Tourism in Punta Cana: From Turmoil to Paradise
For hundreds of years, the Taino peoples called the island of Hispaniola their home. With the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, The Spanish claimed the island for their own. Later they conceded the western portion, now called Haiti, to the French. The area became a convenient launch pad for further excursions in to the new world for Spain. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the island nation went through several occupations and much political turmoil. Recently the local government has made great strides in moving towards a representative democracy.
Situated in the eastern most province of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is part of the newly created Punta Cana-Bavaro-Veron-Macao municipal district in La Altagracia. Punta Cana consists of the areas of Cap Cana (Juanillo), Punta Cana, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro, El Cortecito, Arena Gorda, Macao and Uvero Alto.
Punta Cana has been a popular tourist destination since the 1970s. It is perhaps best known for its world famous beaches, the Cabeza de Toro, the Bavaro and the El Cortecito that straddle the Caribbean and the Atlantic oceans. The area is known for its mega-resorts and balnearios that are in abundance in the area.
Some of the most popular tourist attractions are the incredible fishing charters, jeep safaris where you can learn about the traditional Dominican people and lifestyles. There are some amazing caving adventures like the Cueva Cave Tour and the Boca de Diablo, a large cave system south of Los Haitises.
Punta Cana has twelve professional golf courses and fifty others that are rated as some of the best in the world. Water sports are available in most places with scuba, snorkeling and boat tours available. One of the more popular boat tours goes to Sanoa Island (in Taino called “Adamanai”).
Safari-type excursions on atvs, dune buggy, jeep and monster trucks are all popular excursions. Helicopter tours give an unparallel view of the landscape. Horseback riding is also popular in Punta Cana with the option of riding on deserted white-sand beaches. Some of the other popular attractions are the Marinarium. This marine park on the sea offers snorkeling with sharks and manta rays. Just a short boat ride takes you to Dolphin Island. This artificial island was created as a place where tourists can swim with trained dolphins in the sea.
The Manati Park Bavaro is a 130 000 square meter nature preserve with permanent exhibits of birds, reptiles, and fish. The park even showcases entertainment in a show featuring parrots, dolphins and dancing horses.
The Punta Cana Ecological Reserve is located just fifteen minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport. The Reserve offers a short guided tour through the jungle where tropical flora and fauna abound. It also features a cool natural spring at the end of the walk to bath in. Punta Cana has seen a lot of changes to its political and economic landscape since it was first settled. It has emerged as a vibrant community that caters to the tourist and visitors from all over the world and helps sustain the economy of this tropical paradise.
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