punta cana insider travel guide

8/10/2019 Punta Cana Insider Travel Guide

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A Vacation Insiders Guide

Punta Cana

Dominican Republic


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relaxing by the villa's private pool. Then head for lunchat one of the incredible resort restaurants, followedby an afternoon at the spa. Stroll back to the villa foran early evening shower in one of the villa's privateoutdoor showers, then take a romantic sunset horseride along the beach whilst your private chef Julianaprepares your evening meal.

Are you in? Me too! And you will have just scratchedthe surface as Lorenzo has plenty more where that

came from! This is certainly an exceptional villa, with anexceptionally personable owner in Lorenzo. Enjoy!

For the Caribbean acionados, Punta Cana is known formass tourism, especially during the summer seasons,with many all-inclusive resorts. Don't get me wrong, thebeaches are beautiful and it exudes tropical charm. Butit's busy.

Cue Lorenzo Caimari who owns a 5 bedroom villa atthe Punta Cana Resort and Club, 16 miles away fromthe busy Bavaro area. He oers that tropical setting ina more relaxed, uncrowded environment.

Being a villa inside a resort it has access to all themodern conveniences, yet the space and comfort ofyour own private retreat.

Imagine starting your day with a sunrise walk onthe white sand beach, followed by a round of golf or

THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITOR

MEET LORENZO CAIMARI

This Insider Guide is broughtto you by Lorenzo Caimari,owner of Villa Can Nico at thePunta Cana Resort & Club.It's a 5 bedroom, beautifulocean view villa, locatednext to the golf course's rsthole, and just 300m from thebeach. Not just that, but freeentry to the beach resort!

E: [email protected]

W: www.vacatoninsiders.com

Welcome to the quiet sideof Punta Cana! This is mostdenitely not your a-typicalPunta Cana resort. It's 16miles from the Bavaro areawhere the other resorts arelocated. Which means you'llnd tranquil, uncrowdedsurroundings, but still withall the resort style amenities.

Or call +1.809.723.3423
mailto:andy%40vacationinsiders.com?subject=http://www.vacationinsiders.com/http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p377356#reviewshttps://www.facebook.com/VillaCanNicohttp://www.puntacana-vacation-rentals.com/mailto:cannicopuntacana%40gmail.com?subject=I%20Read%20Your%20Insider%20Guidehttp://www.vacationinsiders.com/mailto:andy%40vacationinsiders.com?subject=


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ABOUT LORENZO & PUNTA CANA'SQUIET SIDE...Hi, I'm Lorenzo and here's my story...

Originally from the Mediterranean Spanish island of Mallorca, I arrived in Punta Cana in 1989 and, from that momentI knew this was my kind of place! I worked as General Manager for a hotel company for 21 years so travel and tourismare my passion and life.

I bought the lot that Villa Can Nico now stands on in 2006 and designed the house with the help of a Dominicanarchitect. True to my roots, I wanted a Spanish house, open, with an interior patio like you'd nd in Spain, but withthe exuberance of the tropical vegetation.

The result of this design concept is a villa that we think is quite unique. It has an interior patio, interior gardens, and2 of the bedrooms have inside AND outside showers (surrounded by a wall and a garden - no one can see you!). VillaCan Nico feels like an open, airy house, blending with the tropical surroundings. When people arrive and open themain door, instead of seeing a living room, they nd a garden. They are usually pleasantly impressed!

In terms of location, it's almost perfection! We are just 300 meters from the beach, overlooking the rst hole of theLa Cana Golf course. And close by you have the resort club house with 2 restaurants, a bar, and the Six Senses Spa.

The Villa is located inside the Punta Cana Resort & Club. The resort is 16 miles away of the other resorts of the area,making it a more peaceful setting. People staying with us will enjoy quiet, almost deserted, beaches.

Just imagine being able to walk the empty beach at 6.30 am, as the sun rises on the horizon, a mere 300 meters fromour villa. Or enjoy the full moon over the sea sitting in the small dock.

Despite being a very quiet and calm community, there is plenty of fun to be had! You have all the benets of beingwithin a resort, such as restaurants, bars, the Six Senses Spa, tennis, golf, horse back riding, excursions, a tnesscenter, kite surng, deep sea shing, diving... is that enough?!

