Things to do in Dominican Republic
Catamaran Punta Cana48 optionsPunta Cana Airport Transfer79 optionsSnorkeling in Punta Cana48 optionsSaona Island Tours19 optionsATV Punta Cana37 optionsScuba Doo Punta Cana22 optionsPunta Cana City Tour21 optionsZipline Punta Cana24 optionsBoat Trips Punta Cana64 optionsHorseback Riding Punta Cana25 optionsZiplining8 optionsPunta Cana Day Trips8 options
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Catamaran Party Cruise from Sosua Beach: Snorkeling & BBQA 3-hour catamaran party cruise departing from Sosua Beach near Puerto Plata includes hotel pickup, snorkeling at two reef sites, onboard BBQ with chicken and sausages, drinks and music. The crew boards you at Sosua and guides the snorkeling stops; live guides speak English and Spanish. Children from age 2 are welcome.Is it for me?Pick this if you're staying in Puerto Plata and want hotel pickup included—the catamaran departs from Sosua Beach, so you skip the transfer logistics and go straight from your accommodation to the boat.
Puerto Plata Snorkeling: Private Catamaran with BBQ & Open BarA private catamaran snorkeling cruise from Puerto Plata designed for cruise passengers, with exclusive use of the boat, a dedicated crew, and a back-to-ship-on-time guarantee. You snorkel Sosúa Reef, enjoy a light Dominican BBQ lunch and unlimited drinks on deck, and return via included transport from your hotel or cruise port. The boat size you choose at checkout determines your group's privacy and pace.Is it for me?Choose your boat size at checkout based on your group—smaller boats move more nimbly and feel more intimate, while larger ones spread the cost across more people and still keep the crew, the snorkeling, and the food the same. The private catamaran means no strangers on board and no waiting for other groups to finish their snorkeling or their lunch.
Dominican Republic: Damajagua Zip Lines & Waterfall SwimmingYou hike uphill to Damajagua Falls, then swim and slide down through a series of limestone pools; afterward you zip line three certified courses with no active braking required; lunch and all equipment are included, and the timing is planned so you return to your cruise ship with time to spare.Is it for me?Book this if you're on a cruise and want action and water in one excursion without arranging transport or timing yourself—the ship's schedule is built into the plan, so you're back before departure.
Chocolate Making Class in Santo Domingo: Learn Cacao to BarA chocolate-making class in Santo Domingo's colonial city where you learn the history of cacao, taste the fruit straight from the pod, and sample chocolate at different cocoa percentages. A live guide leads the experience in English, Spanish or French. The whole family can join, and the space is fully wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free half-hour in Santo Domingo and want to understand chocolate from the inside rather than just taste it—the guide walks you through each step so the samples actually mean something. The short duration works for families with young children or anyone fitting a cultural moment into a tighter itinerary.
Punta Cana Airport Transfer & Private Hotel PickupArrive in Punta Cana without stress—your private transfer includes airport pickup with your name sign, air-conditioned comfort, and friendly local drivers who help you settle in fast. You’ll notice little details: working WiFi on board, small chats about beaches or local life, and that feeling of being looked after from the moment you land—something you’ll remember long after your trip ends.
ATV & Ocean Zipline in Puerto Plata: Two Thrills, One Half-DayThis half-day activity in Puerto Plata combines an off-road ATV or dune buggy ride through countryside and rural villages with a multi-line ocean zipline course built directly over the Caribbean, followed by access to a private beach and non-motorized watersports. Hotel pickup is included within the Puerto Plata region, and the sequence of activities is determined by daily operations rather than your preference. Helmets are mandatory, and you'll need a valid driver's license if operating the ATV or dune buggy.Is it for me?Book the ATV option if you want to drive solo and control your own speed through the trails; choose the dune buggy if you're bringing a passenger or prefer a guided ride. Either way, the two activities back-to-back mean you get both the adrenaline rush and the ocean view without spending your whole day on excursions or arranging separate bookings.
Rainforest Trek to Natural Pool: Amber Cove waterfall hikeA rainforest trek from Amber Cove port to a natural waterfall and swimming pool, with air-conditioned van transport, English-speaking guide, safety briefing and equipment provided. The hike crosses streams and a suspension bridge through tropical forest on uneven terrain, taking about 1.5 hours to reach the pool; the full outing runs 4 to 4.5 hours including transport and return to the port. Minimum age is 10; participants need good balance and physical fitness, and appropriate footwear (water shoes or sneakers that can get wet).Is it for me?Your ship's schedule dictates the timing—guides and transport coordinate around your arrival and departure so you can swim in a forest waterfall without logistics headaches.
