Calgary 2024: WINTER is the season to take wings for warmer climes, to resorts along the Caribbean, Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. We too join the human migratory trend for short stays…Cancun in 2023 and this year, 2024, Punta Cana, the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic.

For a non-water person the selection of beach holidays is a mystery as this is my third water break…Maldives (2019), Cancun (2023) and now Punta Cana (2024). I suppose it is the mesmeric combination of aqua, sun and the all inclusive luxury of a resort that must be the temptation. It does sound decadent, but a vacation now means time away from day-to-day stress and what better way than to just laze on the beach and watch the interplay of nature.

So…lured by the web extolled 32 km stretch of beaches straddling the Caribbean expanse of blue waters we boarded a Sunwing* all inclusive holiday package flight (including stay at Hotel Royalton Bavaro) to the Bavaro region of Punta Cana. The Bávaro area and Punta Cana combine to form La Costa del Coco, or the Coconut Coast, a landmass with sprawling all-inclusive resorts with private beaches offering sporty activities such as zip-lining, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing etc accompanied with unlimited cuisine and drinks…leisure choices for all ages. Another, more important attraction, was the security quotient of Punta Cana region compared with rest of Dominican Republic especially towards the west, the Haiti border.

The flight was comfortable, pre-booked seats, except for snacks and meals that we decided to purchase on flight. A mistake. Ours was a direct flight, leaving Calgary at 7 am and reaching Punta Cana around 6 pm (3 hours time difference), and combined with bus transfer to hotel meant more than 12 hour travel time. We carried few energy bars and cookies but one cannot subsist on this or instant noodles or snacks sold in flight. Lesson learnt… prepare sandwiches or something wholesome the night before for early morning all day flight with no meals served.

Next morning the whining was forgotten with beaming sunlight and cool sea breeze reminding us of our tropical getaway. Our routine for first few days…..Quick wholesome breakfast followed by trying-to-grab- a deck chair on the private beach, revelling in the ambiance, guzzling Margaritas, Pina Coladas or pure coconut water… back in room and refreshed, head for dinner at one of the exclusive restaurants offering Japanese, Italian, Greek etc., long walks in the premises and then relaxing to the sound of evening entertainment. The amenities advertised are provided but after a couple of days the repetitive flavours of food and entertainment begin to dim and one looks for diversion.

My favourite past-time was watching the morphing imagery of ebbing waters, floating clouds shutting out human voices to create a near perfect quietness. I could spend hours oblivious to my surroundings as underwater mysteries, surfing or snorkelling, do not entice me. I prefer watching fishes in aquariums than in free form. 

Punta Cana, located on the east coast in the province of La Altagracia originally called Punta Borrachón (Drunkard’s Point), was basically a business venture of Frank Rainieri and Ted Kheel in the late 1960s. Today the entire East Coast, including the smaller regions around, is known as Punta Cana. The Bavaro region with its palm lined beaches, coral reefs and top end resorts is the popular tourist destination as the contrasting currents of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea present opportunities for water sports, dolphin and whale watching etc

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A place is attractive for its mise en scène or its antecedents and Punta Cana fits the requirements. To me history takes precedence over buggy tours, organic farms, coffee plantations, village safaris when I Iearn that the Dominican Republic was the India surrogate for Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas.i

Downtown Punta Cana I missed due to conflicting views and advices of safe/unsafe and now I realise it was an opportunity missed. Talking with a travel company representative, a local, who tried to assure me that. “The city and area is safe with its unique history, culture and friendly locals. One can walk the streets, there is a Mall (scaled down), a quick day trip to get the feel of the region”. Well, I told him “maybe next visit”.

Some of daily scenes, while commuting between airport and hotel, reminiscent of my home country. One cannot blame Christopher Columbus for getting confused.

I did not take up the offer to visit the city but instead booked a day tour of Santa Domingo, capital and oldest city of Dominican Republic. Rest of time stayed confined to Hotel Royalton Bavaro and its sprawling facilities. The enjoyable part was that with my silver mane I was “Muma” to the hotel staff with their effusive Caribbean greeting Olá and forever willing to extend a helping hand. It did not matter if the hand expected a US $1/: tip or more, for the extra favour, which we willingly extended as long as we were ‘family’.

A pleasurable seven day break with minor hiccups.

Downtown Punta Cana images……as viewed on return to Punta Cana airport from hotel.

The returning Calgary flight….

Next Post: Day Trip to Santa Damingo.

* Sunwing Travels