All of this without the inconveniences that can be typical of other resorts, such as crowded beaches, poor service,noise. This isn't to say there aren't other good resorts, but this place is unquestionably dierent. If you would like toread a little more about the resort and its history, please click hereto visit their website.

Now, before you read on, there is one other notable treasure - the real boss of Villa Can Nico - our housekeeper andChef Extraordinaire, Juliana! Since 2009, when she started with us, she's been the proverbial rock of the villa. Anythingyou need to ask, she's your real insider! And what a chef, but more on that later...!
http://www.puntacana.com/index.htmlhttp://www.puntacana.com/index.html


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5 EXPERIENCES YOU CANNOT MISS...

The Punta Cana Resort & Club is home to true championship qualitygolf, with 45 holes set over 2 courses. Our favorite is La Cana, with 27holes, 14 of which have stunning ocean views. Designed by P.B. Dye, sonof Pete Dye, a very well respected golf course architect. Comparisonsto Pebble Beach have been made by Golf Magazine! It also has stateof the art Seashore Paspalum grass for maintenance with minimalenvironmental impact. It's an excellent course, not just in our opinion!

Golf at La Cana Golf by PB Dye...1

Some people might think that hiring a personal chef is just a luxury.Not so in this case. Meet Juliana, our housekeeper AND chef. Julianaprepares and serves incredible food - just have a look at some of thesepictures. Imagine being able to sit down to a beautifully presented,delicious meal at a table already set for you? Do it!! And then spendyour valuable vacation time on the beach, at the spa, on the golf course,or just sipping a drink whilst reading a good book! Don't miss Juliana!

Your Personal Chef Extraordinaire...2

The Six Senses Spa is located in the resort. It's part of the wider SixSenses brand who operate spas in other prestigious locations aroundthe world. Which means you'll nd an exceptional spa, with a "LeadingSpa" distinction from The Leading Hotels of the World. Set in an 1,800square meter space, there are 7 treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room,jacuzzi, and relaxation area. You can nd a full menu of massages,facials, wraps and more at this link.

Massage at the Six Senses Spa...3

Owned and operated by the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, in 1,500acres of our resort, this is one of the only private forest reserves inPunta Cana. The reserve has a network of trails leading to 12 freshwaterlagoons which you can take a dip in! The Taino Indians call these lagoons"eyes", hence the name Indigenous Eyes. In order to support the Punta

Cana Foundation, guests are charged US$10 per person for visiting andswimming in the Indigenous Eyes. This is a stunning place, don't miss it!

Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and Reserve...4

A half day tour, returning after lunch, that takes you on a catamaranfrom Punta Cana Marina. You'll get to snorkel the natural reef, explore acollection of submerged statues in an underwater museum, plus swimin the Playa Blanca natural pool - really fun as the pool is in the middleof the ocean, yet the water is waist high! Then on to the Playa Blancarestaurant for lunch in a private area. We suggest Gray Line(the ocialexcursion provider of the resort) to book this tour - it's well worth it!

Caribbean Sea Snorkeling Excursion...5
http://www.puntacana.com/la-cana-golf-club.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.243311515779379.47066.168857939891404&type=3https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.243311515779379.47066.168857939891404&type=3http://www.puntacana.com/assets/six-senses-spa-menu_2012%281%29.pdfhttp://www.grayline.com/tours/punta-cana/caribbean-sea-snorkelling-catamaran-w-lunch-6034_15/http://www.grayline.com/tours/punta-cana/caribbean-sea-snorkelling-catamaran-w-lunch-6034_15/http://www.puntacana.com/assets/six-senses-spa-menu_2012%281%29.pdfhttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.243311515779379.47066.168857939891404&type=3https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.243311515779379.47066.168857939891404&type=3http://youtu.be/Pddql-m0qJAhttp://www.puntacana.com/la-cana-golf-club.html


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Kite Surfing and Stand Up Paddle-boarding...If you feel adventurous then you should take a tripto the guys at Kite Club Punta Cana. Don't worry,adventurous doesn't mean you have to be a pro,in fact they manage all levels and provide lessons -they are an International Kiteboarding Organizationcertied school. It's not just the ocial stamp that

should convince you, they are also a friendly groupand revel in teaching you in a safe environment -after all Punta Cana is renowned for waist deep,at and warmwaters, an idealspot for learning.Head on over tothe TripAdvisorreview page andyou'll nd manygood reviews. Weknow you'll lovethe experience!

