Punta Cana theme parks – the BIG comparison of the best amusement parks in Punta Cana

When talking about theme parks in Punta Cana, you might realize pretty quickly that there is unfortunately (or fortunately) no Walt Disney World or Universal Adventures in Punta Cana. But there are several other Punta Cana amusement parks – and some of those are pretty exciting and spectacular. Just imagine you can see the famous Blue Lagoon, ride the longest zipline in Punta Cana, float on one of the longest lazy rivers in Punta Cana, get to know the newest immersive attractions with state-of-the-art technology, play on Punta Cana’s only adventure golf or try to conquer Punta Cana’s highest and toughest high ropes course – all of these attractions are part of Punta Canas’ theme parks. In the following article, where we compare Scape Park Punta Cana, Bavaro Adventure Park, Katmandu Park and La Hacienda Park, you will learn which one of these individual highlights belongs to which theme park and which of the amusement parks in Punta Cana is indeed the best for your visit. 

This is an overview of the best theme parks in Punta Cana. For individual theme park reviews, check out the following articles:
Scape Park Punta Cana
Katmandu Park Punta Cana
If you’re looking for other cool things to do with your kids in the Dominican Republic, have a look at the best family excursions in Punta Cana.
For some more of the best excursions from your resort, you can continue reading here about the best tours in Punta Cana.

Overview – the best theme parks in Punta Cana 

 Before we are starting with explaining the details, advantages and disadvantages of each of the theme parks in Punta Cana, let’s have a quick look at the best amusement parks in case you don’t want to read that much. 

 Here are our suggestions if you’re looking for the best Punta Cana theme park, depending on which type of traveler you are.

For those wanting to see the biggest attractions: Scape Park Punta Cana (book tickets with transfers here*)
For families and adults loving interactive fun and the newest technologies: Katmandu Park Punta Cana (book tickets with transfers here*)
For easy-going families: Bavaro Adventure Park (book tickets with transfers here*)
For animal and zipline lovers: La Hacienda Park (book tickets with transfers here*)
For water freaks of all ages: Caribbean Lake Park (book tickets with transfers here*)

The most exciting attractions among all theme parks in Punta Cana

 In the introduction of this article, I have already mentioned a couple of unique attractions you can find in Punta Canas’ theme parks, such as the longest zipline in Punta Cana or the famous Blue Lagoon. But where can you find those particular attractions in Punta Cana

The toughest high ropes course in Punta Cana

 The so-called High Point Adventure is part of Katmandu Theme Park (book your tickets incl. pick-up here*), was inaugurated only in 2023 and is one of Punta Canas newest attractions – and it is a pretty cool one. It is not only a random high ropes course, it is a super cool and interesting high ropes course on three levels with more than 40 lines and obstacles, which take you at least 1.5 hours to complete – and a lot of your adrenaline will get flowing. This is one of the best attractions within Punta Canas’ amusement parks for those daring real adventures in Punta Cana.

The amazing high point adventure, the first extensive high ropes course in Punta Cana

The Blue Lagoon (Hoyo Azul)

 The Blue Lagoon, also known as Hoyo Azul, is one of the most iconic things to do in Punta Cana – and part of Scape Park Punta Cana (book your tickets incl. pick-up here*). In case you don’t know it: Hoyo Azul Punta Cana is this incredibly turquoise and crystal-clear cenote that you have always dreamt of visiting. You can swim here, jump into it and enjoy the marvelous surrounding. It is by far the most picturesque and most beautiful cenote in Punta Cana and a must-visit if you like those natural sinkholes.

Hoyo Azul in Punta Cana 2023

The longest lazy river in Punta Cana

 I know a lot of people love lazy rivers – but the question is, do you just love super long pools like at Dreams Royal Beach or Royalton Bavaro or are you looking for a real lazy river with a current where you float on tubes and enjoy the surrounding. The latter one you can find at the so-called Jungle River at one of the best-established theme parks in Punta Cana, Bavaro Adventure Park (book your tickets incl. pick-up here*). It is approx. 1300 feet long and awaits you with tropical surroundings.

