Are you planning a vacation in Punta Cana 2025? As an unbiased expert (6 years living in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo + working in the tourism industry in the past), I am happy to share my top recommendations for the year which is about to start. Insider tips, expert advice, new activities for 2025 and the best-reviewed resorts are just some of the things I want to share in the following article. Here you’ll find all the important things that might help you plan your perfect holiday in 2025.
1) Flights: book early, but not too early – and consider Arajet
Let’s start with the flights, usually the first step when booking an all-inclusive vacation to the Dominican Republic. I often read that people are booking their flights as early as possible. This might be the best option if you travel at the very most peak season dates such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Independence Day or Thanksgiving. At all other dates, especially when you’re a bit flexible with your dates (at least 1 or 2 days), it is better to regularly check the airline promotions and book when there is a great offer. This is also valid for 2025, as the flight connections to Punta Cana are increasing every year – the airlines need to fill their seats.
Currently, for example, the cheapest flights available for January and February (high season!) from New York to Punta Cana are priced at around 240 USD (with Frontier Airlines – 1 stop) and from Miami at around 270 USD (with Latam Airlines non-stop). Non-stop flights with the legacy carriers (like American Airlines or Delta Airlines) are currently much more expensive, starting at around 400 USD.
That’s why – besides waiting for a promo from your favorite airlines – you should definitely have a look at Arajet. The new Dominican airline, which was founded in 2022, has expanded quickly and is currently linking 15 countries with the Dominican Republic. While they have initially set their base at Santo Domingo’s Las Americas Airport, they’re moving a couple of their connections to Punta Cana – including their Toronto and Montreal flights.
Furthermore, they’re also planning starting flights to the US.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if they announce flights to New York and other cities in the US throughout 2025.
And the best thing: Arajet’s rates are super affordable and usually only a fraction of what Air Canada, American Airlines or Delta Airlines are charging. Yes, you have to pay extra for your bags and seats (as with most other airlines) incl. carry-on, but especially if you travel light you can get some amazing deals. During promotions, rates for flights from Canada to Punta Cana are available for as low as 250 USD return (!) incl. taxes (!) – this is hard to beat. It’s not for everyone but it is definitely worth having a look in case Arajet is serving an airport close to your hometown.
My recommendation: check Airfarwatchdog* or Google Flights* to find some of the best deals, especially when you’re flexible with dates and/or airports.
2) Resorts: check the new resorts
If you want to score a real deal for your holiday, the newly-opened resorts in Punta Cana can be the best option.
Most of these resorts don’t have a lot of reviews yet, which is why they’re overlooked by most people. Because of that and because they are new, they (at least some of them) have to throw deeply-discounted special offers on the market – that’s your chance to get a great vacation deal for 2025. And last but not least, as those kind of resorts have only recently opened, you can be sure to get the most contemporary design, brand-new rooms and state-of-the-art technology.
Among the newest resorts in Punta Cana for 2025 are:
– Serenade All Suites Resort Adults Only, opened in November 2023 (check prices here*)
– Sunscape Punta Cana, opened in December 2023 (check prices here*)
– Secrets Tides Resort, planned to open in January 2024 (check prices here*)
– Zel Punta Cana (former Melia Garden Suites), planned to open in December 2024 (check prices here*)
– W Punta Cana, planned to open in April 2025 (check prices here*)
– Moon Palace Punta Cana, planned to open during fall 2025
Furthermore, especially if you’re a repeating guest to Punta Cana, you should definitely have a look at the Miches area, approx. 65 miles northwest of Punta Cana (1.5 hour drive from the airport). This completely new area with pristine beaches finally is coming onto the map (after Club Med as the only resort has already been on site since 2020 and Temptation closed its doors in early 2024) and promises an off-the-beaten-track and authentic experience, far away from Punta Canas’ crowds. During the next months, 4 resorts are about to open:
– Viva Miches by Wyndham is set to open in December 2024
– Zemi Miches is set to open in February 2025
– Secrets Playa Esmeralda is scheduled to open in April 2025
– Dreams Playa Esmeralda is supposed to open its doors in April 2025
My recommendation: If you don’t want to “take the risk” of booking a new resort (there are usually always some smaller hick-ups at the beginning, even though it is not really a risk), have a look at the established resorts like Majestic, Hyatt, Secrets or Lopesan.
