Trade the resort loop for a focused half-day drive inland to Higüey: explore the striking Basilica Virgen de La Altagracia and a lively local market with a private English-speaking driver and hotel pickup from Punta Cana.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You leave the hotel, and the coastal resort blur gives way to a road framed by leaning palms and fields that seem to press toward the horizon. The driver—your local guide—steers inland, and small villages slide past: painted houses, roadside vendors, and sugarcane that rustles as if urging you forward.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
3–4 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves light walking and standing in market and basilica areas.
Wildlife
History
The Basilica Virgen de La Altagracia was completed in 1970 and is the national shrine devoted to the Virgin who became the Dominican Republic’s patron saint; Higüey itself developed as a colonial-era agricultural center.
Conservation
Support local vendors and artisans to keep market economies viable; avoid single-use plastics and refuse to buy wildlife or products made from protected species.
Reserve your spot on the Punta Cana Higuey Car Tour La Altagracia today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Respectful dress
Wear shoulders- and knee-covering clothing for the basilica—this is an active place of worship where modesty is expected.
Bring small cash
Carry Dominican pesos in small denominations for market purchases and street vendors—many stalls don’t take cards.
Timing for photos
Avoid peak mass times (weekend mornings) if you want quieter interiors and uninterrupted photos of the sanctuary.
Sun and hydration
Even short walks between stops are in tropical sun—carry water and sunscreen; shade is limited in market alleyways.
Comfortable walking shoes
Paved plazas and some uneven market alleys require stable, closed shoes.
Modest cover-up or scarf
Needed for respectful entry into the basilica and other religious sites.
Small cash (DOP)
Useful for market purchases, tips, and small vendors who don’t accept cards.
Sun protection (hat, sunscreen)
Tropical sun is strong year-round; a hat and sunscreen keep you comfortable between stops.
summer