Punta Cana is the most popular all inclusive resort destination in the Caribbean, and it isn’t really much of a competition. What began with a handful of resorts on the sands of Bavaro Beach has turned into a small country of its own, stretching from Cap Cana to the southeast all the way to Uvero Alto to the north, working together to form what we like to call Greater Punta Cana.
That means thousands upon thousands of all-inclusive rooms, with options for every kind of vacation. Family getaway with the kids? Check. Adults-only couples’ retreat? Check. Golf getaway with your buddies? Check.
It also means that navigating the sea of all-inclusive Punta Cana resorts is no small feat. We’re here to help, though, curating our 15 favorite Punta Cana all inclusive resorts for 2023, from top family options to adult-focused retreats to wellness resorts and everything in between.
Here are the best Punta Cana all inclusive resorts to visit in 2023.
Lopesan Costa Bavaro This is not just the most complete all inclusive resort in Punta Cana — it’s also the most beautiful. Setting a new standard for all-inclusive aesthetics in the Dominican Republic, this large (think nearly 1,100 rooms) resort is all about the luxury of great design. And that extends to the vast amenities: copious pools, a spectacular stretch of Bavaro beachfront, and what we feel is the centerpiece of the resort: the winding luxury mall-style promenade called The Boulevard that is almost like its own town. There is just about everything here: a bowling alley, a rum and cigar lounge, a sports bar, an artisanal cafe, myriad shopping outlets, nightly entertainment, a casino. That’s just the beginning. And when you reach the end of the avenue, you find a terrific, full-service water park.
The rooms are beautiful, too, and if you’re willing to splurge we would highly recommend the elevated “Unique Club,” which comes with a number of perks from dedicated check-in to a wonderful buffet restaurant right at the edge of the beach.
What it all means is that even in a very large resort, you never feel crowded; you can always find your own space and your own adventure. That’s what makes it our favorite Punta Cana all-inclusive for 2023 (it was also voted number one in Punta Cana by Caribbean Journal readers).
Zoetry Agua Punta Cana Set in Uvero Alto, this is just about the most relaxing property in all of the Dominican ‘Republic. You feel it from the moment you walk into the massive thatched roof lobby, and the sentiment extends across this beachfront property. There are just 96 suites here, meaning you get a decidedly “boutique” feel in a larger resort. The food is outstanding, you never need to make a reservation and the service is impeccable. This is a wellness-focused resort, and while you can feel the serenity no matter where you are staying at the property, the spa is the epicenter: think sea mud and algae treatments, sensation showers, Finnish saunas and Natura Bissé products. It’s a world-class spa. If you haven’t tried a Zoetry resort, it’s high time you did.
Hard Rock Punta Cana It’s been around so long and been solid for so long that it is almost easy to forget about this Punta Cana institution. It’s also easy to forget just how diverse this resort is, with an equally solid offering whether you’re there with a significant other or you’re bringing the kids with you. The dining is vast and excellent: 11 specialty restaurants (we particularly love the hibachi spot), the Rockaway Bay water park is one of the Dominican Republic’s best; and this is also a great golf resort, thanks to the on-site Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole, 7,253-yard championship Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay, with all-inclusive rounds and, even more importantly, an all-inclusive 19th hole.
There really is something for everyone, including a top-level casino, a great nightclub and a broad wellness destination anchored by the Rock Spa. That’s without mentioning the unrivaled lineup of top-level artists coming to perform at the resort all year round.
Margaritaville Cap Cana Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville brand has been expanding rapidly in the Caribbean, and this Cap Cana all inclusive is the brand’s Caribbean crown jewel. All of the Buffett-inspired signatures are here: the St Somewhere Spa, the Five O’Clock Somewhere bar, the endless margaritas. There are also some Cap Cana-only inclusions, most notably the only Landshark Brewery outside of the United States (joined by a Landshark Smokehouse restaurant). The resort is home to 228 rooms and 40 “villas,” including a broad number of swim-up room options, from Honeymoon Swim Up Suites that even have their own in-pool furniture to adultly-only swim-up villas in an exclusive area that even has its own swim-up bar. That’s along with a number of units with private balcony plunge pools.
Secrets Cap Cana This adults-only retreat is the flagship Secrets resort in the Dominican Republic, and it’s easy to see why. First, there is the stunning, impossibly white sand of Juanillo Beach; then there are the rooms themselves, Then there is the dining program, with seven different a la carte restaurants, 24-7 room service and six bars and lounges. Our favorite, though, is the Secrets Spa by Pevonia, the sort of wellness center where you want to spend your entire day — including a dazzling spa-only pool and whirlpool complex that doubles as a rarefied adults-only lounge.
Nickelodeon Punta Cana Let’s be honest: lots of all-inclusive resorts say their family-friendly. But being friendly isn’t just about listing a kids’ club on your Web site. It means a commitment to a family — and, most importantly — kid-friendly experience. And if that’s what you’re looking for, this is the spot. Karisma’s new Nickelodeon brand has, in just a few short years, set a new standard for kid-friendly vacations in the Caribbean (the brand also has one in the Mexican Caribbean). That ranges from meeting Nickelodeon characters (yes, that includes Paw Patrol), getting “slimed” and a vast range of activities and “clubs” to enjoy. Your kids will never lack for things to do here and neither will you. And isn’t that the point?
