Day Trips to Monkeyland from Punta Cana

You've probably already thought about visiting several beaches and maybe some underground caves, but you can't forget a visit to Monkeyland among the things to see and do in Punta Cana. Your holiday 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, including a buggy ride or even a thrilling zip-line adventure. Dare to make the most of your Punta Cana experience? The Caribbean is waiting for you!

If you are looking for things to do in Punta Cana with children, my first recommendation is a half-day excursion to Monkeyland. It doesn't all have to be Disneyland or an amusement park, because contact with nature is much better. On average these adventures cost around €80 and last about six hours.

You'll start the day by boarding a safari bus that will pass by the hotel you're staying at. Along the way you'll see beaches, jungle vegetation and much more. Take the opportunity to take some pictures as you approach Monkeyland, a natural monkey habitat located deep in the jungle.

When you arrive at Monkeyland wait for your guide's instructions so you can interact with the animals. Do not be afraid as they are friendly animals. Please note that you can only feed them 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 from the 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.

Interesting details

• Price: around 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, 5 hours may be too long for just one activity. I suggest you compare other excursions that include more things.

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

For this type of excursion the organisers will indicate a meeting point to pick you up in a private transport. Here you will go into 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 the plunge. 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 a few hours later on board the private transport and meet the friendly squirrel monkeys of this natural habitat. If you want to have your photo taken with them, you must feed them whatever the professional guides tell you to feed them. You can also tour the botanical garden and enjoy the fresh air of the site.

Details of interest

• Price: around 100 €.
• Duration: approximately 8 hours.
• Means of transport: private transport.
• 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 want to do something different, I recommend booking a buggy adventure. These vehicles are all-terrain, light and fast, so you'll be able to go into the jungle, see animals, get to rural areas and have lots of fun. The average cost of these tours is €100 and they can last up to 5 hours.

Before you start 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 ride into 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. Use 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 be given a tour explaining the life of the monkeys, their food and much more. Once there you will see the monkeys climbing up and down the trees. Here you can have professional photos taken while you feed the monkeys.

Interesting details

• Price: around 100 €.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Means of transport: buggy.
• Advantages of this option: it is an ideal activity for the family and for people who want adventure.
• Disadvantages of this option: not everyone feels comfortable driving a buggy.

If you have enjoyed 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 even better experience driving a buggy, zip-lining and visiting Monkeyland, all in the same day. This whole adventure costs an average of 160 €.

For this kind of excursion you have to get up early, but it will all be worth it. The guides will pick you up from your hotel at around 7am to take you to a ranch on high ground where you will be able to 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 transport will take you and your group to Monkeyland. Get ready to greet all the squirrel monkeys in this beautiful habitat. Feed them their favourite food and take lots of photos 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 transport takes you to a point where all the buggies are parked. Before you set off on your adventure, you will receive another safety briefing and basic knowledge about the buggy. Follow your guide for about an hour into the jungle of Punta Cana. At the end of the tour where your guide tells you to go, your return transport 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: around 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 travelling 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 organisers 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 set off. Some companies do not include lunch, so ask about this in advance. If they don't include lunch, ask if they will stop for lunch so you can plan your day better.

If you don't want to miss out on a beach with beautiful crystal clear waters, I recommend taking a tour to Macau 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 cost an average of €60.

Tour guides prefer to start the day early in the morning, so they pick up tour groups in private transport at around 8am. The first activity will be a guided tour of Monkeyland. There you can enjoy the company of these beautiful and curious animals for about three to 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's not all about monkeys, but about the environment in which they live and their flowers and fruits. When midday 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.

Interesting details

• Price: around 60 €.
• Duration: approximately 6 hours.
• Means of transport: private transport.
• 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 time to visit the sea.

In addition to 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 can interact with curious and friendly animals that will climb on your arms or head. Don't be scared as 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 favourite 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. You will mostly find cocoa, coffee and tobacco. These crops can also be seen on plantations 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 travelling 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 good weather is a must as most of the tourist activities take place outdoors.

On 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. It's best to wear light, durable exercise clothes. Comfortable shoes will be your ally when driving a buggy or walking and exploring the monkey habitat

As I said before, you will always be exposed to the sun, so don't forget to wear the right amount of sunscreen. Don't forget to bring sunscreen, especially if you are travelling with children, as they are much more sensitive to the sun's rays.

An important point to remember is not to feed just anything to the monkeys. The guides at this park have a special menu for them and will sell you small plates of food to give them. You cannot offer them bread or biscuits as this can be very bad for their health.

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

However, I do not recommend this way of travelling as you will not be able to enjoy all that the road has to offer. Also, these taxi rides are often expensive compared to the cost of a guided tour. If this doesn't bother you, you can even ask the taxi driver to be your guide for the day to take you to special places such as local restaurants.

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