Playa Bávaro or Punta Cana – what’s the difference?

Punta Cana is a destination that never goes out of style. It has some of the most highly sought after and frequently visited beaches in the world. Why is that? Because of the experience of enjoying the sun, the crystal clear water, the fine white sand, and the gentle breeze of the Caribbean Sea.

However, there is a lot of confusion between Punta Cana and Costa Bávaro, which is the most highly praised beach in the area. If you’re planning to go on holiday in Punta Cana with your significant other, it’s important that you know what each of them offers in order to make the right choice.

Where is Punta Cana?

Internationally, Punta Cana is a common name for the entire tourist area of the Dominican Republic, but this is an incorrect generalisation. Let’s start at the beginning. Punta Cana is a town in the eastern part of the country, in the province of La Altagracia.

It has the country’s main airport, which receives more passengers than the one located in the capital, Santo Domingo, and continues to be the main point of entry to the Dominican Republic, with almost 4 million international visitors in 2017, according to data from the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange.

The Difference Between Playa Bávaro and Punta Cana

When we talk about Punta Cana, we may be referring to the region or to the Punta Cana beach, which inherits the name recognition and popularity of the region. Together with many other paradise-like beaches, it is a part of what is commonly known as the Costa del Coco. And this is where Playa Bávaro comes in, indisputably the beach of choice for the most select visitors looking for a natural environment offering relaxation and exclusivity.

This unique environment means that Playa Bávaro is where most of the 5-star hotels are located – such as the Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort – which are excellent solutions for travelling as a couple to Punta Cana, as they offer exceptional activities. On the other hand, the Punta Cana beach itself is slightly less frequented for leisure and relaxation tourism.

Where to Find Playa Bávaro

If we go from north to south, the area of Punta Cana starts with the Arena Gorda beach, followed by the popular Playa Bávaro beach and others such as Playa Uvero Alto, Lavacama or Macao. On the other side of the cape, we find other beaches such as Cabeza de Toro, Punta Cana or Playa Juanillo. While Punta Cana’s entire coastline covers approximately 95 km, Costa Bávaro is the longest individual beach.

Before planning and booking all the details of your holidays in Punta Cana, you should think about the different elements that characterise the environment you are about to discover in Punta Cana. Just like choosing the beach, choosing a hotel such as the Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino in Punta Cana will be essential when it comes to enjoying a one-of-a-kind setting: whether you choose experiences designed exclusively for couples and adults only, or other areas that are geared towards family holidays.