We recently spent two amazing days in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, and came away seriously impressed. If you’re looking for a quick adults-only getaway with beautiful weather, stunning resorts, crystal-clear water, and some kosher options, Cap Cana deserves a spot on your list.
Punta Cana vs. Cap Cana – What’s the Difference?
Many people use the terms Punta Cana and Cap Cana interchangeably, but they’re actually different areas.
Punta Cana refers to the larger resort region on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. It includes dozens of resorts, beaches, restaurants, and attractions.
Cap Cana is an upscale ‘master-planned’ gated community located within the Punta Cana area. Think of it as the luxury section of Punta Cana. It has gated entrances, private beaches, luxury resorts, golf courses, marinas, and security throughout.
During our visit, Cap Cana felt extremely safe, clean, and friendly. Security checkpoints are everywhere, and access to many areas is controlled.
Important Travel Tips
Visa info: Before traveling to the Dominican Republic, make sure to complete the mandatory E-Ticket (entry and exit form) online. The form is free and required for all travelers entering and leaving the country. Complete it here before your trip:
Drink Bottled Water Only: While many resorts use filtered water, we recommend sticking to sealed bottled water throughout your trip, including for drinking and brushing teeth if you have a sensitive stomach.
Bring Bug Spray: The Dominican Republic has mosquitoes year-round, especially around tropical areas, gardens, and after rainfall. It is recommended to bring bug spray like this travel size off spray.
Some top hotels in Cap Cana:
Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa – adults only with a great beach
Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana – Kid friendly with a water park
Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana – adults only
Eden Roc Cap Cana – has many private pool rooms.
Sanctuary Cap Cana – adults only – has many private pool rooms.
Getting There
We flew into Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), which was modern, clean, and easy to navigate. The airport is a decent size. Expect a bit of walking, but nothing too crazy.
From the airport, we took a taxi to our hotel. The ride was approximately 950 Dominican Pesos, which works out to roughly $16–$17 USD depending on the exchange rate.
For reference:
- 950 DOP ≈ $16–17 USD
- Hotel-arranged taxis often charge around $30 USD
- Uber generally runs about half that price
Pro tip: use Uber whenever possible.
The Dominican Republic is very USD-friendly, and many places happily accept U.S. dollars. We also found that some businesses tried adding a surcharge when paying by credit card—sometimes close to 10%. Cash often avoids those headaches.
Pro tip: Bring cash.
Our Hotel: Sanctuary Cap Cana
Since this was an adults-only trip, and we did not care much about the beach and wanted the castle vibe – we chose Sanctuary Cap Cana.
The experience started the moment we arrived.
Security confirmed our reservation at the entrance gate before allowing us onto the property. Upon arrival, staff immediately unloaded our luggage from the taxi and transferred everything onto a golf cart.
From there, we were taken to our building for check-in.
One thing you’ll quickly notice in the Dominican Republic is the pace.
Everything is friendly, slower than normal, and really relaxed.
Check-in took around 30 minutes. Passports were required, paperwork had to be signed, payments processed, and everything was handled s-l-o-w-l-y – but super friendly.
We checked in around 4:00 PM and finally made our way to the room.
The suite was absolutely incredible. We had about 2,000 square feet of indoor living space, a massive outdoor area, and our own private pool. The room alone felt like a destination.
Kosher Food in Punta Cana
The resort is all-inclusive, which makes drinks very easy.
Coke products, Pepsi products, bottled water, seltzer, and many common beverages are readily available throughout the resort.
For food, we arranged delivery from Chabad.
While Chabad is located several hours away, they offer delivery service for approximately $50. We placed a large order before arrival, and everything showed up around 7:30 PM.
We recommend bringing your own food and bringing a heated mat or Betty Crocker to warm up the food 🙂
Some people bring their own raw food, especially when staying in an Airbnb that includes a private chef. Keep in mind that customs may assess duties or fees on certain food items brought into the country. If a customs officer quotes a fee, there is sometimes ‘room for discussion or negotiation’, although policies and experiences can vary 🙂
The hotel staff was incredibly accommodating and even brought us an additional refrigerator so we could store everything comfortably.
Once that arrived, we were completely set for the trip.
Resort Activities
Every evening there was something happening:
- Live shows
- Bingo nights
The grounds themselves were stunning and beautifully maintained.
One of the nicest perks was the butler service.
Suite guests receive access via WhatsApp, allowing you to request almost anything:
- Golf cart rides
- Drinks
- Room assistance
- Restaurant reservations
- General help
It felt like having a concierge available 24/7.
Sunshine Boat Excursion
The next morning we headed out on a Sunshine Boat excursion.
The trip lasted about 2.5 hours and included:
- Cruising along the coastline
- Swimming in crystal-clear water
- Snorkeling
- Relaxing on the boat
The water was absolutely gorgeous.
If you’re looking for a relaxing few hours on the water, it’s great. If you’re only in Punta Cana for a couple of days, there may be other activities we’d prioritize first.
BlueMall Punta Cana
Later that day we headed to BlueMall Punta Cana.
This was actually one of the bigger surprises of the trip.
The mall is modern, clean, and filled with stores, restaurants, and entertainment options.
There were even activities such as:
- Tennis
- Batting cages
- Sports attractions
- Various family-friendly activities
The mall closes 9 PM.
Transportation pricing was interesting:
- Uber from the hotel: about $14
- Uber back: about $6.50
Our guess is that pricing near the resort tends to be inflated.
A Perfect Final Morning
On our final day we slowed things down.
We spent time enjoying our private pool and then visited the resort’s spa facilities.
The spa was one of the hidden gems of the property.
Quiet, Empty and Peaceful.
We checked out shortly after 1 PM and made one final stop at Taino Gift Shop, where we painted local crafts free of charge, bought some souvenirs, and walked around before heading back to the airport.
Final Thoughts
For a short getaway, Cap Cana exceeded our expectations.
The area felt safe, clean, upscale, and very welcoming. The beaches were beautiful, the resort grounds were immaculate, and the staff was exceptionally friendly. Kosher food was easy to manage with deliveries from Chabad, making the trip comfortable and stress-free.
NOTE: Many visitors choose to stay in luxury Airbnb villas, many of which include private pools, personal chefs, housekeeping services, and resort-style amenities. If you’re traveling with family or a larger group, it’s definitely worth exploring some of these incredible villa options.
Other things to do:
If we had stayed one more day, we would have booked a full-day excursion to Saona Island, which is widely regarded as having some of the most stunning turquoise waters and pristine beaches in the Dominican Republic. It’s often considered one of the top day trips from Punta Cana and Cap Cana.
Additionally, Scape Park offers a variety of activities including ATV adventures, zip lines, and breathtaking natural caves, cenotes, and crystal-clear swimming pools, making it one of the area’s most popular attractions.
Safety:
We felt very safe within the resort, as it is gated and is well-secured. Ubering around as well felt totally fine -within Punta Cana.
Conclusion
For couples looking for a quick Caribbean escape with luxury accommodations, warm weather, beautiful water, and easy kosher logistics, Cap Cana is definitely worth considering!
We just wrapped up an exciting trip to Punta Cana, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on our recap! Comment below! What city should we explore next? Whether it’s a favorite destination or a hidden gem, your suggestions are invaluable to us! Please comment below! To reach our travel team, click HERE
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