If you only leave your Punta Cana hotel once, this is the day we suggest: a stone village above a river in the morning, then a swim and a fish lunch on the Caribbean side. This guide covers what to check before you book, which day of the week works best, how the eight hours fit together and who will get the most from it.
Check access before you book
Altos de Chavón is not a public town. It stands inside the Casa de Campo resort, and the resort controls the gate. Its entrance is not included in the tour price, and visitors who are not staying at the resort have paid a fee at the gate to get in.
The rules for day visitors are set by the resort and can change. The country's tourism board describes an entrance fee for non-guests, while the resort's own website has said access is limited to hotel guests, residents and their guests. Before you book, check the resort's current rules for day visitors. Carry your passport or an ID card on the day, as identity is checked at the entrance.
What you are going to see
The village looks old but is not. It was built over six years and opened in 1982, carved entirely in stone as a model of a 16th-century Mediterranean town. It was designed by the Dominican architect José Antonio Caro and the Italian designer and film-maker Roberto Coppa, and local craftsmen built it by hand. It sits about 90 metres above the Chavón River, with the view down to the water and over the golf course on its eastern side.
Three places take most of the time:
- The church of St Stanislaus, consecrated in 1979, at the centre of the village. It is a popular place for weddings.
- The amphitheatre, Greek in style, with 5,000 seats. Frank Sinatra opened it with a concert in 1982, and it still hosts concerts.
- The archaeological museum, with more than 3,000 objects from the island's indigenous peoples.
Which day, and which month
The day of the week matters more than you might think. According to the resort, the museum opens Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so on a Monday you will miss it. The church is open to visitors Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with masses at the weekend. The village as a whole is usually open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., though hours vary from one business to the next and around events. Check the resort's site before you go, and if the museum and the church both matter, a Tuesday to Friday suits best.
As for the season, this coast is warm all year, with highs of around 28°C in winter and 32°C from July to September. February and March are the driest months; May and October the wettest. Tropical storms are most likely from August to October. Seaweed is less of a worry here than in Punta Cana: Bayahibe is on the south-facing Caribbean coast, away from the Atlantic currents that bring sargassum to the east-facing beaches. In 2025, when the seaweed was heavy, some hotels moved guests to Bayahibe for that reason.
How the eight hours fit together
You are collected at 07:00, and Altos de Chavón is about an hour and a half away, along the coast motorway to the west. You have around two hours in the village, from about 08:30.
Bayahibe follows at about 10:30. It is a fishing village turned beach town, with pastel wooden houses, craft stalls and restaurants along the bay. You swim from the village beach or walk along the shore, and lunch is at around 12:30, with fish and seafood in the places by the water. You leave at about 13:45 and are back at your hotel at around 15:00.
Because the car is yours, the plan can change on the day. Stay longer at the beach and cut the village short, or the other way round. If you would rather see only Altos de Chavón, tell us when you book and we bring you back earlier.
On your own, or with a driver
Going on your own means a hire car or a taxi in each direction, and sorting out entry at the resort gate yourself. With a private car and driver you are collected from the door, the driver handles the road and the parking, and you can change the order without negotiating. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page. The entrance, lunch and drinks are paid on the day.
What to bring
- Your passport or an ID card for the resort entrance.
- Swimwear and a towel for Bayahibe.
- Sun cream and a hat for the walk round the village and the time on the beach.
- Comfortable shoes for the stone streets and steps.
- Cash or a card for the entrance and lunch.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits a first trip outside the resort, couples and families who want some history and a swim in one day, and anyone who wants to see the calmer Caribbean side without a very long drive.
- You want a whole day on the sand. Our Bayahibe and Dominicus beach day skips the village and spends the morning at Dominicus.
- You want Saona Island. The boats leave from Bayahibe, but a boat trip is a day of its own, so it does not fit here. We can drop you at the jetty and collect you as a separate booking.
- You want the capital. Our Santo Domingo day goes to the Colonial Zone, though it is a longer day on the road.
- There are more than 16 of you. Two vehicles travel together on one booking. Message us.
Questions people ask
Is there a guide in the village?
No guide is included. The price covers the car and the driver. Once you are inside, the village is easy to explore on foot by yourself.
Can we go to a concert at the amphitheatre?
Not on this tour, which runs in the daytime. Concerts have their own tickets and their own entrance rules at the resort.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Check the resort's rules for day visitors first, choose a day from Tuesday to Friday if you can, and pack for both a stone village and a beach. To compare this with the other days out, read our guide to day trips from Punta Cana. To book, go to the Altos de Chavón and Bayahibe private day trip page.