3) Check the new activities for 2025
Ok, if checking out the new resorts of 2025 might be a great deal, why not also have a look at some new excursions and attractions in Punta Cana? While ziplining, catamaran tours, Isla Saona excursions, party boats or theme parks in Punta Cana always guarantee good fun, trying something new this time – especially if you want to beat the crowds – would be a great resolution for your Punta Cana trip in 2025.
If you’re looking for unique excursions and activities that are new in the market, the following are my top recommendations you definitely should check out for the upcoming year:
El Dorado Water Park (check details and prices here*): the first-ever water park in Punta Cana which is not linked to a resort (opened in May 2024). El Dorado welcomes you with more than 20 activities, among them multiple thrilling slides, a multi-rider vertical funnel attraction, a 600-meter-long lazy river and plenty of pools.
Selfie World Park (check details and prices here*): a new attraction in Punta Cana which just opened recently. Something different, especially for families and photo lovers – take selfies in 3D-inspired paintings and enjoy unique photo opportunities for every age.
Mimosa Cruise (check details and prices here*): just think of bottomless Mimosas, a great vibe and a spacious boat exploring the turquoise waters of Punta Cana – do I need to say more?
Lobster Master Class (check details and prices here*): most resorts in Punta Cana don’t include lobster, so here is your chance to not only eat (a very delicious) one but also prepare one by yourself under the guidance of an experienced and professional chef.
Evening Buggy Tour (check details and prices here*): another tour in Punta Cana which is pretty new for 2024 and which is a great choice as it not only includes the typical buggy trip but also a delicious Dominican dinner, a night visit (with a bit of a party) at a cenote and some traditional dance performances. Highly recommended for a fun night out in Punta Cana.
E-Bike City Tour (check details and prices here*), a perfect way to explore Punta Cana’s busy area around Bavaro, which is not fully walkable. Visit iconic places, see the local life, enjoy the e-bikes and get an authentic glimpse of the real Punta Cana.
My personal favorite: For families, El Dorado Water Park or Selfie World Park are great options. If you want to have some adult fun, definitely check out the Mimosa Cruise or the Evening Buggy Tour.
4) Seaweed in Punta Cana
The seaweed in Punta Cana is an issue that most likely also will be a hot topic throughout 2025. As explained in my extensive sargassum guide for the Dominican Republic, seaweed or sargassum is not a problem linked to Punta Cana, it is something the entire Caribbean, Central America and Mexico have to battle with.
It is hard to predict the seaweed in Punta Cana 2025, but it most likely will affect some of the beaches in Punta Cana throughout the upcoming months. Currently, as of November 2024, the beaches are mainly free of seaweed, but there is a large patch of seaweed located in the Eastern Atlantic, which could reach the Caribbean before the end of the year.
But, as explained in my Punta Cana seaweed guide, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the beaches, particularly as they’re getting cleaned regularly (nearly every day) by the resorts. The peak season of seaweed is usually between March and October, but this can vary from year to year.
The photos below were all taken during peak seaweed season in Punta Cana.
My recommendation: Don’t let Mother Nature ruin your holiday. Even during the seaweed season in Punta Cana, there are so many days where the beaches are mostly clean.
5) More important news for travelers to Punta Cana in 2025
To finish this article with important information for travelers to Punta Cana in 2025, here are some more news and tips for the upcoming year:
Helicopter tours are back:
After a break for more than a year for operational reasons, scenic helicopter rides are back to Punta Cana. SkyRunners is taking over the operations for helicopter flights, a subsidiary of Runners Adventures, one of the oldest tour companies in Punta Cana. Tours are available with a duration between 10 and 30 minutes, flying over different areas in Punta Cana. The helicopter flights can be booked with free cancellation here through Viator* or here directly with SkyRunners*.
