Discover the advantages and differences of staying in Bayahibe or Punta Cana. Beaches, accommodation, activities and everything you can do on your trip to the Dominican Republic depends on where you stay.
Bayahibe or Punta Cana? Where to Stay?
Increasingly, many people who travel to Punta Cana discover that Bayahibe is a destination where there are also all-inclusive resorts, and being relatively close to the Punta Cana airport, it is a vacation gem for those who visit it.
Punta Cana is well known internationally for its beaches and all-inclusive resorts, but Bayahibe, in addition to having the same type of accommodation as Punta Cana, you can find apartments and villas facing the Caribbean Sea at very good prices.
The best thing about staying in Bayahibe or Punta Cana
Both destinations have their pros and cons, but above all, there are points that can make the difference between going on vacation to Punta Cana or Bayahibe. That is why we briefly reveal the best of Bayahibe and Punta Cana:
The best of Bayahibe
It is bathed by the Caribbean Sea
There is never sargassum, at any time of the year
The quality of the beaches is much higher than those of Punta Cana, due to its transparency and location.
Bayahibe has the best microclimate anywhere in the Dominican Republic. Bayahibe has much less rain than Punta Cana.
Bayahibe is oriented towards sunset. Bayahibe‘s sunsets are considered some of the most spectacular in the country, with the sun sinking directly into the Caribbean Sea.
You can enjoy the sunset from any of the open-air restaurants and bars in the town, or from any of its beaches.
The embarkation port for excursions to Isla Saona is in Bayahibe. This means that it will only take a few minutes from your accommodation to the embarkation point, therefore, you will wake up less early to go to Saona.
The distance to Santo Domingo is shorter than from Punta Cana
There are not only all-inclusive hotels, but there are villas and Airbnb apartments facing the sea.
You can go for a walk outside the resort or accommodation, since Bayahibe is a very safe town, with restaurants and beautiful streets to walk through.
Bayahibe has a real sense of community unlike Punta Cana, very close and familiar local people.
Compared to Punta Cana, getting around Bayahibe is easier and more relaxed.
In Bayahibe, it is easy to mix with real Dominicans and enjoy the authentic culture of the Dominican Republic.
The best of Punta Cana
There is more variety of excursions that depart from Punta Cana, such as Samaná, Coco Bongo, Imagine, Speed Boat…
Punta Cana It is closer to the airport that bears its name, so a transfer to any hotel in the area is faster than to Bayahibe.
There are more all-inclusive hotels to choose from.
There are not only all-inclusive hotels, but there are villas and Airbnb apartments
The “cons” of staying in Bayahibe or Punta Cana
The “cons” about staying in Bayahibe and Punta Cana are just details that you should take into account before deciding where you are going to stay. They are not something bad in themselves, but we are sure that it will be good for you to know them.
We leave you a table so you can see it very clearly:
Cons of Bayahibe
The distance from Punta Cana airport is 80kms
As there are fewer hotels than in Punta Cana, occupancy may be a problem if you don’t book early
There is not as much variety of excursions as from Punta Cana (but the main ones such as Saona and Santo Domingo can be done with less travel)
Cons of Punta Cana
It’s not Caribbean, it’s Atlantic
The sunset is not in front
The distances to Saona and Santo Domingo are longer than from Bayahibe
There may be Sargassum on certain beaches, from May to September
To leave a resort in Punta Cana to see the area, you will need a vehicle, due to the distances, since Punta Cana itself does not have an urban center
Conclusion on staying in Bayahibe or Punta Cana
If you come on vacation to the Dominican Republic and want to know where to stay, this is our conclusion:
Stay in Bayahibe
If you are looking for warm, clean turquoise beaches all year round, a microclimate with little rain, and ease of leaving your resort or accommodation to discover, then Bayahibe is where you should stay.
Also, do not forget that Bayahibe is a town in itself, small and charming, and with restaurants and bars facing the sea, with views of the sunset.
Like almost 100% of the travelers who visit the Dominican Republic, if you take an excursion to Isla Saona, you hardly have to get up early, since Bayahibe is the place from where all the boats that go to the Island leave.
Discover in this link everything you can do in Bayahibe.
Stay in Punta Cana
If you come to the Dominican Republic and are looking for mega hotel complexes, Punta Cana has the largest variety of resorts (more than 70+) to choose from.
From Punta Cana you can take excursions that are not made from Bayahibe, such as the tour to Samaná, Speed Boat, or Coco Bongo.
In Punta Cana there are also more parties than in Bayahibe, since you will find boat parties, and the Maroca nightclub.
Discover in this link everything you can do in Punta Cana.
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