8 days in Dominican Republic Itinerary

In an area boasting beaches that face both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, vacations in Punta Cana have been popular with tourists since the early 1970s.

Spend the 28th (Wed) spotting exotic species with a safari tour. The adventure continues: enjoy the sand and surf at Bavaro Beach, choose your vessel at El Tour Caribe, take a memorable tour with Tours, and step off the mainland to explore Saona Island.

For reviews, ratings, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read Punta Cana day trip planning tool.

Portland, USA to Punta Cana is an approximately 9-hour combination of bus and flight. You can also fly. The time zone difference when traveling from Portland to Punta Cana is 1 hour. In March, Punta Cana is warmer than Portland - with highs of 84°F and lows of 71°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Wed) to allow time to take a shuttle to Santo Domingo.

Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, remains the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the New World.

Start off your visit on the 29th (Thu): get a sense of history and politics at Palacio National and then make a trip to Zona Colonial. Here are some ideas for day two: contemplate the long history of Alcazar de Colon, then steep yourself in history at Fortaleza Ozama, and then appreciate the history behind Columbus Lighthouse (Faro A Colon).

To find maps, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, use the Santo Domingo trip itinerary site.

Take a shuttle from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or fly. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 30th (Fri) early enough to travel back home.