Day Trips to Monkeyland from Punta Cana

You've probably already thought of visiting several beaches and maybe some subway caves, but you can't forget a visit to Monkeyland among the things to see and do in Punta Cana. Your vacation trip would be incomplete if you don't go to this place where monkeys can live happily eating tropical fruits and welcoming tourists like you.

To get to this tourist attraction you can take several paths. Some are more fun than others, as they include a buggy ride or even an exciting zip line adventure. Do you dare to live your Punta Cana experience to the fullest? The Caribbean is waiting for you!

If you are looking for things to do in Punta Cana with kids my first recommendation would be a half day excursion to Monkeyland. Not everything has to be Disneyland or an amusement park, because contact with nature is much better. On average these adventures have an average cost of 80 € and last about six hours.

You will start the day by boarding a safari bus that will pass by the hotel where you are staying. Along the way you will be able to see beaches, jungle vegetation and much more. Take the opportunity to take some pictures as you approach Monkeyland, a natural habitat of monkeys located inside the jungle.

When you arrive at Monkeyland, wait for your guide's instructions to interact with the animals. You should not be afraid because they are friendly animals. Keep in mind that you can feed them only with the food you are given. Take as many pictures as you can and admire the beautiful environment that surrounds these little friends.

You can also stroll through the botanical garden of the area and even taste some of the fruits that are harvested in their trees. Near Monkeyland your guide will show you some of the Dominican Republic's cocoa and coffee plantations that are sure to delight you. When the tour is over, your guide will take you back to your hotel in the same bus.

Details of interest

• Price: about 75 €.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Means of transport: safari bus.
• Advantages of this option: it is a fun and relaxed ride, ideal for children.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you will only be in Punta Cana for a few days, perhaps 5 hours is too long for just one activity. I suggest you compare other excursions that include more things.

If you will be in Punta Cana for a week you might be looking for different options to have a great time. That's why I recommend an excursion to Monkeyland with zip line. These tours usually have an average price of 100 € and last approximately 8 hours.

In this type of excursions the organizers will indicate a meeting point to pick you up in a private transport. Here you will enter the jungle of Punta Cana to a high point where the zip line is located. Don't worry, it's not the longest zip line in the world, so if it's your first time on an experience like this, you'll be fine.

The guides are professionals and will explain everything you need to know before you take off. Of course you will have a helmet and all the necessary protection. After the preparation, you will cross the Dominican jungle on a zip line, do you dare?

The next part of this adventure is your visit to Monkeyland. You will arrive after a few hours aboard the private transportation and you will be able to meet the friendly squirrel monkeys of this natural habitat. If you want to take pictures with them, you must feed them as indicated by the professional guides. You can also tour the botanical garden and enjoy the fresh air of the site.

Details of interest

• Price: about 100 ¤.
• Duration: approximately 8 hours.
• Means of transportation: private transportation.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to live an extreme experience and interact with nature.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are very afraid of heights I do not recommend this excursion.

If you want to visit Monkeyland but also do a different activity, I recommend you to book a buggy adventure. These vehicles are all-terrain, light and fast, so they will allow you to enter the jungle, see animals, reach rural areas and have a lot of fun. The average cost of these tours is 100 € and they can last up to 5 hours.

Before starting your guide will give you a protective helmet and explain the basic things you need to know to drive these vehicles. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them before setting off! After the introductory talk, you will start your tour towards the jungle of Punta Cana. On the way you will see horses, sheep and beautiful landscapes.

On the way you can also stop for at least half an hour to swim in a crystal clear lagoon. Take advantage of the time to play for a while and wash off any dirt you may have accumulated along the way. You can also include a stop to visit a typical Dominican Republic house where they sell cocoa or coffee.

You will continue on your way always following your guide so you don't get lost. When you arrive at Monkeyland you will receive a tour explained about the life of the monkeys, their feeding and much more. Once there you will see the monkeys climbing up and down the trees. Here you can ask for professional pictures to be taken while you feed these little animals.

Interesting details

• Price: about 100 ¤.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Means of transportation: buggy.
• Advantages of this option: it is an ideal activity for the family and for people who want adventure.
• Disadvantages of this option: not all people feel comfortable driving a buggy.

If you liked the adventures I have recommended in previous sections and you don't want to waste your time, I have good news for you. You can live a unique and much better experience driving a buggy, going on a zip line and visiting Monkeyland, all in the same day. This whole adventure has an average price of 160 €.

For this kind of excursions you have to get up early, but it will all be worth it. The guides will pick you up at your hotel around 7 a.m. to take you to a ranch located in a high area where they will be able to launch you on a zip line. Before the activity you will receive a briefing so you know exactly what to do, as well as your helmet and other safety equipment.

