Punta Cana is the quintessential water, sun, and sand escape. Blessed with one of the Caribbean’s longest white sand coastlines (a whopping 30 miles), punctuated with sky-reaching coconut palms, this is the land of rest and relaxation by the sea. Here, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean, from the northern tip at Uvero Alto to the southern at Cap Cana, all-inclusive resorts and boutique hideaways offer all the whims and comforts of modern beachfront living.

It is also a golfer’s destination. Often referred to as the Golf Mecca of the Caribbean, Punta Cana also coast boasts 189 holes of golf across 10 superb courses that are easily accessible from a wide range of luxe ocean-front resorts spread across some of the world’s top beaches. With Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) just minutes from the area’s courses, visiting golfers can tee off soon after landing and can even play golf on their departure day if on an afternoon flight.

Overflowing in natural riches - from a poster-worthy Caribbean coastline to world-class golf courses—La Romana is one of the country’s top destination picks. Fields of sugar cane lead to continuous white sand beaches from Dominicus to Bayahíbe. Cave-riddled forests inside Cotubanamá National Park are home to fresh water springs and Taino rock art. Offshore, the islands of Saona, Catalina, and Catalinita are lined with turtle nesting stretches facing pristine coral reefs, while shipwrecks teeming with marine life rest at shallow and extreme depths.

The largest sugar cane mill in the Americas was once headquartered in La Romana, until its owners diversified and ventured into tourism by opening the luxurious Casa de Campo Resort in 1974, a celebrity favorite and renowned destination for its award-winning Pete Dye golf courses. The adjacent 16th century Altos de Chavón followed—a stunning replica of a Mediterranean village towering over the Chavón River, and bustling with entertainment—including an outdoor Grecian amphitheater where Grammy-winning artists perform every year.