Punta Cana Dominican Republic A Vacation Insiders Guide
MEET LORENZO CAIMARI
This Insider Guide is brought to you by Lorenzo Caimari, owner of Villa Can Nico at the Punta Cana Resort & Club. It's a 5 bedroom, beautiful ocean view villa, located next to the golf course's first hole, and just 300m from the beach. Not just that, but free entry to the beach resort!
Welcome to the quiet side of Punta Cana! This is most definitely not your a-typical Punta Cana resort. It's 16 miles from the Bavaro area where the other resorts are located. Which means you'll find tranquil, uncrowded surroundings, but still with all the resort style amenities.
Or call +1.809.723.3423
THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITOR For the Caribbean aficionados, Punta Cana is known for mass tourism, especially during the summer seasons, with many all-inclusive resorts. Don't get me wrong, the beaches are beautiful and it exudes tropical charm. But it's busy. Cue Lorenzo Caimari who owns a 5 bedroom villa at the Punta Cana Resort and Club, 16 miles away from the busy Bavaro area. He offers that tropical setting in a more relaxed, uncrowded environment. Being a villa inside a resort it has access to all the modern conveniences, yet the space and comfort of your own private retreat. Imagine starting your day with a sunrise walk on the white sand beach, followed by a round of golf or
E: andy@vacationinsiders.com W: www.vacationinsiders.com
relaxing by the villa's private pool. Then head for lunch at one of the incredible resort restaurants, followed by an afternoon at the spa. Stroll back to the villa for an early evening shower in one of the villa's private outdoor showers, then take a romantic sunset horse ride along the beach whilst your private chef Juliana prepares your evening meal. Are you in? Me too! And you will have just scratched the surface as Lorenzo has plenty more where that came from! This is certainly an exceptional villa, with an exceptionally personable owner in Lorenzo. Enjoy!
ABOUT LORENZO & PUNTA CANA'S QUIET SIDE... Hi, I'm Lorenzo and here's my story... Originally from the Mediterranean Spanish island of Mallorca, I arrived in Punta Cana in 1989 and, from that moment, I knew this was my kind of place! I worked as General Manager for a hotel company for 21 years so travel and tourism are my passion and life. I bought the lot that Villa Can Nico now stands on in 2006 and designed the house with the help of a Dominican architect. True to my roots, I wanted a Spanish house, open, with an interior patio like you'd find in Spain, but with the exuberance of the tropical vegetation. The result of this design concept is a villa that we think is quite unique. It has an interior patio, interior gardens, and 2 of the bedrooms have inside AND outside showers (surrounded by a wall and a garden - no one can see you!). Villa Can Nico feels like an open, airy house, blending with the tropical surroundings. When people arrive and open the main door, instead of seeing a living room, they find a garden. They are usually pleasantly impressed! In terms of location, it's almost perfection! We are just 300 meters from the beach, overlooking the first hole of the La Cana Golf course. And close by you have the resort club house with 2 restaurants, a bar, and the Six Senses Spa.
The Villa is located inside the Punta Cana Resort & Club. The resort is 16 miles away of the other resorts of the area, making it a more peaceful setting. People staying with us will enjoy quiet, almost deserted, beaches. Just imagine being able to walk the empty beach at 6.30 am, as the sun rises on the horizon, a mere 300 meters from our villa. Or enjoy the full moon over the sea sitting in the small dock. Despite being a very quiet and calm community, there is plenty of fun to be had! You have all the benefits of being within a resort, such as restaurants, bars, the Six Senses Spa, tennis, golf, horse back riding, excursions, a fitness center, kite surfing, deep sea fishing, diving... is that enough?! All of this without the inconveniences that can be typical of other resorts, such as crowded beaches, poor service, noise. This isn't to say there aren't other good resorts, but this place is unquestionably different. If you would like to read a little more about the resort and its history, please click here to visit their website. Now, before you read on, there is one other notable treasure - the real boss of Villa Can Nico - our housekeeper and Chef Extraordinaire, Juliana! Since 2009, when she started with us, she's been the proverbial rock of the villa. Anything you need to ask, she's your real insider! And what a chef, but more on that later...!
5 EXPERIENCES YOU CANNOT MISS...
1
Golf at La Cana Golf by PB Dye...
2
Your Personal Chef Extraordinaire...
3
Massage at the Six Senses Spa...
4
Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and Reserve...
5
Caribbean Sea Snorkeling Excursion...
