Best Things To Do in Punta Cana

First Class Fishing was the first company in Punta Cana offering sport fishing charters for deep sea fishing. Their boats are 33 to 42 feet in length and equipped with top brand name rods, reels and tackles as well as GPS, radar and sonar equipment. Punta Cana fishing can be extremely rewarding, with big game fish like marlin, yellowfin tuna, sailfish and wahoo, not to mention the captivating scenery that makes the hours melt away. They have flexible policies allowing you to charter the whole boat or go in with other anglers (even if you're alone) for half or whole day excursions.

The 18 hole, 72 par, paspalum La Cana Golf Course is one of the most well-beloved in the Dominican Republic, let alone Punta Cana. Golf Magazine called it the "number one course in the Caribbean." Even if you suck at golf or don’t play much of it, you might want to consider taking a swing out here for the beauty and to chill at the La Cana Clubhouse. We love the passion fruit mojitos and there’s a Six Senses Spa located here as well.

This is hard to explain. You'll think we’re making this up, but this involves a fifteen minute dive on a scuba bicycle. There’s no previous experience necessary (not like many people have experience with underwater cycling anyway). The scuba scooter/bike is a pretty neat invention. All the gear like the tank and diving weights are on it and not you, which makes the whole scuba process a lot easier. You can feed the fish underwater or explore the ocean floor at speeds of up to 2.5 knots. There's a cool article about the Scubadoo invention itself.

Ever been on a Segway? Celebs and tycoons of all kinds love them, and in Punta Cana, you can do more than just learn to ride one (though that's definitely half the fun). You can explore the beach, weave through the multi-million dollar estates, peek around and see who's playing on the championship golf courses, and stop at the Ecological Reserve with 15 natural spring water lagoons (and tell your guide you want to jump in while you're there!). Segways are zero-emissions electric vehicles, so you can ride around all day guilt-free.

"Nowhere else in the world will the golf experience be like this," says Punta Espada of this par 72 Jack Nicklaus-designe -desichampionship golf course at Cap Cana in Punta Cana. The course was recently selected as The Best Course in the Caribbean and Mexico by Golfweek. We’re not expert golfers but we’ll take that as a sign that this is a great place to play. It's a cozy course, just 8 holes over 7,000 yards, developed to fit the natural topography of the land and accommodate golfers of all level. Go for the golf, stay for the terrific ocean views.

Like to drive? Tour 75 miles of the island in a cartoon-esque looking vehicle called a FunBuggy. All-day tours from 8am to 5pm take you out of Punta Cana to virgin coastlines, fishing villages, a cigar lounge, and even a cave. The cave entrance, horseback riding, endless soft drinks and a rum and coke at the end of the day are all included in your price (varies by season). If you’re feeling charitable and want to do a little good while you’re in the DR, bring along some school supplies and let your guide know. They'll help you donate them to a local school in person.

Because it was only founded in 1969 and before that it was jungle, one thing you won't find much of in Punta Cana is historical interest. If this is a dealbreaker for you, don't give up on Punta Cana yet. A short trip away in San Rafael de Yuma, you'll find the House Museum of Ponce de León. This palatial plantation-turned-museum was where the Spanish explorer lived back around 1505 with his wife and four children. The medieval architecture is both strangely misplaced and intriguingly beautiful. We love it.

Manati Park is a family-friendly, nature-themed amusement park very close to Punta Cana where you can swim with dolphins and see exciting live shows with sea lions, dancing horses, parrots and other animals. You can visit their Taíno Village or relax with a cocktail while your spouse watches the kids play with snakes. Whatever. The guaguas (local minibuses) will take you there from your hotel for free.

Also known as Kite Club Punta Cana, this is where you can go to kiteboard—even if you don't know how. Here, you can take private or group kitesurfing lessons from IKO certified instructors. More experienced daredevils can simply rent the equipment and go, with or without a "refresher" lesson. There's a course for IKO instructor training, and Intensive Training for people who seriously want to learn to kiteboard fast. They also have equipment (and lessons) for Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Surfing.