Punta Cana: Higüey Basilica & Cigar Factory Half-Day Tour

The Basilica of Higüey draws pilgrims and tourists for one reason: the story behind it

You visit the Basilica of Higüey and walk the local market, then ride horses at a ranch and eat a typical Dominican lunch with organic ingredients. A stop at a cigar factory lets you roll your own, and you see how a countryside house is furnished and how cocoa and coffee are made by hand. The tour ends with 30 minutes at Macao Beach to swim. Hotel pickup from your Punta Cana resort is included, and the whole experience takes a half day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Higuey30m
2. Macao Beach30m

Cultural tour from Punta Cana to Higüey

• Visit the Basilica of Higüey
• Walk through Higüey local market
• Horseback tour at Papito Ranch
• Enjoy typical Dominican lunch in Anamuya
• Visit cigar factory and make a cigar
• Tour typical Dominican countryside house
• Relax and swim at Macao Beach

The experience

The Basilica of Higüey is the first stop on this half-day tour from Punta Cana, and it's worth the drive inland. Built to honor the Virgin of Altagracia, the basilica sits at the heart of Dominican religious life: locals still come here to pray, which means you're not just walking through a monument, you're stepping into something that matters to the people who live here. Your guide explains the history and the architecture as you move through the space, and it's the kind of detail that changes how you see a place.

After the basilica, the tour moves through Higüey's local market, where vendors sell meat, vegetables, fruit and groceries the way they have for years. It's not staged for tourists. It's where people actually shop. Then you head to Papito Ranch for a horseback ride through the countryside, which breaks up the walking and gives you a different angle on the landscape. Lunch comes next in Anamuya, a smaller municipality where they serve typical Dominican food made with organic ingredients grown locally. The meal is included, so you're not hunting for a restaurant or negotiating prices at a roadside stand.

The cigar factory is one of the largest in the region, and the stop lets you watch the whole process (rolling, sorting, aging) before you make your own cigar if you want to. They give you one to smoke free, and you can buy more if the quality convinces you. After that, a visit to a traditional Dominican countryside house shows you what daily life looks like outside the resorts: the furnishings, the layout, and a demonstration of how they make cocoa and coffee by hand. Your last stop is Macao Beach, one of the public beaches in the area, where you get 30 minutes to swim and sit in the sand. A piña colada served in a pineapple is available if you want it, though that's not included in the tour price.

Hotel pickup covers all of Punta Cana, Uvero Alto and Cap Cana, so you don't arrange transport yourself. The whole day runs about six to seven hours, and small group sizes mean you're not herded through with fifty other people.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Punta Cana, Uvero Alto or Cap Cana, entry to the Basilica of Higüey, a walk through the local market, a horseback ride at Papito Ranch, a typical Dominican lunch with organic ingredients, a stop at a cigar factory where you can roll your own cigar and receive one free, a visit to a traditional countryside house with demonstrations of cocoa and coffee making, and 30 minutes at Macao Beach to swim and relax.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Punta Cana Travel Service

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see Dominican culture and history without arranging your own transport and meals: the small group size and included lunch mean you spend the half day learning instead of organizing.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

How long is the tour?

About six to seven hours from pickup to return.

Is lunch included?

Yes, a typical Dominican lunch with organic food is included in Anamuya.

Do I need to bring money for anything?

The piña colada at Macao Beach and any cigars you want to buy at the factory are not included in the tour price.

Is the horseback ride suitable for beginners?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the ride is a short stop at the ranch, not a long trek.

Can young children go on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

What is included in the tour?

Hotel pickup, the Basilica visit, market walk, horseback ride, lunch, cigar factory stop, countryside house visit, and 30 minutes at Macao Beach.

Does the tour include a guide?

Yes, a guide leads the tour and explains the history and culture at each stop.

Can I buy cigars at the factory?

Yes, you can make your own cigar and purchase additional ones if you wish.