This is great information for anyone visiting Punta Cana! Punta Cana Beach Suite Hotels: Find 299342 traveller reviews, candid photos and the top ranked beach hotels with suites in Punta Cana on Tripadvisor. Staying at Hilton any word on there situation with seaweed. All very interesting. On this wide stretch of sand you can easily walk to whichever part of the beach you choose. The closest major resort is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The sunniest time of year in Punta Cana is normally March with bright sunshine on average for 74% of daylight hours; that's 9 hours of sunshine per day. Rain showers typically come around the afternoon and they doesn’t last long. We still loved the island but were disappointed that we couldn’t swim or snorkel in the water at our resort. Saved Save . But by 2017 the SEAS project had expanded to provide eight-day forecasts of sargassum seaweed masses for the Gulf Coast, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Jamaica,  Saba, Puerto Rico and many other Caribbean islands. Au contraire. Thank you for the recommandation, I will look into it! A quick glance at webcams shows that is does appear to be clear in Manchebo Beach. Is it everywhere in Punta Cana or just at some beaches? Table of Contents. I think going 'dark' for another 3 or 4 months could take Punta Cana and maybe even the DR off a lot of travel websites. We exprienced it in Barbados in February 2018 on the East coast and in Mexico (Mexican Riviera) in March/April 2018. Thoughts? It may be affected by the seaweed in particular seasons. Well, I’m not an expert but I have walked in it and swam in waters that had it, and was fine albeit quite grossed out. However, if you’re staying in one of the upscale resorts or visiting the Scape Park theme park on an organized tour, your transportation provider will take care of the entrance process. Punta Cana is home to several (and a growing number of) Blue Flag beaches. Hello Rick, yes there was seaweed in the Caribbean this year. My sources in Barbados has confirmed that the beaches near the Hilton don’t get alot of seaweed like Enterprise Beach and Crane Beach. Of course we were staying in the East End but we had a car so we just drove to the West End to enjoy the beach. Capcom Cup 2020 will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic from February 19-21, 2021. I’ll be checking in as our cruise gets closer in January 2019. Sorry to hear that Toni! Punta Cana is a resort town within the Veron-Punta Cana municipal district, in the municipality of Higüey, in La Altagracia Province, the easternmost province of the Dominican Republic.The area has beaches and balnearios which face both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and it is a tourist destination. Waste of money!!!! Thanks for compiling it in such a readable format! The large quantity of the sargassum seaweed, combined with differences in the composition of the seaweed itself, has posed problems for many Caribbean destinations. Please remember that the amount of seaweed can vary from day-to-day and coast-to-coast of an island. Such a timely post as so many Canadians are fed up with winter and heading south to the Dominican Republic! Generally, 3-4 weeks before Christmas is a good time, as occupancy is lower. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Things to Know When Traveling to Punta Cana in 2021. I want a vacation redo but worried it’ll happen again. Although there are shopping centres, local restaurants and residential areas in the Bavaro Beach area, there’s no actual city named Punta Cana. We will be at The Crane again in February and will report back. Great article, very informative. We experienced the same in Barbados in 2015. More than 1,500 of them visit the Bay of Samana which gives us a presence of about 300 Humpback Whales at any time during the Whale Season (January 20 to March 20). Answer 21 of 78: Just saw a very recent photo of Bavaro Beach and there was a ton of seaweed. Just because there is seaweed doesn’t mean you can’t swim. We just returned from Belize (Placencia) . Just came back from Punta Cana!! Coincidence or not, it looks like sargassum is making an appearance as the tourists have started to return to the area. Thank you for the update. The maximum and minimum values were 84.2°F and 85.8°F respectively. As for the Bahamas, have a look at Abaco Islands. ☀️Perfect Caribbean Sea & Waves – Beach Walk and Seaweed in Punta Cana. The overall bloom extent in 2019 was significantly higher than most of the years during 2011-2018 for the Caribbean and the central West Atlantic. Bavaro Beach is quite narrow at the public beach access road Marcio Veloz Maggiolo near Lio Beach Club. Thank you Tara for the compliment and feedback! Once it sits on the beach and starts to rot, it smells like sewage which is quite unpleasant. Punta