9-Day Dominican Republic Highlights: Beaches, Waterfalls, and Colonial History from Punta Cana
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
9 days
Fitness Level
Comfortable walking 3–5 miles over the day with stairs, sand, and heat; optional rafting/horseback are more active.
Overview
Circle the Dominican Republic on a guided 9-day route that links Cayo Levantado’s bright sand, Jarabacoa’s cool mountains, and Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone. It’s an island-wide sampler—boats, waterfalls, fortresses—with logistics handled and adventure baked in.
9-Day Dominican Republic Highlights: Beaches, Waterfalls, and Colonial History from Punta Cana
Select participants and date
The first Caribbean breeze hits as you step out of Punta Cana’s airport—warm, saline, and determined to move you along. Over nine days, this guided circuit traces a confident line around the Dominican Republic, from sugar-white cays and mangrove lagoons to pine-cloaked mountains and the oldest streets in the Americas. It’s part beach escape, part cultural deep dive, and all movement—boats nudging into turquoise shallows, horses picking their way to a hidden cascade, city stones heating under the afternoon sun.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Travel light, move fast
Use a soft-sided suitcase and a 20–25L daypack so you can load buses and boats quickly and keep essentials with you.
Sun and hydration strategy
Caribbean sun hits hard—carry a 1–2L bottle, reapply reef-safe SPF 50, and wear a brimmed hat during mid-day visits.
Boat days can be bouncy
For Cayo Arena and Cayo Levantado crossings, consider motion-sickness tablets if you’re sensitive to swells.
Footwear for mixed terrain
Closed-toe hiking sandals or water shoes help on waterfall approaches, mangrove docks, and sandy landings.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Magnificent frigatebirds and brown pelicans over Gri-Gri’s mangroves
- Colorful reef fish and occasional rays around Cayo Arena
History
La Isabela, founded in 1494, was the first Spanish town in the Americas; Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone hosts the hemisphere’s first cathedral and fortress.
Conservation
Mangrove and coral ecosystems are fragile—use reef-safe sunscreen and never touch coral. Follow guide instructions and pack out all waste to reduce impact in remote areas.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Punta Cana
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Lightweight daypack (20–25L)
Keeps water, sun protection, and camera accessible during city walks, boat rides, and short hikes.
Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, and polarized sunglasses
Intense Caribbean sun and glare off water and sand make high-quality sun protection non-negotiable.
summer specific
Water shoes or closed-toe hiking sandals
Useful for wet landings, slick waterfall rocks, and sandy boardings at the cays.
Packable rain jacket
Short tropical showers are common, especially outside the dry season; a light shell keeps you moving.
spring specific