Punta Cana Side Trips
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by: RobertNickel | Total views: 18 | Word Count: 497
In the Eastern most part of the Dominican Republic, lies the province of La Altagracia. At the very tip of La Altagracia, one will find the newly created municipal district know as, Punta Cana. The beaches, which are the most famous part of the incredible Punta Cana, face both the Caribbean and the Atlantic oceans. Since the 1970s, Punta Cana has been a very popular tourist destination. The majority of the 50+ resorts in Punta Cana are European owned and mostly Spanish. The Dominican Republic's Spanish and Native American culture is reflected in the interior design and architecture of the resorts in the area.
While in Punta Cana, you will want to explore the area, as it is rich in history. One place you'll want to visit is the fortress of, Ponce de Leon. It is in the town San Rafael del Yuma, which is in one of the more inaccessible areas in the La Altagracia province.
Also nearby is the 16th century fishing town known as, Boca de Yuma. It is located to the west of the mouth of the Rio Yuma, by the Caribbean sea. The word, Yuma, comes from one of the Native American peoples who once resided in this area of the Dominican Republic, the Taino. Boca de Yuma has a pleasant climate that adds to the tranquility of the village. One of the largest national parks in the Dominican Republic, the 310 square kilometer, Del Este National Park, lies a few miles west of the city. Boca de Yuma is also a well known starting point for boating and fishing trips.
Salvaleon de Higuey, or more commonly, Higuey, is the 500-year-old capital of La Altagracia province. It is located 28 miles (45 kilometers) from Punta Cana. It takes about an hour to drive there. The population of Higuey now exceeds 150,000 people and it has one of the fastest growing economies in the Dominican Republic.
The largest town in the district is Veron, which is named after a French business man from the 1930s. Veron serves as a home-base city for the workers in nearby Punta Cana. For those wishing to drive in this region, it should be noted that Veron has one of the four gas stations in Punta Cana. The next nearest gas station is 48 kilometers (30 miles) away in Higuey. So make sure and plan ahead if you plan on being adventurous.
The Punta Cana Airport, which is one of the best connected and busiest airports in the Caribbean, serves the Punta Cana region. The Punta Cana airport has surpassed the Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, as the busiest airport in the Dominican Republic. The airport opened in 1984, to service Punta Cana. It also has the unique distinction of being the worlds first privately owned airport. American travelers should note that the airport is now equipped with a US Customs pre-clearance station, which will greatly enhance you trip home by being able to clear customs quickly before entering the plane.
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