Top 10 family activities in Punta Cana & Bávaro

Go on a Dominican Republic eco-adventure like no other. Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park & Reserve is a 1,500-acre natural wonderland in the heart of Punta Cana. Here are just a few of the family friendly activities you can get up to:

• Explorers will find a dozen freshwater lagoons at Indigenous Eyes — and you can take a plunge into five of them. Bring your swimsuit and explore the crystal-clear waters. Good to know: these lagoons are what give the park and reserve its distinctive name; the Taíno Indians called them “eyes” in the pre-Columbian era.
• Visit a fun petting zoo, a habitat for the threatened rhinoceros iguana and other attractions that reveal the natural history (and natural inhabitants) of the Dominican Republic.
• Don’t miss the sugarcane exhibit, which reveals how sugarcane has played an integral role in the country’s culture and heritage.

What makes a great family beach? Soft, pristine sand, crystalline waters, swaying palm trees and balmy temperatures are a few of the common threads. Your family has plenty of options when it comes to Dominican Republic beaches that fit the bill. But if you’re staying at Barceló Bávaro Grand Resort, consisting of two all-inclusive resorts: Barceló Bávaro Palace and the adults-only Barceló Bávaro Beach, you only have to walk a few steps to find the perfect stretch of sand. Bavaro Beach is a fun-filled landscape, whether you want to explore the clear waters on a snorkeling adventure (the beach is protected by an offshore reef) or just relax and soak up the sun.

• Good to Know: Bávaro Beach was named one of the world’s top ten beaches for 2018 by TripAdvisor^®

Get up close and personal with some truly amazing Dominican wildlife. Manatí Park is a family friendly Bávaro adventure park that is home to the Dominican Republic’s largest collection of animals. More than 150 species live here! What kinds of animals will you see? Dolphins, sea lions, horses, parrots, iguanas, just to name a few. Go ahead – take a walk on the wild side!

• Good to Know: Don’t miss Manatí Park’s fascinating show devoted the Taino culture, which will open your eyes to the Dominican Republic’s original culture and people.

Chocolate has been a major part of the Dominican Republican culinary culture for centuries. It’s not just a sweet treat here! At Punta Cana’s ChocoMuseo, you can discover this rich heritage – and sample plenty of authentic Dominican chocolate, too, of course! Located in the Mundo Auténtico shopping complex, ChocoMuseo will illuminate your family on everything about Dominican chocolate – how it’s harvested, how flavor is added and how it gets out to the rest of the world. You’ll also have the chance to become a chocolatier yourself and make your own Dominican chocolate.

Located in the eastern Dominican Republic in Cabeza de Toro, between the areas of Bávaro and Punta Cana, the Marinarium is your family’s gateway to an aquatic wonderland. On an exciting half-day excursion cruise you will have the unforgettable chance to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks in a specially designed, 40,000-square-meter marine park.

The Dominican countryside is a natural playground for active families on the hunt for adventure. Take a Bavaro Runners tour via Vacaciones Barcelo to discover some of the best family friendly Bávaro offerings. You’ll climb on board a classic safari-style jeep (straight out of Jurassic Park!) for a ride through a breathtaking landscape filled with teeming jungles and amazing wildlife. You’ll also get a taste of authentic Dominican culture during educational visits to a sugarcane plantation and a tobacco farm.

There’s a whole world to discover underground in Bávaro. Cueva de Maravillas (Cave of Marvels) is a sprawling network of underground cave network which was a sacred spot for the Taíno people, the area’s original inhabitants. The Taíno created thousands of pictographs and petroglyphs, etching this beautiful pre-Colombian art into the walls of the Cave of Marvels. Learn how these images tell the stories of the myths and legends from the Dominican Republic’s earliest days on a guided tour. The cave is well-lit, with ramps and walkways that let all ages discover this fascinating ancient attraction.

If you’ve got a day to spare, take some time to discover where the New World began. The Colonial City of Santo Domingo (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) was the first permanent establishment of the “New World,” founded in 1498, just a few years after Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Dominican Republic. Today, the city is window into the past, with an array of historic Spanish colonial buildings and monuments, including the Catedral Primada de América, the first cathedral in the Americas, and the Alcázar de Colón, the former residence of Christopher Columbus’ son. And if you feel like staying longer, El Embajador, A Royal Hideaway Hotel and Barceló Santo Domingo are ideal hotel options.