Marinarium

Marinarium is a 3.5-hour catamaran excursion from Cabeza de Toro, inside the Bávaro hotel area, run by Marinarium Parks. You snorkel among nurse sharks and stingrays in the operator's own fenced marine park of about 40,000 m², then stop at a shallow natural pool in Bávaro Bay, with music and drinks on board; alcohol is served only after the snorkelling. Hotel pickup is included from Punta Cana resorts, and the drive to Cabeza de Toro is about 10 to 30 minutes. There are morning and afternoon departures, it runs year-round, and there is no minimum age, although children must be with an adult and it helps to be comfortable in the water. December to April is the driest stretch; from June to November trips are more often cancelled when the port authority closes the sea. Worth knowing: the stingrays are not naturally harmless; their barbs are clipped, which some visitors object to. No excursion we photograph goes here, so photos are a private shoot, arranged in advance.