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2025 Daily Tour Itinerary
2025 Daily Tour Itinerary
Day 1 • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Welcome to a sun and fun-filled vacation in the Dominican Republic, where the sounds of Bachata and Merengue music fill the warm tropical air. Experience the colonial charm, natural beauty, and warm “Hispaniola” hospitality of this island paradise. Fly into Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Transfer on your own using the Hotel courtesy shuttle. Rooms are available for check-in after 4:00 pm. Dinner is on your own.
Day 2 • Altos de Chavon, Santo Domingo
After breakfast, join Caravan for an 8:00 a.m. welcome briefing. Then, drive west through picturesque sugar cane fields. Visit Altos de Chavon, a recreated 16th century village overlooking the Chavon River. See the Amphitheatre. Learn about the Taino people at the archaeological museum. Free time to stroll the cobblestone streets lined with art galleries, craft shops, and restaurants. Lunch is on your own. Then, continue to Santo Domingo. En route, drive by the training camps of the Major League baseball teams. Enjoy a relaxing two-night stay at your Santo Domingo hotel. Dinner is on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 • Columbus Lighthouse, Colonial Center
Scenic drive this morning along the waterfront. Photo stop at Santo Domingo’s iconic landmark, the Christopher Columbus Lighthouse. Enjoy magnificent views of the city. Then, visit the Colonial Center, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Museum of the Casas Reales (Royal Houses), the 15th-century Fortress Ozama, the first Cathedral of the Americas at Columbus Park, and the Diego Columbus House on Spanish Plaza. Lunch is on your own. Free time to shop for rum, handicrafts, and colorful souvenirs. Next, on your return to your hotel, drive by the Presidential Palace. Dinner is on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 • Botanical Gardens, Cigar Factory
Morning visit to the National Botanical Gardens, dedicated to preserving this tropical island’s varied flora. Enjoy a trolley ride where you’ll see native and exotic plants, orchids, ferns, and palms. Travel through a bamboo tunnel. Stop at a Japanese Garden. Lunch is on your own. Then, visit a cigar factory. Learn about the country’s history cultivating and harvesting tobacco. Discover how hand rolled cigars are made. Next, see why the Dominican Republic has earned a worldwide reputation for exceptional chocolate at a chocolate tasting. Then, arrive at Bávaro Beach in Punta Cana at your resort for a relaxing three-night stay. Enjoy dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 • Basilica of Higuey, Dominican Market
Morning drive to Higuey. Visit the stunning Basilica, an architectural wonder and revered Dominican pilgrimage site. Next, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of a Dominican market. Discover the lively spirit and local flavors that define Dominican culture. Return to your resort. Afternoon at leisure. Bávaro Beach is consistently rated one of the top three beaches in the world. Lunch and dinner are included at your resort.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 • Bavaro Beach
Your entire day is at leisure to enjoy your Punta Cana resort. Blessed with soft powdery white sand, the miles-long Bávaro Beach is perfect for romantic beach walks. You can lounge by the pools and beach, wade in the calm, crystal clear ocean waters, or enjoy some of the many included activities. The choice is yours! Lunch and dinner are included at your resort.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 • Punta Cana
Your tour ends this morning at your hotel. Breakfast is included only after 6:30 a.m. Caravan includes departure transfers on the day the tour ends from your hotel to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, arriving at 5:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. If you wish to go at a different time or extend your stay in the Dominican Republic, you will need to transfer on your own at your own expense. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. ¡Muchas Gracias!
Meals: Breakfast
2025 Hotels
2025 Hotels
Accommodations in the hotels and lodges are usually rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds.
Day 1 • Punta Cana
Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana Village
The Four Points by Sheraton PuntaCana Village hotel is centrally located in Punta Cana Village, ten minutes from Punta Cana International Airport. This full service hotel has a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, fitness center, and a 24 hour courtesy airport shuttle service. Free WiFi.
Days 2, 3 • Santo Domingo
El Embajador Royal Hideaway Hotel
El Embajador Royal Hideaway Hotel is located in the exclusive residential neighborhood of Bella Vista, close to Santo Domingo’s colonial district. The hotel has extensive tropical gardens, 2 restaurants, a bar, casino, fitness center, outdoor pool, beauty salon and spa services with treatment rooms including sauna, steam baths, whirlpool baths, therapeutic pools, and massage. Free WiFi.
Days 4, 5, 6 • Bávaro Beach
Barceló Bávaro Palace
The Barceló Bávaro Palace Hotel is located in Punta Cana adjacent to the stunning white sand Bavaro Beach. Protected by an offshore coral reef, the hotel grounds are filled with palm trees, tropical flowers and gardens. The hotel has a fitness center and full service spa, four swimming pools, tennis and paddle courts, miniature golf and a P.B. Dye designed 18 hole golf course, casino, and evening entertainment. Water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and windsurfing are available on the beach. Free WiFi.
