ATV & Buggy Tour Punta Cana: Cave Swimming & Macao Beach

Ride through ranch land, dive into a hidden cave, and end at an unspoiled beach.

An ATV and buggy tour in Punta Cana combines off-road driving through local farmland, a swim in a freshwater cave, and time at Macao Beach, one of the Dominican Republic's least crowded stretches of sand. A guide leads the group in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French. Shuttle transport picks you up and brings you back. The tour runs four hours and includes tastings of local coffee, cacao, tea and cigars at a working ranch.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore countryside, beach, and cave

• Visit local ranch and learn farming
• Taste coffee, cacao, tea, mamajuana, cigars
• Relax and swim at Macao Beach
• Swim in hidden freshwater cave

The experience

You start at a local ranch where the guide walks you through how Dominican farmers grow coffee, cacao, tea, mamajuana and cigars, and you taste what they make. From there you drive ATVs or buggies (depending on which option you book) through the countryside toward Macao Beach. The route itself is the point: you're moving through working land, not sitting in a van watching it pass.

Macao Beach is the stop most people come for. It's one of the few stretches of Dominican coast that hasn't been built over, and the water is clear enough to see the sand beneath you. You have time to swim, walk the shore, or just stand there and take photos without a crowd around you. The beach is exposed to the Atlantic, so the waves are real, not the calm lagoon water of the resort beaches.

Before heading back, you stop at a cave filled with freshwater that stays cool year-round. The water inside is clear and the rock formations are the kind you'd expect from a place that's been underground for thousands of years. You swim here, which is the moment most people remember when they're booking the next tour. The cave is a natural wonder, not a theme-park version of one.

What’s included

• Shuttle pickup and drop-off in an open safari truck or air-conditioned van.
• ATV or buggy rental for the full tour.
• guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• tastings of local coffee, cacao, tea and cigars at the ranch.
• cave swimming and beach time at Macao.

Options for this experience

3 options

Shared ride optionGuide in 5 languages · 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00Pickup is included for the shared ride, where you split the vehicle with other guests.

Family ride for three to four peopleGuide in 5 languages · 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00Pickup is included for the family ride, a private vehicle for your group of three to four.

Solo ride optionGuide in 5 languages · 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00Pickup is included for the solo ride, where you have the vehicle to yourself.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by DCS Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to move through the countryside under your own power instead of watching it from a window, and you have a free afternoon to spend outside the resort. The four-hour length fits between a morning arrival and an evening dinner, and the mix of driving, swimming and beach time means there's something for different energy levels in the same group.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (4 to 11 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

Can I book this tour if I'm arriving in Punta Cana for just an afternoon?

Yes. The tour runs four hours, and pickup is included, so you can book it the same day you land if your flight gets in early enough. The operator offers morning and afternoon departures.

What's the difference between the Family Ride, Solo Ride and Shared Ride options?

Family Ride is for groups of three to four people traveling together; Solo Ride is for one person; Shared Ride puts you with other travelers on the same tour. All three follow the same route and include the same stops and tastings.

Is Macao Beach crowded, or is it actually quiet like the description says?

Macao Beach is genuinely less developed than the resort beaches closer to Punta Cana. It faces the open Atlantic, which keeps most day-trippers away, so you'll find far fewer people there than at the hotel beaches.

How cold is the water in the cave?

The freshwater inside the cave stays cool because it's underground and shaded, but it's not so cold that most swimmers find it uncomfortable. You'll want to bring a towel, which the shuttle provides.

What happens if I'm not comfortable driving an ATV?

The Shared Ride and Family Ride options let you choose a buggy instead, which is easier to handle. If you book Solo Ride, you'll be on an ATV, but the guide can advise you on the route before you start.