No trip to Punta Cana would be complete without some time spent on its gorgeous beaches. Playa Bavaro is one of the most popular shorelines in Punta Cana, with its white, powdery sands, swaying palm trees, blue waters and bevy of amenities, including water sports rentals, dining options and nearby accommodations. Visitors will find this beautiful (but busy) beach stretched in between El Cortecito and Cabeza de Toro, but keep in mind that the public access point is a road just south of the Melia Caribe Tropical resort. Boats bound for the Dolphin Island water park embark from Bavaro Beach as well.

El Cortecito is another popular beach, and it's also convenient as it abuts the Bavaro-Punta Cana downtown district of restaurants, grocery stores, gift shops and more. Travelers will find this small beach directly north of Playa Bavaro. Arena Gorda is the next beach, north of El Cortecito, and its wide sands and shallow waters make it a favored spot among families with young kids in tow. Others say it's a wonderful place for a long walk. Keep in mind that much of the beach is backed by large resorts, but there is a public access point along the Ocean Blue & Sand service entrance.

Macao Beach is a 20- to 30-minute drive north of Playa Bavaro, but its virgin, undeveloped sands are worth the car time. This remote spot is also home to Macao Surf Camp, where visitors can learn to surf from the experts. Recent visitors raved about this gorgeous beach, but they say that vendors hawking goods can be bothersome; however, saying a firm "no" sends them away.