Punta Cana in December
When to go
December comes after the Atlantic hurricane season ends and opens the stretch the tourism board calls the most pleasant weather of the year, which is also Punta Cana's peak season. Even in the driest season the weather office's figures list rain days, so a light rain layer is still worth packing. Christmas is one of the most festive times of year in the Dominican Republic, so check your dates against the Labor Ministry's holiday notice before you settle on them.
Trip facts
- The Dominican tourism board says all passengers entering or departing the Dominican Republic on commercial flights must complete the free electronic entry and exit form (the e-Ticket) before arriving at the airline counter. (www.godominicanrepublic.com, checked )
- The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. (www.nhc.noaa.gov, checked )
- Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) lists a Terminal A and a Terminal B on its website. (www.puntacanainternationalairport.com, checked )
- The Dominican tourism board says the local currency is the Dominican peso (RD$). (www.godominicanrepublic.com, checked )
- The Dominican tourism board says Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is a short drive from most resorts, with airport transfers, taxis and car rentals among the options. (www.godominicanrepublic.com, checked )
- The Dominican tourism board lists Punta Cana's peak season as December–April and summer, and its driest season as December to April. (www.godominicanrepublic.com, checked )
- WMO's World Weather Information Service, using data from the Dominican national weather office for 1961–1990, lists a December maximum temperature of 28.1 °C (82.6 °F) and a minimum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) for Punta Cana. (worldweather.wmo.int, checked )
- WMO's World Weather Information Service, using data from the Dominican national weather office for 1961–1990, lists December rainfall of 78.5 mm and 11.0 rain days for Punta Cana. (worldweather.wmo.int, checked )
- The Dominican tourism board says the months of December through early March boast the most pleasant weather in the Dominican Republic. (www.godominicanrepublic.com, checked )
- The Dominican tourism board says Christmas is one of the most festive times of the year in the Dominican Republic, apart from Carnival in February. (www.godominicanrepublic.com, checked )
- The Dominican Ministry of Labor's 2026 holiday notice lists Friday, December 25, Christmas Day, as a holiday that is not moved to another day. (mt.gob.do, checked )
Flights
Punta Cana International Airport, code PUJ, is the airport the tourism board lists for getting to Punta Cana, and it describes the airport as a short drive from most resorts. Compare itineraries across airlines and departure airports for your dates. Complete the Dominican e-Ticket on the official government site before you reach the airline counter.
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Where to stay
Bávaro is the area the tourism board describes as the main resort area, with expansive beaches and beachfront hotels, while Cap Cana is where it places the marina and the Hoyo Azul cenote. When you compare places to stay, look at which beach each one fronts, how far it is from the airport, and what the property itself says about its rooms, meals and activities. December is peak season, so settle on an area first and then compare dates.
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Getting around
From the airport, the tourism board lists airport transfers, taxis and car rentals as options, so compare them by convenience, group size and luggage. Before you go, check the State Department's page for the Dominican Republic.
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Things to do
Decide what is worth building a day around, then check availability for your travel dates. Compare what a tour or ticket includes, the meeting point and the cancellation terms before you choose.
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Stay connected
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Protect the trip
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