The Tennis Center...As part of your stay with us you will have accessto the Tennis Center at the Punta Cana Resort &Club. The center is amazing, with plenty of claycourts. Not only can you enjoy the courts (book 24hours in advance), but there are also daily practice/ teaching sessions for both adults and kids. If you

want private lessons, that's also possible, and thetuition is of a high standard - the tennis pro, Felix delos Santos, is certied under US and international

tennis standards.There are also anumber of tennisevents duringthe year. For fullinformation onthe club pleasevisit the resortwebsite at thislink. Enjoy!

4 FOR THE SPORT LOVER...

Underwater...

The Punta CanaAquatic Centerin the Resorthas a numberof options forthose that wantto explore whatlies beneaththe surface of the ocean! Run by Blue VisionAdventuresyou can, amongst other water sports,enjoy diving and deep sea shing charters. If you'venever dived, that's no problem, they also run learnto dive courses. The ocean around Punta Cana iswarm and clear, perfect for divers of all abilities. Ifyou would like to deep sea sh, they run half andfull days. The shing is amazing, you'll nd whiteand blue marlin through the summer months, withtuna and mahi-mahi at their peak earlier in the year.The good news is you should catch something!

Horse Riding...

Horse rides canbe organizeddirectly throughEl Rancho atthe Punta CanaResort & Club.The rides are allrelatively short at

1 or 2 hours, making it an easy experience to enjoywithout consuming your entire day. In fact, one ofour favorite rides is the sunset adventure which willbe the perfect start to your romantic evening. If youare a beginner, don't worry, El Rancho now oersriding classes. And they are also set up for kids, withponies and school horses. This is a great way to tourour natural surroundings and enjoy that picturepostcard ride along our white sand beaches! All ofour guests who have experienced it give positivefeedback so well worth doing!
http://kiteclubpuntacana.com/?lang=enhttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g147293-d1955756-Reviews-Kite_Club_Punta_Cana-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.htmlhttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g147293-d1955756-Reviews-Kite_Club_Punta_Cana-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.htmlhttp://www.puntacana.com/tennis.htmlhttp://www.puntacana.com/tennis.htmlhttp://bluevisionadventures.net/http://bluevisionadventures.net/http://www.puntacana.com/horseback-riding.htmlhttp://www.puntacana.com/horseback-riding.htmlhttp://bluevisionadventures.net/http://bluevisionadventures.net/http://www.puntacana.com/tennis.htmlhttp://www.puntacana.com/tennis.htmlhttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g147293-d1955756-Reviews-Kite_Club_Punta_Cana-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.htmlhttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g147293-d1955756-Reviews-Kite_Club_Punta_Cana-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.htmlhttp://kiteclubpuntacana.com/?lang=en


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La Yola is a Mediterranean cuisine and seafood restaurant at the PuntaCana Resort & Club. It sits right next to the sea so you feel the oceanas well as taste it! Not only is this our favorite, it also comes highlyrecommended by many past guests, as well as having a 2014 Certicateof Excellence from TripAdvisor where it has consistently good reviews -see this link. We enjoy all the dishes, but our favorite is the Baked TropicaLobster. You can nd their full menu by clicking here.

La Yola...1

This is an option if you feel like stepping out of the resort andexperiencing something of Punta Cana. It's located in the Punta CanaVillage and, as the name implies, is an Italian restaurant! With plentyof really good reviews on TripAdvisor, it's great option. It has a warmfamily feel, and an extensive menu and wine list. Which all serves tomake this an ideal place for couples as well as families with kids. Ourfavorite dishes are the Spinach Lasagna and Pesto Seafood Pasta.

Mamma Luisa...2

LORENZO'S FAVORITE RESTAURANTS...

Playa Blanca...

3Serving fresh seafood, grilled meats and some fantastic cocktailsIt's open for lunch and dinner. Both are great, but a lunch here onthe white sand, in front of turquoise waters, is not to be missed! Ithas a wonderful atmosphere, being open air, often with live musicIt comes with plenty of good TripAdvisor reviews, notching up a4-star average. You can nd their full menu by clicking here. Oufavorite is Cordon Blue Playa Blanca.

The Grill...