Cana is a real year-round destination, as the effects of the rainy season are only mitigated by the more protected location in the east of DomRep. Wishing you a lovely time in Barbados and hopefully it is seaweed free. The Cancún sargassum monitoring network map published on … East End was a mess but the West End was beautiful. Rain season is from April through June and September through November. This beach is quite undeveloped and is popular for surfing, windsurfing and parasailing. Best Beaches in Punta Cana: Seaweed Conditions & Swimming. If you have any questions or suggestions about places to visit, let me know! Answer 1 of 36: Planning on Punta Can a this September for 28th wedding anniversary, Due to seaweed problems this year, should we consider somewhere else? The workers cleared the beach the best they could, but snorkeling was a no-go. In the next couple of months, I will be working on a project to help people find out about the seaweed and if you remember to, can you let me know if there was any seaweed during your visit? The best coast to avoid sargassum is the Caribbean coast which is about 40 miles south of Punta Cana airport. Explanation Of The Bahia Resorts in Punta Cana - July 3, 2020 Grand Bahia Room & A La Carte Requests - Revised March 19, 2019 A Detailed guide to AI's in the D.R. Happy and seaweed free travels to you! The beaches recovered quite quickly from the historic influx of sargassum during the seaweed seasons of 2015, 2018 and 2019. Read on for an in-depth look at what to consider when planning a vacation in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We are interested in having a destination wedding. The first places to reopen and run specials to restore travel might be the long term winners. Dave. Bottom line: Roatan was Sargassum-free all along north shore. Explanation Of The Bahia Resorts in Punta Cana - July 3, 2020 Grand Bahia Room & A La Carte Requests - Revised March 19, 2019 A Detailed guide to AI's in the D.R. Punta Cana lost a lot of luster with the seaweed invasion. Public access can be found via the KUKUA Restaurant and Beach Club beside the Bahía Príncipe. Paradisus Palma Real Golf & Spa Resort Punta Cana. Sorry to hear the sargassum seaweed affected your vacation too. Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico, publisher Michele Peterson’s award-winning work has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source , National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and  100+ other publications. We visited Juanillo beach in Cap Cana and Macao beach in August of 2019 to see how bad it was. The west coast of Mexico is also a safe choice. Glad to hear the Marriott was dedicated to their guests and provided a shuttle to nicer beaches. On days when there’s seaweed or the water is choppy ( yes, that does happen!) Hello Jennifer, thank you for the update! While some prefer to get surprised by the place, it is always better to do the much-needed research about the basic before visiting any place and especially tropical areas because the biggest concerns there is the weather. Sitting on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is a sun-soaked coastal town consisting almost solely of beaches, resorts and tourist amenities. Isla Holbox north of Cancun was seaweed free but one day, it was blanketed with a thick mass of seaweed that appears to have come out of nowhere as this area is not known to get seaweed like other spots in Mexico. I had heard that in the past Punta Cana was mostly unaffected. Massive influx of seaweed continuous since May 15, 2018. There is potentially good news. https://www.atastefortravel.ca/12407-beaches-in-punta-cana-seaweed Have you experienced sargassum seaweed? The powerful undertow and strong wave action of this beach makes it important to choose a hotel with a swimming pool as water conditions often aren’t suitable for swimming if you’re not a strong swimmer. If you enjoy swimming in the ocean, Bavaro Beach is your best choice for a beach vacation in Punta Cana as it has calm waters and Blue Flag status. When is the sea warmest in Punta Cana? Hi, my husband and I have just come back from Barbados. Yes all over Mexico Caribbean Coast is hice quantities and smell. Thank you for update Laura. the coast of Mexico from Cancun along the Riviera Maya to Tulum. We witnessed turtles feeding on seagrass, and an amazing array of colourful fish, rays and barracuda. Considerations for Blue Flag status include the implementation of recycling programs, toilet facilities with environmentally responsible waste disposal and several other factors in management of the beach and coastal zone to reduce pollution and  preserve beach quality. Don’t come to Punta Cana expecting a tight-knit little beach town. Mexican beaches, cancun, playa, and tulum have the same problem. Save. We went for the beach