Things To Do in Bavaro

Liquor stores often double as bars around these parts, and that’s exactly what you get here. But that doesn’t mean the place isn’t equipped for a good time – there’s a dance floor, too, plus waiters to take your order. Expect to find a mixed crowd of locals and tourists, all strutting their stuff to a soundtrack of merengue and bachata.

You might not get local cuisine at this tucked-away Asian restaurant, but chef Sinuhe really knows his stuff. Chinese and Japanese dishes share the billing along with the speciality Thai curries, which come in three different spice levels. Portion sizes are generous, and if you order a Presidente beer you’ll get it ice-cold – straight from the freezer.

Bavaro is home to some of the Caribbean’s largest sport-fishing events, so if you’re ever going to try big-game fishing, this is the moment. With luck, you’ll land a marlin, sailfish or dorado. Some of these fish weigh in at 900 kilos, though, so if you’d rather stick to a more gentle way of viewing the marine life, try snorkelling or scuba diving.

Punto y Corcho is an upscale enoteca – or wine shop – that handily doubles up as a bar. It’s a cosy place with an international cast of wines beautifully presented on floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves. You can relax over a French Chateau La Lagune or an Italian Bertoni. And when you want a change from the vineyards, there’s always the Mexican tequila to sample.

Animals are the star attraction at this theme park on the edge of the resort. Horses, sea lions and parrots all put on a lively show. You can say hello to the iguanas and flamingos, handle the snakes, and even swim with dolphins. Food-wise, the place provides a choice of restaurants, plus a cocktail bar.

At night, Bavaro keeps things pretty low-key – evening entertainment is mostly geared around the hotels. Outside these, you’ve got a few bars dotted around town, including a lively local hangout in the Plaza Bavaro shopping centre. Meanwhile, the party crowd heads to Cortecito, 10 minutes away. Here, a couple of clubs and discos stay open until the eary hours.

A dune buggy tour is a great way to explore the area. You’ll set off in a group with an experienced guide leading the way. On the drive, you'll visit deserted beaches that only the locals know about, pass through banana plantations and palm forests. Plus, you'll have plenty of time to pick up refreshments at one of the colmados – small grocery stores – in the rural villages en route.

Souvenir-hunters should find what they’re looking for just outside their hotel, where traders set up regular flea markets. Wooden carvings and local art are popular buys, as is jewellery made from the local amber, said to be the best in the world. You can also pick up gifts at Palma Real Shopping Village, a large, airy mall on Avenida Alemania that’s crammed with upmarket shops.

At this annual event in Punta Cana – about half-an-hour from Bavaro – the party atmosphere is electric. While Caribbean music blares from the speakers, over 1,000 carnavaleros, or carnival characters, take to the streets dressed in weird, wonderful and wildly colourful costumes. It’s a real melting pot, too, with troupes from Aruba, Haiti and Puerto Rico all joining in the fun.

At Bavaro beach, you get the whole raft of watersports. You’ve got catamarans, banana boats and parasailing, along with some great snorkelling that's close to shore. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can dive down to the coral reef, too. Several companies offer deep-fishing excursions, where you can catch blue marlin, yellow-fin tuna and mahi mahi.

Bavaro’s hotels lead the way with nightlife, offering up bars, discos and casinos. At weekends, though, it’s worth seeking out places in the Los Corales and El Cortecito areas, where locals listen to live music from the island’s musicians and dance to DJ sets on the beach. El Photo Bar and Soles Chillout Bar are two particularly good finds.

The resort’s hotels serve up the lion’s share of restaurants, but there are several places in downtown Bavaro – the Los Corales and El Cortecito areas – where you’ll find authentic Dominican food. Sancocho is a popular meat stew, and you’ll probably also come across nino envuelto – a kind of rice cake wrapped in a cabbage leaf. Some restaurants offer free transport back to your hotel if you reserve a table.

The hotel buffets won’t see you go hungry, serving up plenty to suit international tastes. But for something different, try the local Dominican cooking. You’ve got a handful of restaurants in Bavaro, where you can try dishes like sancocho, a meat stew, or mangu, pureed plaintain stuffed with shrimp. And this is a good place to order lobster – it’s much cheaper here than at home.