Is Punta Cana Safe in September 2026?

Tourists are approached at the pool or beach and told they have won a prize — excursion, free dinner, or shopping voucher — redeemable by attending a brief presentation. The presentation lasts 3–5 hours with extreme sales pressure to purchase vacation club memberships.

How to avoid: Decline all prize notifications from resort staff or third parties. There are no free prizes attached to time share presentations.

Unofficial drivers at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) stand in the arrivals hall holding printed signs bearing resort names — Barceló, Iberostar, Hard Rock, Riu — that are indistinguishable from legitimate hotel transfer signs. They approach newly arrived passengers, confirm the resort name, and usher them toward private vehicles before demanding $150–200 USD for the 45-kilometer transfer to Bávaro — three to four times the legitimate rate of $25–30 per person on a shared shuttle or $80–100 for a private transfer booked through the resort.

How to avoid: Pre-arrange your transfer directly through your resort or a verified operator before departure. On arrival, proceed to the official hotel meet-and-greet area past the first wave of drivers; your legitimate driver will have your full name, not just the resort name. Confirm the driver's identity with the resort's front desk number if in doubt.

Excursion desks at Punta Cana all-inclusive resorts sell tours (Saona Island, whale watching, zip-lining) at prices 40–60% higher than the same tours from independent operators in Bávaro or Punta Cana town.

How to avoid: Compare excursion prices with independent operators in Bávaro before booking at the resort desk. The same Saona Island catamaran trip can be half the price.

Jet ski rental operators on Bávaro Beach and at Arena Gorda rent equipment for a quoted $60–80 per hour, then claim pre-existing scratches or engine damage were caused by the tourist after the ride. The operator shows the damage — which existed before the rental — and demands $200–500 in cash on the spot, sometimes with an accomplice blocking the path back to the resort. Victims who refuse are threatened with police involvement.

How to avoid: Film a 360-degree video of the jet ski before and after the rental, capturing all existing scratches, dents, and the hull number. Use only operators with fixed pricing boards and printed receipts. Never pay a damage claim in cash without an official written incident report, and walk calmly back to the resort to call POLITUR (809-200-3500) if confronted.

Independent tour sellers in Bávaro and at El Cortecito advertise the Saona Island excursion with photos of fast, modern catamarans and near-empty beaches, but deliver passengers on overcrowded wooden boats with no shade and no safety equipment, docking at a beach already packed with hundreds of tourists from other operators. The "open bar" is watered-down local rum, and lunch is a basic buffet not resembling the promotional images. Operators selling below-market rates ($35–45 versus the standard $60–80) are most likely to substitute inferior boats and conditions.

How to avoid: Book Saona Island tours only through operators with verifiable TripAdvisor reviews and the specific boat named in the booking. Avoid any seller quoting below $60 per person. Confirm the departure dock — legitimate operators depart from Bayahibe or La Romana, a two-hour drive west; be suspicious of any operator claiming a "shortcut" or alternate route.