The easternmost coast of the island has 35 miles (56 km) of incredible beach punctuated by coconut palms; add to that a host of all-inclusive resorts, an atmospheric thatch-roof airport that's the busiest in the Dominican Republic (the second busiest in the Caribbean basin), and it's easy to see why this region—despite having more than 50,000 hotel rooms (more than on most other Caribbean islands)—can regularly sell out. It has become the Cancún of the D.R. Most hotels in the region are clustered around Punta Cana and Bávaro beaches, where more than 90% of the existing properties are all-inclusive. The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club, an upscale American chain hotel, is one of the few that is not all-inclusive. Development continues to press north to the more remote locations of Macao and Uvero Alto, and south to the nearby Juanillo—and several of the newer offerings, such as the Eden Roc Cap Cana, are luxurious and not all-inclusive.
The region commonly referred to as Punta Cana actually encompasses the beaches and villages of Juanillo, Punta Cana, Bávaro, Cabeza de Toro, El Cortecito, Arena Gorda, Macao, and Uvero Alto, which hug an unbroken stretch of the eastern coastline; however, Uvero Alto, the farthest developed resort area to the north, lies some 45 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport on a significantly improved road.
In November 2014, a second terminal opened at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). With this expansion, PUJ is expected to become the Caribbean’s largest airport hub. Designated Terminal B, it can accommodate 6,500 passengers daily, or more than 2 million passengers annually. The Passenger Departure Area has 50 check-in counters, an air-conditioned concourse equipped with seven jet bridges, associated parking, and nine departure gates. Passengers will find a food court, a VIP lounge, duty-free stores, champagne bar, kids’ playground, a designated smoking area, access to Wi-Fi, and a recharging area for electronic equipment. But the main improvement for passengers has been decreased wait times both for check-in and, more important, to clear customs and immigration on arrival.
