When Christopher Columbus called the Dominican Republic ‘the most beautiful land eyes have ever seen’ he must have been referring to the island’s sunny skies, lush natural landscapes, dazzling turquoise waters and soft white-sand beaches. And during my latest visit to the spectacular Cap Cana, I can confirm this in indeed true.
On a recent press trip to Punta Cana, journalists were treated to a fun filled day of exploring Cap Cana’s new multi-million dollar resort destination – a place where the Caribbean Sea kisses the Atlantic Ocean and warm breezes had me seriously questioning a permanent change of address!
Cap Cana is just 10 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport (which I was happy to see underwent an expansion project in 2011), in the southeast of the Dominican Republic, and is located on 30,000 acres of unspoiled lush coast, with spectacular waterfront views and 3.4 miles of pristine beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see.
Our day began with a visit to Scape Park, a natural themed park located within Cap Cana. Here, visitors can enjoy a number of exciting adventures like zip lining through a canopy of trees or experience an off road buggy adventure on scenic trails in the midst of tropical forests. There’s also horseback riding, cruises, fishing, cave expeditions and much more.
We enjoyed a short hike along an eco-trail to visit the beautiful “Las Ondas”, where a woman dressed in traditional Taino costume stood guard outside the mouth of the cave. Our guide then led us down a steep wooden staircase into the cenote – an underwater lagoon that shimmered in an array of dazzling blues. It was an invigorating experience to enter this mystical pool of water, and I could not help but be in awe of its natural beauty!
At Punta Espada Golf Club, designed by legendary Jack Nicklaus and ranked the #1 Best Golf Course in the Caribbean and Mexico by Golfweek publication, billowy breezes and magnificent views left me speechless!
Cap Cana is home to a number of luxury hotels and spas, beach clubs, as well as numerous residential properties and stylish restaurants, bars and boutiques. The heart of this resort destination is the post-card perfect Marina Cap Cana. Its beauty is reminiscent of the French Riviera and the Caribbean’s most picturesque UNESCO inspired port cities, where pastel colonial buildings line their waterfronts and luxury yachts are ready to set sail in a moment’s notice. (Think Curaçao or St Lucia).
Here, we boarded a catamaran to sail Cap Cana’s spectacular coastline and proximity, considered among the best spots in the world for fishing and deep-water diving. The water was crystal clear and the most brilliant shade of turquoise – the kind you would find in an ad campaign, so beautiful you think it’s photo-shopped. And there, in the midst of this paradise, we went snorkeling and walked along a picturesque sandbank – an experience I celebrated with a cold cerveza in hand, as I danced to the rhythmic sound of bachata.
We end this incredible day with a delicious Italian meal in a seaside restaurant. Could anything be more perfect – I think not! As I sat there taking in my beautiful surroundings, a wave of excitement washed over me. The future of Punta Cana shined brightly before me and I could not wait to share the news with all of you.
