After landing at Punta Cana International Airport—one of the Caribbean’s busiest air hubs for international tourism—newly arrived passengers proceed through the customs and immigration area. The terminal architecture combines modern glass partitions, polished stone flooring, and views of exterior thatched roofing inspired by traditional Dominican palapas, blending tropical design with contemporary security infrastructure. The customs counters, marked with numbered green signage, are where visitors present passports and entry documents to border officers. The space reflects recent expansions that supported the airport’s growth, as Punta Cana became the Dominican Republic’s most visited destination starting in the 1990s and continuing into the 21st century, serving millions of tourists annually from Europe, North America, and Latin America.

The departure terminal at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) features a distinctive architectural design that blends modern infrastructure with Caribbean-inspired elements. The high ceilings and large green circular structures atop the support columns are stylized to resemble palm tree canopies, echoing the surrounding tropical landscape. Natural wood accents and open, airy layout contribute to a resort-like atmosphere, distinguishing this airport as one of the Dominican Republic’s busiest gateways for international tourism. Travelers line up for check-in beneath oversized ceiling fans, highlighting the airport’s open-air concept, which was developed to harmonize with the region’s climate and tourism identity.

Playa Juanillo is known as one of Punta Cana’s most picturesque stretches of coastline, located within the gated Cap Cana development on the eastern edge of the Dominican Republic. Originally a quiet fishing shoreline, the area was transformed in the early 2000s into a planned resort community, balancing luxury development with preserved natural beachfront.

The sweeping line of tall coconut palms in the photograph reflects the coastal vegetation typical of this part of Hispaniola, where sandy soils and salty ocean air support hardy palm species. The shallow turquoise water flows gently onto the white coral sand, demonstrating the calm conditions created by offshore reefs that protect much of the Dominican coastline. Today, Playa Juanillo remains both a public-access beach area and a popular gathering space for local events, weddings, and kiteboarding, offering a rare blend of untouched Caribbean scenery and curated resort amenities.

Colorful courtyard lodging buildings at Hotel El Cortecito in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Situated in the El Cortecito beach district—one of the earliest tourism hubs in the area—this hotel reflects the architectural style common in locally-owned coastal accommodations before the rise of large all-inclusive resorts. The turquoise and terracotta exterior, white balustrades, and open garden walkways offer a Caribbean vernacular blend intended for natural ventilation and communal outdoor space. El Cortecito developed through the 1980s and 1990s as a fishing village turned tourism enclave, with modest inns like this one often built and expanded in phases by local families, contrasting with the master-planned resort complexes that later defined Punta Cana’s international tourism growth.

A surfer at Playa Macao in Dominican Republic near Punta Cana.

Along the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Macao Beach is one of the rare stretches of undeveloped shoreline in the Punta Cana region. Unlike most resort-dominated beaches of the eastern coast, Macao has remained publicly accessible, attracting both local residents and visitors for its surfing conditions, expansive sands, and panoramic views of the Atlantic. The gently rolling waves seen here are typical of the beach’s surfable breaks, shaped by offshore currents and an open coastline without coral barriers.

In the distance, the low, wooded hills form the edge of the Punta Cana–Miches coastal corridor, an area where farmland, mangroves, and small fishing communities meet tourism expansion. Known historically as a landing spot for local fishermen, Macao has also been a training and gathering place for Dominican surfing youth. Today it marks a contrast between traditional coastal use and the rapid rise of resort development across the eastern Dominican shoreline.

A bar and grill in Punta Cana Dominican Republic.

Onno's Bar & Restaurant near Punta Cana Dominican Republic.

Beach vendors in the beach near Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus.

Playa del Hotel Iberostar, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The beach at Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus. Located in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic.

structure, with a palm-thatch roof and simple seating, reflects the informal beachfront culture of the region, where many bars operate just steps from the water. Captured at night with a long exposure, the Caribbean Sea appears smooth and misty as waves gently wash beneath the structure. In the distance, faint shoreline lights show the resort-lined coast of Punta Cana. The photo highlights the fragility of beachfront structures, many of which face increasing erosion and tidal encroachment due to coastal development and rising sea levels.

Imagine Nightclub in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, occupies a repurposed limestone cave system, offering a distinctive nightlife experience shaped by the region’s natural geology. The venue retains the rugged cave façade and cavern-like interior, blending artificial lighting with tropical vegetation to accentuate its underground atmosphere. Guests enter through a torch-lit stone walkway surrounded by water channels, creating the impression of descending into a historic fortress or cavern retreat. The club became known for transforming these natural caves into themed dance halls, each room taking advantage of the acoustics and humidity of the rock chambers to host different music styles and events. This photograph shows the illuminated entrance structure against the cave wall at night, highlighting how modern entertainment adapted to local terrain rather than replacing it.

Hotel Cortecito Inn, Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Hotel Cortecito Inn, Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Abandoned boat off the coast in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

An abandoned gift shop in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

A sailboat in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Along the eastern coast of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, a coastal tour boat rests against the pale sandy shore as shifting weather approaches over the Caribbean Sea. The turquoise shallows—characteristic of this stretch of the Atlantic coast lined by coral reefs—contrast sharply with a dense bank of darkening storm clouds moving inland. Beach excursions and snorkeling trips commonly depart from this area, where the water remains shallow and calm before the reef break. The photograph captures the transitional weather common to the region’s tropical maritime climate, highlighting the tension between the inviting clarity of the shoreline and the dramatic sky signaling an imminent rainfront.