4This is located at La Cana Golf and Beach Club so works well fora simple bite after your round at La Cana! It's a relaxed settingoverlooking the ocean with an American style menu. Being in thegolf club it's also a good 19th hole option, particularly a cool beeor something from their cocktail menu. Our favorite is the HouseHamburger.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147293-d1050063-Reviews-La_Yola_Restaurant-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.htmlhttp://www.puntacana.com/assets/la-yola-menus.pdfhttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g147293-d1050052-Reviews-Bar_Trattoria_Mamma_Luisa-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.htmlhttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g147293-d3530302-Reviews-Playa_Blanca_Restaurant-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.htmlhttp://www.puntacana.com/assets/playa-blanca-menu-2014.pdfhttp://www.puntacana.com/assets/the-grill-menu-principal.pdfhttp://www.puntacana.com/assets/the-grill-menu-principal.pdfhttp://www.puntacana.com/assets/playa-blanca-menu-2014.pdfhttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g147293-d3530302-Reviews-Playa_Blanca_Restaurant-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.htmlhttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g147293-d1050052-Reviews-Bar_Trattoria_Mamma_Luisa-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.htmlhttp://www.puntacana.com/assets/la-yola-menus.pdfhttp://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147293-d1050063-Reviews-La_Yola_Restaurant-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.html


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Being located in the Punta Cana Resort & Club there are a wide range of accommodation options depending on your needs. Below is Lorenzos very own villa, along with a couple of other

suggestions from the resort. Hopefully there is something for everyone!

LORENZO'S TIPSON WHERE TO STAY...

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY...

Punta Cana Eco Foundation...The Resort has created thisfoundation "to protect andpreserve the natural resourcesof the Punta Cana region, whilecontributing to the sustainabledevelopment of the DominicanRepublic". We wholeheartedlysupport this and, if any guestsare interested in nding outmore, including simple ways toget involved, then please let meknow.

Pack for a Purpose...The Resort promotes Pack fora Purpose, whose mission is to"positively impact communitiesaround the world by assistingtravelers who want to bringmeaningful contributions tothe destinations they visit". Inessence, you leave a little roomin your suitcase to ll withsupplies for our community.Please ask me if you'd like to getinvolved. It's incredibly simple!

Lorenzos Very Own...A beautiful 5 bedroom / 5.5 bathroom home just 300 meters fromthe stunning ocean and facing the rst hole of La Cana golf course.Equipped with wi, air conditioning, its own pool, and much more,including Juliana! It's perfect for a large family, or 2 families travelingtogether, sleeping up to 12 people. Being part of the Punta CanaResort & Club there is easy access to all the club's facilities.

Please visit Lorenzo's Villa Can Nico website for more information...

Punta Cana Foundation...This is a complimentaryfoundation to the ecologicalone, this time with a focus onthe local community, specicallywith the goal of improvingconditions through programs inhealth, education, and culturalactivities. You can read moreon the website by clicking here.Once again, if you would like toget involved during your stayplease let me know.

Lorenzo Suggests...Tortuga Bay is a hotel, not an individually owned vacation rentallike mine. Yet it still retains a personal and intimate feel. The 400+TripAdvisor reviews, at an average 5 stars, will tell you all you need toknow! It is pure luxury, with interiors designed by Oscar de la Renta.There are 13 luxurious beachfront villas, from 1 bedroom juniorsuites to 4 bedroom villas.

Please visit the Tortuga Bay website for more information...

Lorenzo Suggests...The Westin may be a huge brand name but this place oozes charmand sophistication. It's inside the Punta Cana Resort & Club so, whilst

it's a hotel, you'll still experience a more relaxed and quiet space thanin the more touristy areas of Punta Cana. Plus you have access to allthe fantastic resort facilities. Head over to TripAdvisorand you'll ndsolid reviews.

Please visit the Westin website for more information...
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THE VACATION INSIDER PHILOSOPHY

PUT THE GUIDEBOOK DOWN...

For real local knowledge put the heavy guidebook down and reach for an insider guide.

Vacation Insiders - travel guides direct from your host!

If youre an accommodation owner and would like to participate in theInsider Guide series wed love to hear from you!

Email: [email protected] Web: www.vacationinsiders.com

VACATION INSIDERS 2014 | www.vacationinsiders.com
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punta cana insider travel guide

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