After this experience, private transportation will take you and your group to Monkeyland. Get ready to greet all the squirrel monkeys in this beautiful habitat. Feed them their favorite food and take lots of pictures with them. You can wander around here for a while while the guides tell you everything you need to know about these curious animals.

The next adventure will be to drive a buggy through the jungle. This will begin when your private transportation takes you to a point where all the buggies are parked. Before embarking on the adventure, you will receive another briefing on safety and basic knowledge about this vehicle. Follow your guide for about an hour into the jungle of Punta Cana. At the end of the tour, your transportation will be waiting for you. Usually these tours last up to 10 hours, so by 5 or 6 pm you will be back at your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: about 160 €.
• Duration: approximately 10 hours.
• Means of transport: buggy and private transport.
• Advantages of this option: it is ideal for a day of adventure in Punta Cana.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are traveling with children under 12 years old, they will not be able to use the zip line. If you want them to board a buggy, it is best to contact the organizers and explain in advance.

Traveller tip
If you decide to do a day trip with three different plans, make sure you have a good breakfast before you leave. Some companies do not include lunch, so ask about this in advance. If it is not included, ask if they will make stops for lunch so you can better plan your day.

If you don't want to miss a beach with beautiful crystal clear waters, I recommend taking a tour to Macao Beach. If you can add something else to this experience like a visit to Monkeyland your day will be more complete. These tours usually last about 6 hours and have an average cost of 60 €.

The guides of this type of tours prefer to start the day very early, so they look for groups of tourists in a private transport at about 8 am. The first activity will be a guided visit to Monkeyland. There you can enjoy the company of these beautiful and curious animals for about three or four hours.

You will not only interact with the monkeys, but also with the flora of the botanical garden of this magical place, which will show you that it is not all about monkeys, but about the environment in which they live and their flowers and fruits. When noon approaches it will be time to go to the second stop of this adventure, Macao Beach. When you get there you can ask your guides to point you to a good restaurant where you can eat something typical of Dominican gastronomy.

At Macao Beach you can spend the whole afternoon in the sea and enjoy the sun. If you don't want your day to end there, I recommend booking a boat or catamaran tour in Punta Cana. This way you can end your day on a high note.

Details of interest

• Price: about 60 ¤.
• Duration: approximately 6 hours.
• Means of transportation: private transportation.
• Advantages of this option: you can explore a different side of Punta Cana without leaving behind its incredible beaches.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are looking for a tan on the beach, the afternoon hours may not be the best to visit the sea.

Besides the beautiful beaches, caves and cenotes that you can find in Punta Cana, a visit to Monkeyland is something you can't miss. Here you will be able to interact with curious and friendly animals that will climb on your arms or head. Don't be scared because these animals are used to interacting with humans.

There in their natural habitat you will see them climbing trees, playing with each other and eating their favorite fruits. In addition to seeing them, on the way to Monkeyland you will pass through the jungle and appreciate the beauty of the Dominican Republic.

Some excursions include a stop at a typical house to buy souvenirs. Mostly you will find cocoa, coffee and tobacco. These crops can also be seen in the plantations found in the jungle. Ask your guide to take you to one to see what the harvesting process is like and have a delicious Dominican chocolate or coffee.

Before traveling to Punta Cana I advise you to choose the best time to visit Punta Cana. Normally between the months of October and December the rains are over, so the weather is very pleasant. Keep in mind that it is necessary to have good weather because almost all tourist activities are outdoors.

In most of the excursions you are likely to get your clothes dirty, so I recommend that you wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. The best thing to do is to wear light and resistant exercise clothes. Comfortable shoes will be your allies to be able to drive a buggy or walk and explore the habitat of the monkeys

As I said before, you will always be exposed to the sun, so you can not forget to use a correct dose of sunscreen. Don't forget to take one especially if you are traveling with children, as they are much more sensitive to the sun's rays.

An important point you should not forget is not to feed just anything to the monkeys. The guides of this park have a special menu for them and they will sell you small plates with the food you should give them. You cannot offer them bread or cookies because it can be very bad for their health.

If you want to go to Monkeyland on your own, the only way is to hire a cab. It is recommended that you plan ahead and communicate with the driver in advance. This is the only way to make sure that the person knows the route. Remember that this is a natural park in the jungle.

However, I do not recommend this way of traveling because you will not be able to enjoy all that the road has to offer. Also, these cab rides are usually expensive compared to what a guided tour includes. If this doesn't bother you, you can even ask the cab driver to be your guide for the day to take you to special places like typical food restaurants.

If you decide to go on a tour to Monkeyland you can choose between different fun options. Some include buggies or zip lines and even lunch or snacks. If you are in Punta Cana for 10 days or less, it is best to choose tours and excursions to make the most of your time.