The Punta Cana Resort & Club is home to true championship quality golf, with 45 holes set over 2 courses. Our favorite is La Cana, with 27 holes, 14 of which have stunning ocean views. Designed by P.B. Dye, son of Pete Dye, a very well respected golf course architect. Comparisons to Pebble Beach have been made by Golf Magazine! It also has state of the art Seashore Paspalum grass for maintenance with minimal environmental impact. It's an excellent course, not just in our opinion!
Some people might think that hiring a personal chef is just a luxury. Not so in this case. Meet Juliana, our housekeeper AND chef. Juliana prepares and serves incredible food - just have a look at some of these pictures. Imagine being able to sit down to a beautifully presented, delicious meal at a table already set for you? Do it!! And then spend your valuable vacation time on the beach, at the spa, on the golf course, or just sipping a drink whilst reading a good book! Don't miss Juliana!
The Six Senses Spa is located in the resort. It's part of the wider Six Senses brand who operate spas in other prestigious locations around the world. Which means you'll find an exceptional spa, with a "Leading Spa" distinction from The Leading Hotels of the World. Set in an 1,800 square meter space, there are 7 treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and relaxation area. You can find a full menu of massages, facials, wraps and more at this link.
Owned and operated by the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, in 1,500 acres of our resort, this is one of the only private forest reserves in Punta Cana. The reserve has a network of trails leading to 12 freshwater lagoons which you can take a dip in! The Taino Indians call these lagoons "eyes", hence the name Indigenous Eyes. In order to support the Punta Cana Foundation, guests are charged US$10 per person for visiting and swimming in the Indigenous Eyes. This is a stunning place, don't miss it!
A half day tour, returning after lunch, that takes you on a catamaran from Punta Cana Marina. You'll get to snorkel the natural reef, explore a collection of submerged statues in an underwater museum, plus swim in the Playa Blanca natural pool - really fun as the pool is in the middle of the ocean, yet the water is waist high! Then on to the Playa Blanca restaurant for lunch in a private area. We suggest Gray Line (the official excursion provider of the resort) to book this tour - it's well worth it!
4 FOR THE SPORT LOVER... Kite Surfing and Stand Up Paddle-boarding... If you feel adventurous then you should take a trip to the guys at Kite Club Punta Cana. Don't worry, adventurous doesn't mean you have to be a pro, in fact they manage all levels and provide lessons they are an International Kiteboarding Organization certified school. It's not just the official stamp that should convince you, they are also a friendly group and revel in teaching you in a safe environment after all Punta Cana is renowned for waist deep, flat and warm waters, an ideal spot for learning. Head on over to the TripAdvisor review page and you'll find many good reviews. We know you'll love the experience!
Underwater... The Punta Cana Aquatic Center in the Resort has a number of options for those that want to explore what lies beneath the surface of the ocean! Run by Blue Vision Adventures you can, amongst other water sports, enjoy diving and deep sea fishing charters. If you've never dived, that's no problem, they also run learn to dive courses. The ocean around Punta Cana is warm and clear, perfect for divers of all abilities. If you would like to deep sea fish, they run half and full days. The fishing is amazing, you'll find white and blue marlin through the summer months, with tuna and mahi-mahi at their peak earlier in the year. The good news is you should catch something!
The Tennis Center... As part of your stay with us you will have access to the Tennis Center at the Punta Cana Resort & Club. The center is amazing, with plenty of clay courts. Not only can you enjoy the courts (book 24 hours in advance), but there are also daily practice / teaching sessions for both adults and kids. If you want private lessons, that's also possible, and the tuition is of a high standard - the tennis pro, Felix de los Santos, is certified under US and international tennis standards. There are also a number of tennis events during the year. For full information on the club please visit the resort website at this link. Enjoy!
Horse Riding... Horse rides can be organized directly through El Rancho at the Punta Cana Resort & Club. The rides are all relatively short at 1 or 2 hours, making it an easy experience to enjoy without consuming your entire day. In fact, one of our favorite rides is the sunset adventure which will be the perfect start to your romantic evening. If you are a beginner, don't worry, El Rancho now offers riding classes. And they are also set up for kids, with ponies and school horses. This is a great way to tour our natural surroundings and enjoy that picture postcard ride along our white sand beaches! All of our guests who have experienced it give positive feedback so well worth doing!
LORENZO'S FAVORITE RESTAURANTS...
1
La Yola...
