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The Dominican Republic is a part of the large island of Hispanola, west of Puerto Rico, and is still relatively new to American travellers. I hope it remains that way, because it is a beautiful island, and largely untouched by modernization, at least in this area. The waters surrounding Punta Cana, which is on the northeastern coast, are pristine and filled with reefs containing beautiful marine life. Fortunately, the Dominicans have taken it upon themselves to maintain this treasured area, posing many restrictions on the huge tourism growth it is undergoing. Towards that end, Natura Park Resort is known as an "environmentally friendly" resort. It strives to protect the sensitive enviornment that tourism has encroached upon.
Natura Park is an all-inclusive resort, which means that all meals and drinks are included in the price. As an example, for seven nights, including airfare, the cost per person in July was under $1,000.. The mid-winter prices are a little higher, but since many South Americans (opposite seasons) visit this region, the price is fairly constant. We were two of only a handful of people who spoke English - most employees speak little or no English!). It was challenging to recall high school and college Spanish to be able to communicate! German is also spoken by many tourists, as the Dominican Republic is a favorite destination of many Europeans.
The resort is gorgeous! Two and three story buildings form a horseshoe around beautifully (and naturally) landscaped lawns and foliage. Flamingoes and peacocks have made their homes here, seemingly for our pleasure. The rooms are big, bright, comfortable and immaculate. We requested and received an ocean-front room, and our second-floor balcony was literally a stones throw from the beach. The air conditioning in the rooms is triggered on by inserting the keychain into a slot next to the door. the patio door must also be shut in order for the air to operate. This is another of Natura Park's efforts to conserve. Rooms were also stocked with bottled water, local soda and beer daily. Don't drink the water from the tap, even for brushing your teeth, though. As with many destinations, the water contains bacteria which, although harmless for the locals, can cause stomach distress to visitors if consumed even in minute quantities. Take Immodium-D with you as a precaution!
At registration, a towel ticket is given to each guest. This entitles you to a towel from the booth by the pool. It may be exchanged as often as necessary for a clean, dry one, but don't forget to turn in your final towel for a ticket on the last day. Not redeeming the ticket can result in a charge!
Each morning at sunrise, I watched a man with his donkey-pulled cart walk along the beach, removing the night's deposit of seaweed from the shoreline, while other employees worked to rake smooth the sand, trim the towering palms of excess fronds and fruit, and otherwise manicure the grounds. All this while the sky slowly lightened to a breathtaking aquamarine blue.
We never had a rainy day. Clouds were about occasionally, but
never enough to call the day "cloudy". in fact they were a welcome
respite from the tropical sun. The beach area is always blessed with
a breeze; we were never uncomfortable while on the sand or at the beachfront
restaurant. The main restaurant, however, can be quite warm at night.
It has no air conditioning, just huge paddle fans hanging from the high,
vaulted ceilings. The first night or two we had trouble acclimating,
but soon grew used to the nightime heat and humidity.
Snorkeling was very good. We went out just about 75 yards north of the Natura beach. Great little reefs were only 20 yards from shore. This is great for those who don't want to go way out to see some tropical marine life. I brought a banana with me each day and fish swam to me by the hundreds for a snack! There are also some some nice coral formations here, some quite beautiful, especially for being so close to shore and water traffic. My friend ventured out about 1/2 mile, and saw eagle rays, sea turtles, and other interesting specimens, as well as some very nice coral walls. He was very happy with the snorkeling, even compared with Cayman Islands and Cozemel.
I decided to go horseback riding one day. It is free at the resort. The horses were typical hacks, but they seemed fairly well taken care of. The gentleman who leads the group of six doesn't speak a word of English. Since I had ridden my entire childhood, I was holding back my horse so I could get in a slow canter. He thought I was just holding back my horse without realizing it and started yelling at me, which was embarrassing. As it turned out, we galloped all the way back, so I got my fill. Remember to wear slacks!
Food was very good. All meals at the main restaurant were buffet-style. We had breakfast and dinner there most days. Breakfasts were excellent: fresh tropical fruit, custom omelets, breads, meats, cereal, pastries, fresh juices, and of course the famous Dominican coffee. Dinners ranged from roast beef and pasta to local favorites - even goat - delicious! Yucca was served both with dinner and breakfast in a variety of delicious ways. Fresh fruit, a variety of cheeses, salads and scrumptious-looking desserts made every meal a feast. Be careful about eating salads, though. (Those that are probably rinsed with local water may upset your stomach.)
Beer and rum are Dominican; both were good, but the rum was not as good as Jamaican. Even with the all-inclusive plan, name brands of alcohol were extra, such as Cuervo, Dewars, Absolute etc., so it's a plus to drink beer and rum! Wine is included with dinner, and is palatable.
We ate lunch at the beachfront restaurant. There was no need to dress up; a cover-up over the swimsuit was fine. Burgers, hot dogs, chicken, assorted salads and pasta were offered daily. Expresso here was excellent, a late-afternoon custom that must be tried!
South along the beach are a number of vendors selling everything from Dominican cigars and rum to beautiful paintings and wood carvings. Check the prices in the lobby shops before you venture here to get an idea of prices! The vendors are pushy but very nice. The one-armed Jamaican was especially colorful, and a lot of fun! Remember to haggle with the vendors. I got my entire head braided for $30.00! Vendors will also approach you on the beach. I couldn't resist getting my photo taken with a colorful macaw, and bought some jewelry as well, but they can be very persistent if you are not firm. A "No, gracias" should send them on their way.
I visited Punta Cana again in January 2000. Read my review and see some photos of Melia Caribe!