day trips

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Day Trips at Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana: Santo Domingo

While there’s enough going on at Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana to keep anyone busy for weeks, those looking for a taste of adventure and Dominican culture should take a day trip to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Located on the southern coast of the island, Santo Domingo is approximately 2.5 hours by car or bus from Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana.

Santo Domingo, known as the first European city in the New World, was founded in 1496 by Bartolome Columbus—brother of Christopher Columbus—making it a must-see for any history buff! There are many examples of 15th and 16th century architecture in the city’s Colonial Zone, including the Alcazar de Colon, Ozma Fort and the Cathedral. Check out the Panteon Nacional, the final resting place of Dominican national heroes, located on the Calle Las Damas—the first-ever European street in the Americas!

Santo Domingo is a highly diverse city, made up of several distinct areas to explore. If you’re looking for casinos and clubs, El Malecon, or George Washington Avenue, is known for nightlife. Many concerts and festivals throughout the year take place here. On the other hand, the Plaza de Cultura is home to five museums, including the largest art museum in the Caribbean, and the National Theater.

The Cathedral of Santo Domingo

The Cathedral of Santo Domingo

There’s no better place than Santo Domingo to experience a full day of Dominican culture. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, shop, eat, or just relax somewhere new, Santo Domingo has it all within walking distance. Speak with your Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana concierge today to book this fantastic day trip!

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Day Trips in Los Cabos: Plan a Charter to Experience World-Class Sport Fishing

Between all of the Endless Privileges® like gourmet dining, spa treatments and the luxurious ocean views at Zoëtry Casa Del Mar Los Cabos, guests can venture out and plan adventurous, once-in-a-lifetime excursions outside the resort.   The deep-sea fishing off the coast of Cabo San Lucas is undeniably some of the best in the world. The dizzying array of large marlin and sailfish is an avid fisherman’s absolute dream!

While on your vacation to Zoëtry Casa Del Mar Los Cabos, be sure to check out Pisces Sportfishing. They offer top-quality fishing excursions with expert crews and safety-proven equipment. Come on, when else will you have the chance to fish in such a perfect environment?

See the concierge at your Zoëtry Resort & Spa today and book your fishing excursion with Pisces Sportfishing!

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Points of Interest Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana: Isla Saona

While staying at Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana, guests have the opportunity to visit Isla Saona, a small yet beautiful island off the southeast shore of the Dominican Republic. The island, deemed an official nature reserve by the Dominican government, is home to a wide array of tropical animals. It is particularly well-known for its pristine beaches and abundance of natural sandbars, which provide visitors with an excellent snorkeling experience.

Christopher Columbus discovered this gem of the Caribbean Sea on his second voyage to North America in 1494. Saona was actually named in honor of Savona, Italy, where Columbus resided at the time. The two locations still continue their close partnership to this day—Saona even boasts a small power plant that was a gift from the Italian city.

Due to its easy access and supreme natural beauty, guests at Zoëtry Agua should definitely check out Isla Saona for a memorable day trip during their stay!

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Saona Island (in Spanish Isla Saona) is a tropical island located a short distance from the mainland on the south-east tip of the Dominican Republic.

For transportation to the island, there are several catamaran tours that host daily boat trips there. Speak with your concierge today to book your extraordinary day trip!

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Day Trips at Zoëtry Casa Del Mar Los Cabos: Swim with Dolphins

Day trips are fun when staying in a location as beautiful and exotic as Los Cabos, Mexico, even if it means leaving the comfort and luxury of your new home at a Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resort.  Today we want to talk about one of our favorite day trip activities for guests at Zoëtry Casa Del Mar Los Cabos:  Swimming with dolphins!

Photo courtesy of True Wildlife Blog

Photo courtesy of True Wildlife Blog

Our friends over at Cabo Adventures offer a few great options for exciting dolphin encounters.  During these programs, trainers start off by educating visitors about the dolphins themselves – you will be surprised just how intelligent these mammals are!  Next, they will teach you special hand signals so you can communicate with the dolphins. Then, depending on the package you choose, you get to interact with the dolphins in a variety of different ways.  Some packages allow you to play and joke with dolphins in the shallow water making a friend for life.  Other packages allow the dolphins to swim all around you as you join them in their environment of deeper waters.  You can also take one for a dolphin ride!   And, last but not least, there are options to actually try your hand at being a dolphin trainer for the day.  You will get the opportunity to help with everything from training to feeding, a truly immersive experience.

We hope you take the opportunity to experience dolphins in this unique and personal way during your time at Zoëtry Casa Del Mar. No matter what package you choose, you will definitely leave with a new perspective on these beautiful, intelligent creatures, and maybe even a new friend! Speak with your concierge today to book your day trip!

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Travel Tuesday: Puerto Morelos Day Trip

Puerto Morelos is a miraculously untouched paradise nestled between the more widely known Cancun and Playa del Carmen in Mexico.  This small fishing village has escaped the surrounding areas’ trend of development thanks to strict local building codes and government-protected ecological reefs and mangroves.

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The off-the-map town offers the experiences valued most by Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts— wellness, serenity and romance.  So if you want to spend a day during your vacation to Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya visiting the tranquil village, here are some ideas to perfect your experience.

  • Snorkel: The reefs of Puerto Morelos are part of the second largest reef system in the world!
  • Eat:  Check out El Nicho, Puerto Morelos’ number one restaurant for breakfast; the funky street side Tacos.com for lunch; or John Gray’s kitchen for a more upscale dinner.
  • Birdwatch:  The protected Mangroves host more than 150 species of birds.
  • Shop:  From specialty bookstores to ceramics and clothing stores, there are shops for every taste.
  • Stop and smell the flowers:  Visit the Botanical Gardens, or the Jungle.  The gardens have 150 km of beautiful grounds, and the Jungle has a Mayan Jungle Market for artisan crafts on Sundays.

No matter what you choose to do while visiting the village of Puerto Morelos, you are sure to have a magnificently unique experience.  Don’t forget to bring cash, many places in town don’t accept credit cards; and even more importantly relax and immerse yourself in the small town atmosphere of this beautiful beachside gem.

Talk to your concierge today to plan your day trip while at  Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita!