Are you looking to experience a warmer climate for a week or two? Is your life at home becoming too routine, and you need a break from it all? We’ll compare Punta Cana and Cancun to help you decide where to spend your next vacation in a tropical paradise. Latin America is a fantastic vacation destination, but choosing between Cancun, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic can be complex. Today, we’d like to introduce you to these two resort paradises and break down the differences between these vacation spots. To be honest, both of these places are breathtaking, with pristine beaches and crystal clear waters, so you can’t go wrong with either. Which of these popular vacation destinations will be your next tropical getaway? Read on to find out! We’ll discuss the differences between Punta Cana vs Cancun to help you decide which vacation spot is best for you!
Location
One of the most critical parts of choosing your dream vacation spot is where exactly it’s located. Cancun is a city in southeast Mexico, specifically on the coast of the Yucatan peninsula, looking out to the Caribbean Sea. It’s known for its turquoise water and as the spring break capital of Mexico. Gorgeous Punta Cana is a resort town in the east of the Dominican Republic, 120 miles (193.9 km) from Santo Domingo. It is ideally located to overlook both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, offering visitors a unique blend of coastal experiences.
What is Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, Known For?
Punta Cana is best known for its miles of white sand beaches, luxury resorts, and tropical vacation vibe. In addition to the expected tropical beaches, you can also find lush mountain regions to investigate. Are you more of a city trooper? Fantastic, you can get on your best pair of sneakers and explore Santo Domingo on a city tour and marvel at the oldest city in the Americas, including its historic Colonial Zone. Many people who visit Punta Cana enjoy leisurely horseback rides by the beach or exciting water sports activities. Punta Cana is also known for its family-friendly (and all-around-friendly) vibe due to its many outdoor activities and all-inclusive resorts catering to various preferences.
What is Cancun, Mexico, Known For?
Cancun is best known for its vibrant nightlife scene and as one of the best places in Latin America to let loose. In fact, many people believe that any Cancun vacation must include at least one night of clubbing, perhaps at the famous Coco Bongo, to truly claim to have visited Cancun. For this reason, it remains one of the most popular spring break destinations.
Moreover, even resorts get in on the nightlife action, offering everything from foam parties to beer pong competitions. The next day, you can sleep off your hangover (thank you, open bar!) and then relax at the Mayan ruins, immersing yourself in the rich history of Mayan civilization. As a result, visitors often find that Cancun combines both high-energy fun and cultural exploration in one trip.
Overall, more than ten million tourists visit Cancun each year. Consequently, it has become one of the busiest and most exciting vacation spots in the region.
Which of the two has Better beaches? Punta Cana vs Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya is the picturesque name of Cancun’s Caribbean coastline. Most of Cancun’s beaches are within the hotel zone, making them easily accessible and fully decked with food opportunities and beach bars. In turn, this does mean that some beach areas will be inaccessible to you unless you’re a guest of a particular hotel. Playa Delfines is a popular public beach known for its stunning views and beach volleyball courts.
Beaches in Punta Cana, including the famous Bavaro Beach, have characteristic, perfect white sand and palm trees unlike any you’ve ever seen before. Enjoy looking over sunsets and sunrises to remember for a lifetime. Beaches in Punta Cana tend to be more naturalistic and less tourist-centered than Cancun’s beaches, offering a more serene tropical getaway experience.
Is Punta Cana Cheaper than Cancun?
The Dominican Republic, as a whole, tends to be more expensive than Mexico at the moment. However, most of the metrics this is measured apply more to people looking to relocate to another country rather than simply looking to have a good time. When we look at our specific vacation hot spots, Punta Cana and Cancun, it’s a different story. Punta Cana is cheaper than Cancun due to the lower average cost of accommodation, restaurants, and entertainment. Go on, treat yourself to some extra excursions in Punta Cana!
Top Tip: Whichever vacation you choose, stick to eating local fruits and vegetables and local products. It’s the perfect time to try what the locals love! Stay away from imports to avoid high markups. One of those mean tourist traps gets you to pay triple for the same coffee you have back home. Branch out a little and try some authentic Dominican dishes or fresh seafood!
Safety in Punta Cana vs Cancun
Punta Cana and Cancun are both completely safe for tourists and have tourist security divisions within their police forces. Theft of valuables is the most common type of crime in Punta Cana. Be aware of your belongings, as you would in any tourist city.
While Cancun is mostly safe, there has been some reported violence and drug use in the resort areas. Tourists generally feel safe in both locations, but Punta Cana may be preferable to Cancun if you want to be less cautious about safety; as a result, there is no need to be overly cautious. The reason for this is that Cancun was named one of the world’s most dangerous cities in 2022, by murder rate per 100,000 inhabitants, scoring a 64.47 per Statista, while Punta Cana is not even on the list.
The US Department of State has issued a level 2 (exercise increased caution) travel advisory, similar to most European countries and Mexico, with an ‘other’ due to the vast differences between different areas.
Punta Cana Dining vs Cancun Dining
Both Punta Cana and Cancun have an abundance of excellent dining options, offering a wide range of international cuisine. The main difference is in the local specialties. Cancun specializes in Mexican cuisine, with dishes like cochinita pibil, while Punta Cana specializes in authentic Dominican cuisine, including the popular mofongo. Of course, all-inclusive resorts offer a wide range of cuisines, restaurants from Japanese to Brazilian to American. Check out these great restaurants in both locations if you want something other than an all-inclusive resort experience:
Local Restaurants in Punta Cana
Jellyfish Restaurant
Address: Playa Bavaro, Next to Lopesan Hotel, Punta Cana, 23301 Dominican Republic
Telephone: +1 809-551-1451
Website: jellyfishrestaurant.com
SBG Punta Cana
Address: Squina Carretera Juanillo BlueMall, Blvd. Turístico del Este, Punta Cana 23000, Dominican Republic
Telephone: +1 809-784-4047
Website: https://www.opentable.com/r/sbg-punta-cana-punta-cana
Playa Blanca Restaurant
Address: Puntacana Resort & Club, Punta Cana 10000 Dominican Republic
Telephone: +1 809-959-2714 ext. 2234
Website: https://www.puntacana.com/dining/restaurants
Local Restaurants in Cancun
Tora | Japanese Restaurant in Cancun
Address: Blvd. Kukulcan km 15, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Phone: +52 998 313 4128
Website: https://torarestaurant.com.mx/en
La Buena Barra
Address: 6 de lado de la laguna, Blvd. Kukulcan KM 12.6, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico Phone: +52 998 313 4211
Website: https://labuenabarra.mx/cancun/
How far is Cancun vs Punta Cana from the USA and Canada?
The two resort towns are located in different countries, so there are significant travel logistics to take into account. The following are some of the average flight times to Cancun vs Punta Cana from some of North America’s top airports. When planning your tropical getaway, consider these travel times and the availability of airport transfers at your destination.
How far is Punta Cana Vs Cancun from the USA?
| USA Airports | Flight to Punta Cana | Flight to Cancun |
| Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport | 3h 30min (nonstop) | 2h 50min (nonstop) |
| Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport | 8h (connecting) | 2h 47min (nonstop) |
| Denver International Airport | 14h 30min (connecting) | 4 hours (nonstop) |
| Chicago O’Hare International Airport | 4h 30min (nonstop) | 4 hours (nonstop) |
| Miami International Airport | 2h 30min (nonstop) | 2 hours (nonstop) |
| John F. Kennedy International Airport | 3h 45min (nonstop) | 4h 15min (nonstop) |
How far is Punta Cana Vs Cancun from Canada?
| Canadian Airports | Flight to Punta Cana | Flight to Cancun |
| Toronto Pearson International Airport | 4 hours 20 minutes (nonstop) | 4h 30min (nonstop) |
| Vancouver International Airport | 17h 50min (connecting) | 19h 30min (nonstop) |
| Calgary International Airport | 6 hours 50 minutes (nonstop) | 5h 30min (nonstop) |
| Montréal–Trudeau International Airport | 3h 45min (nonstop) | 4h 35min (nonstop) |
| Edmonton International Airport | 6h 55min (nonstop) | 5h 40min (nonstop) |
| Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport | 4h 40min (nonstop) | 5 hours (nonstop) |
Keep in mind that if your hometown airport does not offer direct flights to Punta Cana or Cancun, you will most likely need to stop at an international airport in a major city before continuing on to either destination.
Fun Activities in Punta Cana Vs Cancun
Punta Cana offers snorkeling, as well as a night out at one of the nearby casinos, horseback riding, and golfing. Cancun offers great activities such as zip lining, visiting ancient Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza, and swimming in hidden cenotes. It all comes down to what you want to do while you’re here! We’ll cover some of the top things to do in both locations below:
Things to do in Punta Cana
- Saona Island excursion from Punta Cana with Open Bar and Lunch
- Scape Park and Blue Hole Full Day Admission
- Party Boat and Snorkeling in Punta Cana
- ATV Triple Adventure & Ride Through the Beach, River & Mountains
- Full-Day Santo Domingo City Tour
- Salto el Limón Waterfalls & Cayo Levantado Tour
Things to do in Cancun
- Tulum, Cenote & Snorkeling Tour
- Whale Shark Snorkeling Experience
- Day trip to Isla Mujeres
- Visit Xcaret Park for a mix of nature and cultural experiences
- Explore local markets for authentic souvenirs and crafts
- Enjoy the party atmosphere at the Hotel Zone’s entertainment village
About: Punta Cana Adventures
Here at Punta Cana Adventures, we pride ourselves on being the best facilitators for your vacation. We pick out the best excursions and do all the hard work for you, so you can sit back and enjoy your stay. We started Punta Cana Adventures because we love the Dominican Republic and want to make it possible for visitors just like you to enjoy it from as many sides as possible. No worrying about pick-up and drop-off times since we can arrange transportation from any Punta Cana hotel, resort, rental, Airbnb, and beyond! Want a little taste of private boat life? Why not get on board and set out to explore natural pools and experience the beauty of our crystal clear waters?