Punta Cana Travel Blog is on YouTube:
If you don’t like reading long articles, here are some good news for you: Punta Cana Travel Blog is now on YouTube as well. The videos there provide unique insights into the travel planning process, first-hand experience travel hacks and a lot of helpful information about Punta Cana & beyond. The channel is still pretty new, hence the best is to subscribe here* so that you never miss a new video.
E-Ticket:
I can’t repeat it often enough as I still see so many travelers who are either forgetting the e-ticket or are getting scammed with it: the e-ticket is FREE and MANDATORY for your trip – for departure and for arrival. You can find the full how-to e-ticket guide on Punta Cana Travel Blog here and the official government website where you can fill out your e-ticket here*.
Punta Cana Carnival:
Since many years an important event in Punta Cana: carnival. For 2025, the event is scheduled for the 22th of February. If you’re interested in visiting the carnival in Punta Cana, you can either just head to Punta Cana Village on your own and observe the spectacle from the roadside (for free) or you book one of the VIP tickets, where you have seating and assistance included. Read more about the Punta Cana carnival here*.
Whalewatching:
Talking about dates, the whale-watching season in the Dominican Republic is also running from the 15th of January 2025 until (probably) the 31st of March 2025. The large humpback whales are coming to the Bay of Samaná to give birth to their babies – and this area is accessible from Punta Cana as well, it’s a 1.5-hour drive approximately. You can book the currently best-rated whale-watching tour from Punta Cana here*.
6) Don’t trust the online weather forecast
The last point is something you definitely should avoid in Punta Cana: the weather forecast. As you can read here, the weather in Punta Cana is (nearly) always perfect to spend your vacation in Punta Cana – one of the reasons why the entire Dominican Republic is a year-round travel destination.
But what you definitely shouldn’t do in preparation for your Punta Cana trip (not only in 2025 but in general) is to check the weather apps for the weather forecast of Punta Cana. It is nearly always showing rain. I often see people crying in our Facebook group that they were hoping for a week of sunshine and now the only thing they see in the weather forecast for Punta Cana is rain.
But that’s not true! The weather in Punta Cana is favorable for a stunning beach vacation on at least 330 or 340 of the 365 days – and the remaining 35 days which might be overcast are scattered throughout the year. The reason why weather apps are (nearly always) showing a rainy forecast for Punta Cana is because of the probability of just a slight rain that might fall. And as soon as one raindrop is falling, it counts as a rainy day for the statistics.
Yes, there are a few rainy days in Punta Cana throughout the year, but the chance that you’re experiencing them are very low.
But the truth is that even in the rainy season in Punta Cana rain showers rarely last longer than 20 minutes – and before and after the sun is shining in its fullest perfection. Bring enough sunblock! (and have a look at this article here about when it is the best time to travel to Punta Cana)
My recommendation: I have traveled to over 80 countries worldwide and Punta Cana is one of the best year-round travel destinations I know.
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CHRIS
Author, Travel Coach & Industry Professional (Bachelor’s degree in tourism)Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean soul, who has been living in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. I’d love to be your Punta Cana expert, as I have stayed at more than 45 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and the country, visited more than 70 beaches, explored more than 40 waterfalls and have seen basically all the attractions Punta Cana has to offer. I have also studied tourism for 3 years and worked in the tourism industry my entire life, which is why I am not only giving you recommendations and tips as a traveler but also the best secrets and travel hacks as an industry professional.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page, send me a travel coaching request or Contact Me here.
ALSO WORTH READING:
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Punta Cana Map – a helpful and detailed map of Punta Cana’s Resorts
Coco Bongo Punta Cana – Ticket Options, our review and if it is worth to visit
Uber in Punta Cana – what’s new in 2022 and what to take care of when using Uber Select
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