La Yola is a Mediterranean cuisine and seafood restaurant at the Punta Cana Resort & Club. It sits right next to the sea so you feel the ocean as well as taste it! Not only is this our favorite, it also comes highly recommended by many past guests, as well as having a 2014 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor where it has consistently good reviews see this link. We enjoy all the dishes, but our favorite is the Baked Tropical Lobster. You can find their full menu by clicking here.
2
Mamma Luisa...
This is an option if you feel like stepping out of the resort and experiencing something of Punta Cana. It's located in the Punta Cana Village and, as the name implies, is an Italian restaurant! With plenty of really good reviews on TripAdvisor, it's great option. It has a warm family feel, and an extensive menu and wine list. Which all serves to make this an ideal place for couples as well as families with kids. Our favorite dishes are the Spinach Lasagna and Pesto Seafood Pasta.
3
4
Playa Blanca... Serving fresh seafood, grilled meats and some fantastic cocktails. It's open for lunch and dinner. Both are great, but a lunch here on the white sand, in front of turquoise waters, is not to be missed! It has a wonderful atmosphere, being open air, often with live music. It comes with plenty of good TripAdvisor reviews, notching up a 4-star average. You can find their full menu by clicking here. Our favorite is Cordon Blue Playa Blanca.
The Grill... This is located at La Cana Golf and Beach Club so works well for a simple bite after your round at La Cana! It's a relaxed setting overlooking the ocean with an American style menu. Being in the golf club it's also a good 19th hole option, particularly a cool beer or something from their cocktail menu. Our favorite is the House Hamburger.
LORENZO'S TIPS ON WHERE TO STAY... Being located in the Punta Cana Resort & Club there are a wide range of accommodation options depending on your needs. Below is Lorenzo’s very own villa, along with a couple of other suggestions from the resort. Hopefully there is something for everyone!
Lorenzo’s Very Own...
A beautiful 5 bedroom / 5.5 bathroom home just 300 meters from the stunning ocean and facing the first hole of La Cana golf course. Equipped with wifi, air conditioning, its own pool, and much more, including Juliana! It's perfect for a large family, or 2 families traveling together, sleeping up to 12 people. Being part of the Punta Cana Resort & Club there is easy access to all the club's facilities. Please visit Lorenzo's Villa Can Nico website for more information...
Lorenzo Suggests...
Tortuga Bay is a hotel, not an individually owned vacation rental like mine. Yet it still retains a personal and intimate feel. The 400+ TripAdvisor reviews, at an average 5 stars, will tell you all you need to know! It is pure luxury, with interiors designed by Oscar de la Renta. There are 13 luxurious beachfront villas, from 1 bedroom junior suites to 4 bedroom villas. Please visit the Tortuga Bay website for more information...
Lorenzo Suggests...
The Westin may be a huge brand name but this place oozes charm and sophistication. It's inside the Punta Cana Resort & Club so, whilst it's a hotel, you'll still experience a more relaxed and quiet space than in the more touristy areas of Punta Cana. Plus you have access to all the fantastic resort facilities. Head over to TripAdvisor and you'll find solid reviews. Please visit the Westin website for more information...
A SENSE OF COMMUNITY... Pack for a Purpose...
Punta Cana Eco Foundation...
Punta Cana Foundation...
The Resort promotes Pack for a Purpose, whose mission is to "positively impact communities around the world by assisting travelers who want to bring meaningful contributions to the destinations they visit". In essence, you leave a little room in your suitcase to fill with supplies for our community. Please ask me if you'd like to get involved. It's incredibly simple!
The Resort has created this foundation "to protect and preserve the natural resources of the Punta Cana region, while contributing to the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic". We wholeheartedly support this and, if any guests are interested in finding out more, including simple ways to get involved, then please let me know.
This is a complimentary foundation to the ecological one, this time with a focus on the local community, specifically with the goal of improving conditions through programs in health, education, and cultural activities. You can read more on the website by clicking here. Once again, if you would like to get involved during your stay please let me know.
THE VACATION INSIDER PHILOSOPHY
PUT THE GUIDEBOOK DOWN... For real local knowledge put the heavy guidebook down and reach for an insider guide.
Vacation Insiders - travel guides direct from your host!
If you’re an accommodation owner and would like to participate in the Insider Guide series we’d love to hear from you! Email: info@vacationinsiders.com or Web: www.vacationinsiders.com VACATION INSIDERS © 2014 | www.vacationinsiders.com