and had to go to the pool the whole week. With the year winding down, it’s time to announce details of the season ending grand finale. Bavaro Beach lines many nearby hotel resorts, but can also be accessed by anyone.This beach features stunning white and beautifully clean waters which is ideal for swimming. Did it ruin your vacation? Hello Jae, From some quick research it does appear that sargassum appears on Bermuda beaches in varying amounts based on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) website. There are so many other beautiful places in the world. Unfortunately it so thick and smelly, that the beaches were empty. Those looking for seclusion in the Punta Cana area, head 30 minutes north of Bavaro Beach to Macao Beach. Encountered large mats of it while snorkeling at the reef. I am familiar with the sargassum seaweed, which I saw in the fall in Barbados, but I didn’t know about the risks and reasons to be concerned about it beyond the annoyance of it. But it’s the bay side so there’s other challenges…. Show Prices . We just returned from Akumal ( east facing) Mexico last week. What does this mean for seaweed conditions in the Dominican Republic? Dead fish getting caught up in it. The seaweed when floating at the top of hot, shallow waters, can start to play host to microbes and strains of bacteria the skin is not accustomed to coming in contact with. Often travelers find that a break from sun and sand can provide the fun of a new adventure or sport. Overview. I am planning to vacation there this month. It has numerous facilities as well as air conditioning. Is it available at Secrets Royal Beach????? Based on an analysis of data issued by the Sargassum Watch System (SaWS) at the University of South Florida’s Oceanography Laboratory, the forecast for the seaweed season in 2020 is  optimistic. The west coast of Mexico (Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, Xuatulco, etc.) Good to see in your article that it is unaffected as is what my research also indicates. Yet despite the abundance of tropical seclusion, Juanillo Beach is actually located in the exclusive gated community of Cap Cana  just 20 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport. Sorry to hear that Nikki! Tulum had good conditions in December 2020 to February 2021 but some days were bad and some spots more affected than others. It is too bad the all-inclusive water activities were not available due to this and that guests had to pay extra to snorkel. I think Punta Cana would be a perfect cure for the winter blues. So frustrated. However, much is uncertain and it’s impossible to accurately future bloom probability for the Caribbean Sea or for a  specific location including Punta Cana. From what I have seen and heard from friends there, the west coast beaches still remain free of any seaweed. Popular among locals as well as visitors, still-wild Uvero Alto beach is located northwest of Bavaro Beach along the coast. A crew of 8 ‘Green Team’ members from the resort we stayed at worked each day along with a driver with a small tractor pulling a trailer to keep the beach clean. Your article is very timely, as we have been trying to determine a good tropical escape destination. Change ), Review: Turkish Airlines 787 Business Class from DPS – Denpasar Bali to IST – Istanbul Turkey, Flight Review: Japan Airlines 777 First Class From SFO – San Francisco to HND – Tokyo Haneda, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3277720/Stinking-sargassum-seaweed-smells-rotten-eggs-terrorizes-beaches-Caribbean-Florida-Texas-shores-experiencing-piles-kelp-10-feet-high.html, a popular fish cutter stand in Barbados had to close, Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida, https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/quitana-roo-hoteliers-will-shuttle-guests-to-sargassum-free-beaches/, SEAS, the Sargassum Early Advisory System, Getting Sick while Traveling: Dos and Donts to Minimize the Risk, Plan: The Maldives on a $500 budget per day, Tulum: Planning a Day Trip from Playa Del Carmen, Review: Playa Escondida, Sayulita, Mexico, Review: Hotel La Semilla, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, Review: Grand Hyatt Playa Del Carmen Resort, Our Top 10 Pools: Enhance Your Hotel Stay, https://www.earthcam.com/world/aruba/eaglebeach/?cam=bucuti1, Dining Guide for Barbados: Cheap Eats - WeLeaveToday, Indulge - Where to Eat in Cozumel - WeLeaveToday, Getting Around – Renting a Moped / Scooter on Cozumel Island - WeLeaveToday, Visiting Barbados: Pros and Cons - WeLeaveToday. Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort Casino & Aquagames is a popular hotel at Uvero Alto Beach. I think going 'dark' for another 3 or 4 months could take Punta Cana and maybe even the DR off a lot of travel websites. I will update my post with this information. Anyway, I just wanted to say “Great article!”