schedule we agreed by WhatsApp.

Will I get muddy?+

Yes — that's the point. Wear clothes you don't mind dusting. We provide goggles, bandanas and showers at the end. From Macao Surf Camp the operational detail is the 25-minute transfer to Cap Cana Marina and the 30-minute window to PUJ — both already built into the buggy trip price you see.

Why not just book at the hotel excursion desk?+

Resort desks resell the same trips with a 30–50% markup and usually push larger group operators. We connect you directly to the small Dominican operators we use for our own family.

Can I pay in cash on the day?+

Yes — USD or DOP, in cash, on pickup. Card and bank transfer also work. No deposit needed for most options.

What languages do guides speak?+

Group tours are bilingual EN/ES. German, French, Italian, Russian and Portuguese guides available on request for private trips.

Can it be private, just for our group?+

Yes — almost everything on this page has a private upgrade (own boat, own buggy, own driver). Ask us on WhatsApp.