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 · Riu Palace Macao

Buggy & ATV tours from your hotel · Riu Palace Macao

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 Riu Palace Macao guests staying in Arena Gorda (adults-only) — pickup organised at your lobby, paid in cash or card on arrival. Riu Palace Macao sits on the Arena Gorda coast — a adults-only luxury resort about 20 min from PUJ and 15 min from Cabeza de Toro, the marina we use for most boat departures. Adults-only Riu Palace Macao on Arena Gorda Beach — sister to Riu Republica with a calmer pool zone and slightly more upscale F&B.

Plan it on WhatsApp

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 Riu Palace Macao specifically, the timing works because we already know the Arena Gorda (adults-only) lobby pattern and the 15-minute hop to Cabeza de Toro — that's the corridor every buggy trip on this page uses. Adults-only Riu Palace Macao on Arena Gorda Beach — sister to Riu Republica with a calmer pool zone and slightly more upscale F&B.

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 Riu Palace Macao stay, the day's anchor is the 20-minute window between PUJ and the Arena Gorda coast. We schedule each buggy trip around that buffer so couples and families staying in this adults-only luxury resort aren't waiting at the gate for someone else's pickup.

Booking from Riu Palace Macao

When Riu Palace Macao guests book a buggy trip with us, the day is built around two fixed timings: the 15-minute hop to Cabeza de Toro and the 20-minute window to PUJ. Because Riu Palace Macao is a adults-only 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 Riu Palace Macao main lobby. We send a confirmation message with the driver's name and plate the evening before. Expect roughly 20 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 Riu Palace Macao?+

Yes — drivers wait at the Riu Palace Macao main lobby. PUJ airport is about 20 min away, which helps us time pickups precisely.

Which marina do boats leave from for Riu Palace Macao guests?+

Cabeza de Toro — about 15 min from the Riu Palace Macao 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 Riu Palace Macao guests: pickup is at your lobby, the driver is briefed on the Arena Gorda (adults-only) 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 Riu Palace Macao the operational detail is the 15-minute transfer to Cabeza de Toro and the 20-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.