Airport Transfers
Airport Transfers
arrival Transfers
Caravan’s hotel in Punta Cana Village, Dominican Republic, the Four Points by Sheraton, provides free arrival transfers from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). The hotel's courtesy shuttle operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Upon arrival, first collect your luggage before calling the hotel at 1-809-959-4444. Please allow up to 30 minutes for the shuttle to reach the airport. The drive to your hotel takes 15 minutes. Taxis cost approximately $20.
departure Transfers
Caravan includes departure transfers on the day the tour ends from the Barceló Bávaro Palace on Bávaro Beach to the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The transfers arrive at the airport at 5:00 a.m., 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. If you wish to go at a different time or extend your stay in the Dominican Republic, you will need to transfer on your own at your own expense. Taxis cost approximately $30 and can be arranged through the hotel's guest services.
Airfare is not included or sold by Caravan.
Passports & Visas
Passports & Visas
The Dominican Republic requires a current U.S. passport valid for six months after your date of entry. Non U.S. citizens, please check passport and visa requirements. Note: If you are travelling with children under 18 years old without both parents or legal guardians, you should carry a notarized letter of authorization signed by the missing parent(s) or guardian(s). A notarized birth certificate showing only one parent, a parent’s death certificate, or a court order of child custody may also be permissible. Failure to have proper documentation could result in denial of boarding by the airline, due to international child protection laws.
Weather & Clothing
Weather & Clothing
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
Santo Domingo | Punta Cana | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp | Rain | Temp | Rain | |
Jan | 84/68 | 0.6 | 83/73 | 1.2 |
Feb | 85/67 | 0.7 | 83/72 | 1.0 |
Mar | 86/68 | 0.7 | 84/73 | 0.9 |
Apr | 86/70 | 1.2 | 85/74 | 1.5 |
May | 87/72 | 2.4 | 86/76 | 2.6 |
Jun | 88/74 | 1.9 | 87/77 | 1.9 |
Jul | 89/74 | 1.6 | 87/78 | 1.7 |
Aug | 89/74 | 1.9 | 88/78 | 2.0 |
Sep | 89/74 | 2.1 | 88/77 | 2.3 |
Oct | 88/73 | 2.1 | 87/76 | 2.3 |
Nov | 86/71 | 1.5 | 85/75 | 2.4 |
Dec | 85/69 | 0.8 | 83/74 | 1.4 |
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Santo Domingo | ||||||||||||
temp | 84/68 | 85/67 | 86/68 | 86/70 | 87/72 | 88/74 | 89/74 | 89/74 | 89/74 | 88/73 | 86/71 | 85/69 |
rainfall | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
Punta Cana | ||||||||||||
temp | 83/73 | 83/72 | 84/73 | 85/74 | 86/76 | 87/77 | 87/78 | 88/78 | 88/77 | 87/76 | 85/75 | 83/74 |
rainfall | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1.4 |
Clothing Tips
This is a casual tour. Casual wear is suggested for sightseeing and daytime travelling. Dress code for evenings is casual. Suit jackets for men and dresses for women are never required.
Why Travel with Caravan?
Why Travel with Caravan?
Excellence Since 1952
You can trust our years of experience with tours of superb quality and excellent value. Caravan has enjoyed the same family management and ownership since 1952.
Caravan Care
For your safety, Caravan cancelled most 2020 and all 2021 tour departures and refunded 100% of all payments received. See Caravan’s Covid-19 Terms of Travel.
Caravan's Proud History
In 1965, Roger Mudd hosted a two-hour CBS TV special on Caravan Tours. This TV production took about one month to make and was so successful it inspired the 1968 romantic comedy movie “If it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium.” In the early 50’s the Mayor of Dublin presented Caravan with the Key to Dublin for bringing the first American tour to the city after WWII. Since then, Caravan has been recognized as a pioneer in travel. You can trust in our stability, experience and dedication to quality.
Great Hotels
Stay at park lodges, scenic resorts, and excellent hotels in great locations. See hotel descriptions on each tour page.
Meals
Most meals included within Latin America. For USA and Canada tours, included meals are listed on each itinerary page. Bottled water is provided on motorcoaches in Latin America.
Complete Sightseeing
Enjoy complete sightseeing with more visits, extra features, and local guides.
Fully Guided by Tour Directors
All tours conducted from start to finish by professional tour directors, who are fluent in English, experienced, and fun.
All-inclusive
Caravan includes all activities listed in the tour itinerary page. Caravan does not sell any optional activities which can add hundreds of dollars to your tour price. Your free time is scheduled in great settings where there is no need to buy additional expensive activities.
Shopping Freedom
Caravan will not bring you to overpriced shops in exchange for payments. Caravan gives you ample opportunity and time for great shopping, and the freedom to choose where and when to shop.
Great Value, Book Early
Caravan’s strong buying power gives you great vacations at prices much lower than you can find anywhere. In a typical year, most of our tours sell out quickly. Book early for the date you prefer and the best air fare.
How does Caravan Tours sell these tours for such a low cost?
Caravan delivers volume to our suppliers, who in turn reward us with their very best prices. We in turn pass these savings on to you, and you reward us by buying our tours. As volume continues to rise, we then receive even better prices from our suppliers, and we pass even greater savings on to you. This year our tours are better than ever.
Trade Association Memberships
Caravan is a member of NTA (National Tour Association), ABA (American Bus Association), CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and ACMA (American Commerce Marketing Association).