Punta Cana Cigar, Rum & Chocolate Tour: Bella Mare Store

Four Dominican exports in one stop: cigars made on-site, rum and coffee you taste before buying, chocolate from the factory floor.

A guided shopping tour at Bella Mare Store in Punta Cana where you see cigar artisans at work, taste rum and coffee, sample chocolate, and browse Larimar jewelry, amber, crafts and souvenirs—all with free round-trip resort pickup included. The tour runs about two and a half hours and a live guide speaks English, Spanish, French and German. Children from age 4 are welcome.

The Experience

What do you actually take home from the Dominican Republic? Cigars, rum, coffee and chocolate—and Bella Mare lets you buy all four in one afternoon without leaving Punta Cana. The store is built around a cigar museum where you watch artisans hand-roll 14 different sizes in five strengths, from mild to full-body. Dominican cigars have won multiple awards, and the on-site shop carries boxes at prices you won't beat elsewhere in the area. The same building holds a chocolate factory, a rum tasting station, and a coffee tasting counter, so you move through each one, taste what interests you, and decide what travels home.

Beyond the four main products, Bella Mare stocks Larimar jewelry, amber pieces, paintings, pottery, organic cosmetics and a huge selection of souvenirs—the kind of genuine Dominican goods that resorts mark up. A live guide walks you through the cigar process and the tastings, speaking English, Spanish, French or German depending on your group. The whole visit takes about two and a half hours, which is enough time to see how things are made, taste your way through, and actually shop without feeling rushed.

Free transportation picks you up from your resort and brings you back, though the pickup window can run 30 minutes to an hour depending on where you're staying. The facility is fully wheelchair accessible, and children from age 4 can come along—younger kids can ride in a stroller. If you don't have a car and want to avoid the markup at resort gift shops, this is where locals and repeat visitors actually buy their souvenirs and gifts.

What’s included

• Live guide in English, Spanish, French or German.
• round-trip transportation from your Punta Cana resort.
• rum, cigar, coffee and chocolate tasting.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Caribbean Tour Service

Is this one for you?The free pickup from your resort means you don't need a car or a taxi negotiation to reach Bella Mare—the guide handles the timing and brings you back when you're done, so shopping for cigars, rum, coffee and chocolate becomes a standalone afternoon instead of a side trip you have to plan around.

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Top questions

How does the cigar tasting work at Bella Mare?

You don't taste cigars themselves—you watch artisans hand-roll 14 different sizes in five strengths, from mild to full-body, and then browse and buy them in the on-site shop. The museum shows the full process, and staff explain the differences between the strengths so you know what you're choosing.

What exactly do you taste during the rum and coffee tastings?

The rum tasting station and coffee tasting counter let you sample before you buy, so you can pick the flavors and strengths you actually like instead of guessing. Both tastings are included in the tour.

Is there time to shop, or is it mostly looking?

Shopping is the whole point. The two-and-a-half-hour tour includes time at each station—cigars, rum, coffee, chocolate—plus the jewelry, amber, crafts and souvenir sections, so you have room to browse and buy without being rushed through.

Do I need to arrange my own ride to Bella Mare, or is transportation included?

Free round-trip transportation from your resort is included. Pickup times vary by location but fall within a 30-minute to one-hour window, and the driver brings you back when you're done shopping.

Can I bring my kids, and is the store easy to navigate with a stroller?

Children from age 4 are welcome, and younger kids can ride in a stroller or pram. All areas and surfaces at Bella Mare are wheelchair accessible, so the whole facility is easy to move through with children or mobility needs.