PADI Open Water Diving Certification in Punta CanaA PADI Open Water scuba certification course in Punta Cana taught by a live instructor over two days, combining pool dives and ocean dives at a private resort in Bavaro. The course includes all diving equipment, hotel pickup from selected properties, and your PADI certification upon completion. You choose between the Scuba Diver License (one ocean dive) or the Open Water License (four ocean dives across two days); online course material costs USD 85 per person, payable to the instructor on your first day.Is it for me?Book this if you want to earn a credential that works at dive shops worldwide, not just a one-time guided dive — the two-day commitment and pool training mean you leave with skills and a card, not just a memory.
Full Day Safari Punta Cana: Mountains, Beach & Local VillagesA full-day safari tour in Punta Cana that combines countryside exploration with beach time, departing from your hotel in a specially equipped truck with a professional guide, bartender and driver. The route passes through sugar cane fields, coffee and cocoa plantations, a local village home, the architectural church in Higuey, and ends with swimming at Macao Beach. Includes hotel pickup and drop-off, unlimited drinks, buffet lunch and horseback riding. The half-day option skips Higuey and the beach swim but keeps the plantations and village visits.Is it for me?Book the full-day option if you want the complete route—mountains, villages, plantations, Higuey's church and a beach swim all in one departure. The half-day tour works if you have a shorter window and want to skip the church and beach but still taste the plantations and see how the countryside lives.
Ziplining in Punta Cana: 7-line circuit with dual cablesZiplining in Punta Cana is a 7-line circuit where you're attached to a dual-cable system and a continuous lifeline from the first platform to the last. Hotel pickup is included, and the activity takes about four hours. On the return, you stop at a cigar factory to watch Dominican cigars being made. The setup is designed for safety: every zipliner stays connected to the lifeline before entering the first platform and remains attached until reaching the final line, with an automatic anti-drop device as a backup.Is it for me?The four-hour commitment means you can fit this into a half-day window if your hotel is close to the park, or plan it as a full morning or afternoon with time for breakfast or dinner elsewhere. Children from age 6 can zipline, though anyone over 270 pounds or with the health concerns noted above should skip it.
Puerto Plata Airport Shuttle to Hotels with AC & PickupYou’ll step off your flight in Puerto Plata and spot your driver waiting outside customs with a sign—no stress or searching. Settle into an air-conditioned minivan with bottled water as you ride west along the coast toward your hotel in Playa Dorada or central Puerto Plata. Watch for glimpses of ocean and local life along the way. It’s simple but oddly memorable—maybe because it feels so easy after travel days.
Ziplining Puerto Plata: Over the Ocean with Beach AccessZiplining in Puerto Plata takes you across a canopy course engineered to send you directly over the ocean, with platforms strung between cliffs overlooking the surf. After the zipline circuit, you move to Coconut Cove, a private beach with calm water, non-motorized watersports and shaded rest areas—all included, with round-trip hotel transfer from within the Puerto Plata region. The activity runs roughly two hours and welcomes children from age 6 and up, with a minimum height of 4 feet 4 inches and weight between 65 and 265 pounds.Is it for me?You operate the zipline yourself—this is not a guided sightseeing tour where you watch from a platform. The shared activity means you move through the course with other guests and follow the staff's sequence rather than setting your own pace, which keeps the timing tight and the afternoon beach time possible. Book this if you want the adrenaline of flying over water yourself, then a calm private beach to recover on, all arranged and transported for you.
Cave of Wonders & Altos de Chavón tour from Santo DomingoYou’ll travel from Santo Domingo to La Romana’s Cave of Wonders with a local guide, explore ancient pictographs underground, enjoy a hearty lunch in Bonao, and wander Altos de Chavón’s cobbled streets before relaxing by the marina—moments you’ll remember long after heading home.Is it for me?Start your morning exploring underground caves, then spend your afternoon at an indigenous village—both stops handled with transport and timing arranged for you.