TRS Cap Cana TRS is a relatively new, elevated brand from Palladium, and it has opened several resorts in recent years in both Punta Cana and the Mexican Caribbean. The TRS Cap Cana is right at the top, with a plum perch on Playa Bavaro. Now this isn’t like many of its neighbors. It’s smaller, with a boutique feel and a smaller, lagoon-style beach. Set at the Cap Cana marina, it has some spectacular ocean views, and a kind of rarefied, exclusive ambience that is right in keeping with Cap Cana itself. The food is excellent, and the bars are great, too, including the highly-recommended XtraTime sports lounge which is, rather notably, open 24 hours.
Falcon’s Resort by Melia Melia’s newest entry in the Dominican Republic is actually a combination of two of its existing resorts: the former Paradisus Grand Cana and the Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real. The new Falcon’s Resort in Punta Cana will be built in phases, but the beautiful first phase is already open, part of a completely different kind of resort for the Punta Cana area: as Melia describes it, “resortainment.” That’s because the resort is built in harmony with the new Katmandu Park, the first full-fledged theme park ever in the Caribbean, which will be this property’s single-greatest amenity. As for the resort itself, It is about what you expect from a Melia luxury all-inclusive: a great spa, sleek, modern rooms, and diverse dining options.
Club Med Punta Cana Club Med is unique. Forget what you know about all-inclusive experiences at other resorts, either in Punta Cana or the wider Caribbean. Because Club Med is far more like an actual club — the resort’s highly-energetic staff help to turn an ordinary resort into a kind of luxurious sleepaway camp, where there’s always something to do, always some new activity to enjoy, and some new game to join in on with the other guests. The resort plant is excellent (we highly recommend going for the adults-only, newer Zen Oasis section), and, like all Club Meds, the food is a standout, with consistently terrific food that’s far better than what you typically get at even the finest all-inclusives.
Sanctuary Cap Cana Reopening in January after it suffered some damage during last fall’s hurricane, this is the most uniquely designed property in all of Punta Cana: with a stone aesthetic that looks more like a castle than an all-inclusive resort. But when you dig deeper into the Spanish colonial look, you find that this is actually a beautiful resort, with some of our favorite swim-up rooms in all of greater Punta Cana. It’s also the only Marriott Luxury Collection all-inclusive in all of the Dominican Republic, part of the hotel giant’s continued foray into the all-inclusive space.
And yes, we highly suggest going for the “castle junior suite swim out” rooms, which come with direct access to the pool, butler service and welcome sparkling wine to boot.
Radisson Blu Punta Cana There are only two Radisson Blu resorts in the Caribbean (the other one is in Aruba), and this is the only one that is all-inclusive. This contemporary-looking resort, with two long room complexes straddling a long, central pool, has 163 rooms, all of which are suites. Indeed, the resort is home to some of the most comfortable standard rooms in all of Punta Cana, with a colorful, modern aesthetic and a strong selection of eateries (we’re partial to the Asian-inspired Kigen). And while Radisson is new to the all-inclusive game, it doesn’t show it, with a notably strong activities offering that features everything from CrossFit to cooking lessons.
Royalton CHIC Punta Cana Blue Diamond’s Royalton is one of the fastest-growing resort brands in all of the Caribbean, particularly since its strategic alliance with Marriott All-Inclusive. That makes it hard to choose from its vast collection of properties, including in Punta Cana. But there’s just something about Royalton CHIC that sets it apart. The beloved adults-only resort is all about energetic fun: themed parties, the Cloud 9 culinary “journey,” the colorful suites (and did we mention the DreamBeds?). And if you’re coming with a group, there’s the Chic Mansion, an, 11,500-square-foot six-bedroom villa that comes with its own private chef. There’s nothing like it in Punta Cana.
Hyatt Zilara/Ziva Cap Cana While Hyatt’s all-inclusive portfolio (newly rebranded the Inclusive Collection) now spans much of the Caribbean across countless brands (thanks to its acquisition last year of Apple Leisure Group), the company’s all-inclusive ambitions began with the Hyatt Ziva and Zilara brands, Ziva for families and Zilara. Both are present in the brand’s Cap Cana resort complex that totals 750 rooms across a pair of 375-room properties. Rooms in both resorts are excellent, and you can’t go wrong with a swim-up option.
Dreams Flora Punta Cana Part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, this resort is so new it hasn’t actually opened yet. But it’s also the most anticipated opening of 2023 in Punta Cana, with a lush, serene setting in Punta Cana’s Cabeza de Toro area. The resort, opening early next year, is home to 520 rooms and suites, a classic thatched-roof aesthetic, a Pevonia spa and four different pools, including a kids’ pool.
Excellence El Carmen Excellence has turned the upscale all-inclusive into something of a science. The company now has five resorts across Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, and while the brand never ventures into the truly spectacular, it is consistently, dependably excellence, from always-attentive service to surprisingly good food. The company’s newest Dominican Republic resort is El Carmen, with 494 rooms, all of which are suites, along with a dozen dining concepts, 16 bars and a welcoming, adults-only ambience.