Has anyone been to Punta Cana?

I lived in the the DR my entire life up until now and from personal experience I can avow that neither Punta Cana, Bavaro, Cabarete, or Puerto Plata will provide a genuine, Dominican experience as would Las Terrenas (located in Samana in the northeastern tip). Las Terrenas is not only stunning, but breathtaking; the beaches are pristine, the sands are white, the corals untouched, the climate is perfect, the population is friendly, no big resorts, there's mountains surrounding the beaches, a waterfall (El Limon), great nightlife, delicious food, and a national reserve nearby - Los Haitises. It is every dream come true! I loved it there so much that I bought 20,000 sq. meters worth of land overlooking the ocean, which has been my best investment by far. I hope you love it as much as I do :)

What I think about Punta Cana - Bavaro ? For me it is not the real Dominican Republic, it is a big Hotel strip with nothing outside! Happy Feet called it ¨The Golden Jail Strip¨ and he is a experienced

operator over here. Go to Puerto Plata, this is the best in every way. You will find anything and surely more fun !!

Hi ! I dont think that Punta Cana is the real Dominican Republic, it is a long strip with golden jails one nex to the other and not much to do outside! I go to Puerto Plata, this is 100x better !! Ask Happy Feet he will tell you and help you to!

The resorts are very nice but there is nothing outside of them. There's not much to do other than horse back ride (recommend!), especially during a full moon on the beach, or the water activities at the hotel. Very bad snorkeling and scuba since it's on the Atlantic, not the Caribbean.

I was there about 20 years ago. At that time it was extremely isolated and there was no "there" there - only all-inclusive resorts. From what I've read, that's still the way it is, although there are more AI's now. The water was gorgeous and we had a great time. Don't know that I'd do it again, though.

I don't care for it. You will not see the "real" DR there. It is a tourists only area built by developers. There is very nice beaches, but I prefer to mix with the local culture in Caberea, Puerto Plata, Sosua, Boca Chica, Santo Domingo, etc......