Private Snorkeling in Punta Cana: Catamaran with Open BarPrivate catamaran snorkeling in Punta Cana puts you on a boat for your party only, with a professional guide, unlimited open bar, and fresh seafood prepared on board. You snorkel natural coral reefs among tropical fish, float past Dolphin Island and the stingrays tank, and anchor at the natural pool where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet. Hotel pickup and all snorkeling equipment are included; the trip runs about four hours and returns you to your hotel.Is it for me?The four-hour window leaves your morning or afternoon free—book an early departure to snorkel before lunch, or a midday one to keep the evening open for dinner ashore. If you want the whole boat to yourself without splitting time with other groups, this is the only way to get it in Punta Cana.
Punta Cana Private Fishing Charter: 42-foot yacht with captainA private deep-sea fishing charter in Punta Cana puts you and up to seven others aboard a modern 42-foot motor yacht with a Dominican captain who has logged more than seven years on these waters, two mates, and professional-grade Penn, Shimano and Rapala equipment. Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Punta Cana area are included, along with fresh bait, beverages and a cabin with white leather seating, a bar, TV, shower and toilet. The boat is rigged for trophy-size blue marlin, Atlantic sailfish, skipjack and yellowfin tuna, barracuda, mahi mahi and wahoo.Is it for me?Book this charter if you want to fish with a captain who knows the grounds and a crew that handles the heavy work—you focus on the fight while the mates manage the tackle and bring the fish aboard. The four-hour window is long enough to reach deep water and work multiple locations without eating your whole day.
Zip Line Adventure in Punta Cana: 7 Caribbean CablesA zip line adventure in Punta Cana where you fly over the tropical forest on a system of 7 cables, some of the longest in the Caribbean, with the option to race a partner on parallel lines. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with all safety equipment, professional guides in multiple languages, and a 3-hour excursion that covers transportation, instruction and water. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or cardiovascular concerns, or those without moderate fitness.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free afternoon and want an activity that doesn't require arranging your own transport or worrying about safety gear—the guides handle the instruction and checks, and the hotel pickup means you start and end at your door. The parallel cables let you race a friend if you're traveling with someone, or fly solo if you're going alone.
Ziplining in Dominican Republic: 8 Lines, Waterfalls & ATVXDream Adventure combines ziplining, ATV riding, waterfall jumping, horseback riding and a pool zip into one full-day activity in the Dominican Republic. The longest zip line runs 2,460 feet; you drive your own ATV through the countryside, jump and slide seven Damajagua Waterfalls, and finish with a home-cooked Dominican lunch. A professional guide leads the group in English, Spanish, French or German, and pickup from Puerto Plata or Sosua/Cabarete is included.Is it for me?Book this if you want hands-on control of every activity—you're driving the ATV, jumping waterfalls, and ziplining yourself—and you're staying in or near Puerto Plata or Sosua/Cabarete to manage the early start time.
Santo Domingo Hotel Airport Shuttle with Driver at ArrivalsYou get a private driver and modern vehicle waiting at the airport or hotel, with WiFi and water included. The driver handles luggage and can make stops along the way if needed. You confirm the pickup time the day before and receive a text when the driver arrives, so there's no guessing or negotiating at the curb.Is it for me?Right choice if you're arriving in Santo Domingo without a rental car and want transport sorted before you land — the driver waits at arrivals, the price is fixed, and you skip the taxi negotiation entirely. Expect to confirm your pickup time the day before by phone; that's what keeps the service reliable and on schedule.
Sosúa Bay Snorkeling: 2-Hour Guided Tour & EquipmentYou arrive at the dive center at 1 p.m., get fitted with snorkel gear, and boat out to two reef sites in Sosúa Bay with a SCUBA-certified guide in the water beside you. You spend roughly 45 minutes at each spot spotting tropical fish and reef creatures, with water and snacks on the boat between sites. You're back by 3:30 p.m. with access to showers and lockers at the shop.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see two different reef sites without arranging your own boat or gear — the guide's experience spotting fish and the small group size are what make two hours feel unhurried instead of rushed.
Ziplining in Puerto Plata: 8 Lines Through Tropical CanopyZipline through Puerto Plata on 8 ACCT-certified cables strung across tropical countryside at Country World Adventure Park in Maimón, a 15-minute drive from the city. Hotel pickup, trained guides in multiple languages, all equipment and water are included; the longest line runs 2,460 feet and requires no prior experience. After the zip lines, you can swim in the saltwater pool, try the pool zip line or walk the tropical garden before returning to your hotel.Is it for me?Choose this if you want hands-on ziplining with a guide controlling your speed—you focus on the ride while they manage the braking mechanics.