. Even though the last major hurricane hit the Dominican Republic in 1998, there is an ever-present risk of one every day between June and November. Swing in a hammock set in a coconut grove, walk barefoot on the sandy beach at sunrise and sip coconut water from a fresh coconut at beautiful Playa Juanillo and  you might feel as though you’re a castaway on a fantasy island. I saw that Curacao and Bonaire are pretty bad, so I was wondering. Worried about seaweed in Punta Cana? The beaches on the West Coast of Barbados and closer to Bridgetown were not affected. We didn’t bother trying other beaches in Barbados because I figured it was everywhere. Yes, there was a great deal of seaweed washing ashore but the beach cleaners at Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort did an amazing job of clearing it away every morning. I’m not feeling hopeful about our trip this year but we’ll make the most of it. Will you be making travel plans based on this year’s sargassum forecast? Bavaro Beach is generally considered to be the best beach in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic overall. Do you know if Bermuda has been affected? Report inappropriate content . There are feet and feet deep of it on shore. Classes are available on an individual or group basis. I hear a lot of bad stories but It would be interesting to see some PHOTOS of the beach and ocean. Glad you found the information useful! In some cases, it will last a few weeks or even months and there really is no set sargassum season or accurate forecast to notify people about its migration in the same way hurricanes are tracked. We are staying at The SoCo Hotel right now and although they are doing their best to clear their smal section of beach….if you walk right out of the rear of the hotel down to The Hilton it is really pretty bad. A good alternative is to stay in one of the resorts further south on Bavaro Beach. Various strategies and solutions have been developed to deal with the unprecedented waves of seaweed that have been washing onto beaches in the Caribbean and Mexico. This is just what I needed on this snowy Wisconsin morning. I have never been there but have heard lots of great things about Costa Rica so I’m sure you will enjoy yourself. Required fields are marked *. On many beaches in Punta Cana, the seaweed actually disappeared more quickly than in other parts of the Caribbean. I have read alot of reviews of resorts in Punta Cana and it seems like alot have trouble with seaweed. How serious is the Sargassum seaweed situation in Punta Cana? These are the questions I get asked most often by people planning a winter vacation trip to Dominican Republic and other countries in the Caribbean and Mexico. Hello Alison, The sea is usually at its warmest in Punta Cana in September when the water temperature reaches 29°C . I am very sorry to hear about your experience Lori. If you read news reports of waves of garbage washing up on the beaches of Dominican Republic, note that this incident occurred at Montesinos Beach in Santo Domingo and is far away from Punta Cana. maximurph. In addition to ruining the pristine beaches people want to spend their vacations on, it also affects the livelihood of local people who can’t fish like they usually do. Any recent photos (summer 2018) from Bavaro beach would be greatly appreciated. With the year winding down, it’s time to announce details of the season ending grand finale. I used the great Wifi at Secrets Royal beach so can’t give any advice about the cell phone service. I’d stay somewhere with a west facing beach and avoid going during hurricane season. Since Punta Cana is on the Atlantic coast and faces north east you don't get an over-the-sea sunset there. Resources specific to the beaches in Punta Cana include the Live Webcams operated by the Palladium Group. Many of its beaches have awarded Blue Flag status  which means they’ve been recognized by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Just returned from Playa Paraiso, south of Cancun, and the sargassum was terrible. Have they been affected? This is because the seaweed not only floated offshore on the surface of the water but began washing up on beaches, trapping marine life and garbage in the seaweed itself and choking off oxygen that the fish need to breathe. Yes, the west coast does seem to remain unaffected which is good and hopefully it stays that way. Conduct research to see if other beaches are unaffected. There was a fair amount in Punta Cana December 27-January 3, 2019. Answer 21 of 78: Just saw a very recent photo of Bavaro Beach and there was a ton of seaweed. Every year, thousands of Humpback Whales start their journey from the cold waters in the North Atlantic to the Caribbean. I saw someone walk through it for about 75 feet in Barbados to eventually swim in a clear patch. ( Log Out /  The sunniest time of year in Punta Cana is normally March with bright sunshine on average for 74% of daylight hours; that's 9 hours of sunshine per day. