View from balcony - Secrets Cap Cana - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Some of the best beaches in the Caribbean are found in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Bavaro, El Cortecito, and Juanillio Beaches are three of my favorites. The softest and whitest sands found anywhere will make a beach lover out of you even if you don't normally hang out often at the beach. These beaches are protected by tall coconut palm trees providing natural shade while you are sleeping on the beach. You can't help to fall asleep. It is so relaxing laying on a cushy lounge chair overlooking the blue and turquoise Caribbean Sea. You will not burn your feet walking on these beaches.

Transition area - Secrets Cap Cana - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Aerial View - Secrets Cap Cana - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

One of the resorts found on Bavaro Beach is Secrets Royal Beach. On the powdery sands you can find a grass hut for a beach bar. It is so much fun sitting on the stools dangling your feet coated in sand sipping a golden margarita or a rum libation or maybe a Presidente, the local Dominican beer. Off to one side of the beach is a grill area with seating in the sand. Enjoy a hamburger, chicken sandwich or grilled skirt steak while the palm trees allow only enough sunlight for you to wear your shades but not swelter lingering over a long lunch. On the opposite side of the beach, you can join one of the many volleyball games throughout the day. Meet locals and people from around the world for a little fun competition and walk away greeting and shaking hands.

On Juanillo Beach, another Secrets property, the larger Secrets Cap Cana, sits on wide expanse of beach. In the middle of the beach under a grove of palm trees, chefs prepare grilled lobster and huge rib-eye steaks for lunch. Stop at the salad bar if you have room on your plate after one of the grill chefs plops a lobster or rib-eye or both on it and grab a beach table. One of the servers will bring a set of napkin-rolled silverware and ask if you would like a beer or a glass of wine and a bottled water. I'm ready to go back.

John Werner

As a 45 year veteran of the travel industry and the President of MAST Travel Network since 2002, John’s career has included 14 years as a travel agency owner. He has served in various capacities on the Board of the Midwest Chapter of ASTA including Treasurer and Vice President. John has also held several positions on the Board of Directors for MAST including Vice Chairman and Board Chairman during the years he owned Travel Group International, a MAST member during the 1990s.