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Best known around the world as “Punta Cana,” the Coconut Coast is nothing less than central casting’s vision of a Caribbean beach resort. All the superlatives – and all the clichés – are here along this 30-mile stretch of powdery white-sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and crystal-clear blue waters. What’s more, the climate is as near-perfect as you can find: year-round sunshine, cloudless skies, and warm temperatures cooled by soft ocean breezes.
Not surprisingly, the beaches are lined by dozens of mega-resorts positioned like dominoes along the sands, which help make Punta Cana both one of the most internationally celebrated corners of the Dominican Republic as well as one of its least “authentic.” Located on the eastern tip of the island about 125 miles from Santa Domingo, Punta Cana is virtually a world unto itself – more like an international enclave than an integral part of the country.
With few exceptions, you won’t find atmospheric seaside villages here, or much in the way of natural adventures. There are few local restaurants or small charming hotels undiscovered by the masses. Punta Cana is where the masses come to soak up the sunshine, swim in the sea, quaff exotic drinks, fill up on massive (if mostly generic and often bland) buffets, and, for the most part, commune with other tourists. For many Punta Cana vacationers, the most contact they’ll have with Dominicans outside the airport is with the waiters who serve them their piña coladas by the pool or the maids who fluff their pillows at night.
Serving the influx are many of the finest accommodations available in the country – some 25,000 rooms and growing fast – overwhelmingly in all-inclusive resorts. While many, if not most, Punta Cana visitors make the resort life here the focus of their entire stay in the country, there’s no law that says you can’t use it for recharging your batteries after a daunting climb up Pico Duarte or a challenging cross-country bike ride – which is exactly what some adventuresome travelers do. The atmosphere at these huge palaces is downright indulgent. Besides the all-you-can-eat buffets and free-flowing drinks, you can expect to find non-stop activities – ranging from beach sports to discos, casinos to Vegas-style entertainment – in a setting that’s reminiscent of the Nevada gambling mecca (except that here there are waves lapping the sands).
There is a downside to all the indulgence, however: the potential impact of rapid development on the local environment. Over-use of natural resources has caused some erosion of the very attractions that draw people here, particularly the beaches and offshore coral reefs. Some of the criticisms by environmentalists and a rising awareness of the need to have sustainable programs in place have led many resort and tour operators to begin promoting environmental awareness by educating and training their staffs. Few resorts, however, have gone beyond that to implement real steps toward control, such as investing in reusable resources or – the most obvious but least likely – scaling back on the number of visitors. You may want to keep environmental policies in mind when deciding where to stay. Green Globe 21 is a worldwide certification program that facilitates sustainable tourism. For more information and guidelines on “green hotels” visit their website at www.greenglobe21.com.