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our free monthly newsletter. Punta Cana is certainly one of the most scenic and serene destinations in the country making it a hot tourist spot. You might use the time to explore the … Sargassum seaweed is a type of seaweed found in tropical areas and Punta Cana has been known to have it on its beaches. As you can see in this map of Punta Cana created by The Orange Backpack, the beaches stretch along the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic facing the island of Puerto Rico  and north of Aruba. Seaweed is a natural part of the marine environment and has always been present in one form or another. ), Cozumel (East Coast and South-East coast beach of Playa Palancar), Caribbean: Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman, Haiti, Honduras (Roatan), Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, and other Caribbean islands. Punta Cana looks like a great choice even with the seaweed. I wish I had seen your informative article before we booked for San Pedro, Belize! It’s actually a string of beach zones and resort areas accessible via Punta Cana International Airport. If you’re looking for outdoor adventure, parasailing, glass-bottom boat tours and other activities are also available on this action-packed beach. That being said, a quick scan at the beach cams right now is showing clear conditions. I had a look at recent of photos of beaches and it looks like some have had seaweed, but it doesn’t look as bad as when we were there in February. banger1968. Airports - Punta Cana International Airport offers flights to and from many large cities in the world. We were told that a popular fish cutter stand in Barbados had to close because of a low supply of fish due to the seaweed in December 2018/January 2019. Thanks for any suggestions Laura Punta Cana Punta Cana boasts idyllic beaches and modern facilities for its visitors. The beaches pictured in your photos look lovely! Seaweed season JUN/JUL - See 8 246 traveller reviews, 9,035 candid photos, and great deals for Iberostar Punta Cana at Tripadvisor. Water wasn’t the beautiful blue near the shore but still a beautiful beach. The Street Fighter League World Championship will take place on February 19, with the two best U.S. teams and two best … It’s difficult to predict but one valuable resource is the Sargassum Early Advisory System (SEAS), a forecasting  project based in Texas intended to help predict the movement of sargassum blooms. Here are some factors to consider about seaweed in Punta Cana: What is the sargassum seaweed forecast for 2020? It’s super easy to drive in Aruba, so that might be a good option. Book BlueBay Grand Punta Cana, Punta Cana on Tripadvisor: See 649 traveler reviews, 1,025 candid photos, and great deals for BlueBay Grand Punta Cana, ranked #64 of 153 hotels in Punta Cana and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0e7f6e21eaba09d046bd4aaaa42f5e9" );document.getElementById("ab1c17242e").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Top resorts in Juanillo Beach include Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa, the newest resort in Cap Cana. Cheers . Save. If you can, report back! Some hotels are doing what they can to clean their share of the beach, but frankly the problem is overwhelming. Punta Cana Tourism Punta Cana Hotels Punta Cana Bed and Breakfast Punta Cana Vacation Packages Flights to Punta Cana Punta Cana Restaurants Things to Do in Punta Cana Punta Cana Travel Forum Punta Cana Photos When we went to Excellence Punta Cana we swam and played in the ocean every day. Now I know. Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. I can’t find anything about it when I search google but I know it is by the Sargasso Sea. The first time we encountered that mass of seaweed known as “sargassum” was in Barbados in 2015; it seemed to have appeared from nowhere and just kept coming every day, making it unappealing to swim in the ocean and lounge on the beach where we were staying. Punta Cana is certainly one of the most scenic and serene destinations in the country making it a hot tourist spot. The World Wildlife Fund considers the Bay of Samana as one of the best places in … Here is our list of top things to know when traveling to Punta Cana in 2021! That being said, there is very little information about the current situation and a Trip Advisor Forum does seem to say it’s not a problem but I always conduct extra research. what do you mean other challenges? Account Register Cart +1 849 763 9881 WhatsApp, ... Punta Cana Secrets » Things to Know When Traveling to Punta Cana in 2020.

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