The only adventure golf in Punta Cana

 I am not sure if this is a personal thing because I loved to play adventure golf (or minigolf in Europe) when I was a child but I really appreciated getting a chance to play creative adventure golf courses, particularly those in the US. Among my travels around the world, I have never found similar courses compared to those in the US but now Katmandu Park Punta Cana (book your tickets incl. pick-up here*) has two 18-hole adventure golf courses which definitely can compete with some of its international peers. 5 of those 36 holes are located inside an artificial and air-conditioned cave, whereas a couple of other holes are played on top of a mountain. If this doesn’t sound creative …

Minigolf Experience at Katmandu Park Punta Cana

The longest zipline in Punta Cana

 In most of the websites and blogs, you find that the Bavaro Runners zipline is the longest in Punta Cana (incl. at Punta Cana Travel Blog – which I am soon going to change) but that’s no longer the case – the longest zipline is located in one of Punta Canas’ theme parks. More than 3000 feet you can fly (on a single cable) over the tropical landscape and enjoy pure adrenaline at La Hacienda Park (book your tickets incl. pick-up here*). The entire zipline circuit is more than 2 miles long and features not only the longest zipline but also the one with the best view of the serene tropical countryside of the Dominican Republic.

The longest zipline in Punta Cana at La Hacienda Park

The most interactive games in Punta Cana

 If you’re into immersive attractions and interactive games in Punta Cana, Katmandu Punta Cana is your Punta Cana amusement park to go to (book your tickets incl. pick-up here*)! This new park which only opened in early 2023 features various immersive rides and interactive entertainment which will make you, your kids and all playful adults completely happy. It not only is home to the only sunken cinema in the Caribbean but also to a physical obstacle course letting you feel like part of Ninja Warrior or Takeshis Castle. 

Team challenge at the EtherQuest attraction at Katmandu Park Punta Cana

The best theme parks in Punta Cana

 After presenting some of the best attractions, let’s have a look at each of the specific theme parks in Punta Cana.

Scape Park Punta Cana

 Let’s start with one of the most famous theme parks in Punta Cana, Scape Park Punta Cana or Scape Park Cap Cana. As explained above, it is home to the iconic Blue Lagoon in Punta Cana, but also features activities such as ziplining, a cave tour, a culture tour or some artificial waterfalls.

 The zipline course at Scape Park Cap Cana once had 12 cables, but was reduced a while ago to 8 regular cables, 1 Via Ferrata, 1 water zipline and 1 water hammock. The two latter ones are a separate attraction called “Zip Line Eco-Splash”, the 8 cables and the Via Ferrata are their regular zipline.

Ziplining at Scape Park Cap Cana, an adventure park in the south of Punta Cana

 The park is particularly suitable if you love water activities, as Hoyo Azul, the Cenote Swim, the Saltos Azules and the Zip Line Eco-Splash all involve water fun. It is also a great option if you love ziplining. Contrary, if ziplining in Punta Cana, is not your thing, the other theme parks in Punta Cana might be a better choice for you as the park feels a bit pricey if you skip ziplining. 

Pricing at Scape Park Punta Cana: prices incl. pick-up usually start at 129 USD per person, but you can check for discounts and offers here*

Attractions at Scape Park Punta Cana

When visiting this amusement park in Punta Cana, you can count on the following attractions:

  • Zipline Eco-Adventure: a zipline circuit with 8 cables and a short Via Ferrata
  • Zipline Eco-Splash: another double zipline which is ending in the water (amazing!)
  • Cultural Route: a self-guided tour through a bit of Dominican history including the visit to a typical remodeled countryside house
  • El Rancho: a Dominican ranch with horses and goats for petting and feeding
  • Iguanaland: kind of an iguana zoo
  • Saltos Azules: artificial waterfalls with blue water in a beautiful setting, including ropes for jumping into the water and the Yaya Cave
  • Iguabonita Cave: a guided tour through a cave system
  • Hoyo Azula fascinating blue lagoon where you can jump into and swim, including a hanging bridge on the short hike to the Hoyo Azul at Scape Park
  • Cueva Las Ondas: a cave with a crystal-clear and illuminated underground lake, similar to the cenotes in Mexico
  • Parrot & Monkey Island: animal sanctuaries, where you can see parrots, animals and snakes.
  • Cliffhanger: a new rappel circuit that seems to be new and is not yet part of our Scape Park Punta Cana review
Ziplining at Scape Park Cap Cana, an adventure park in the south of Punta Cana
Advantages and disadvantages of Scape Park Cap Cana:

Here is a list of pros and cons of Scape Park Cap Cana in case you’re considering visiting this amusement park in Punta Cana. You can book your tickets for Scape Park here*.

Pros of Scape Park in Punta Cana:

Home to the famous Blue Lagoon (Hoyo Azul)
A lot of water fun, perfect for hot days in Punta Cana
Only ocean view zipline in Punta Cana
The most versatile amusement park in Punta Cana
Lots of activities that keep you busy from 9 am to 5 pm

Cons of Scape Park in Punta Cana:

Extra charges for lockers (bringing your own lock is free)
One of the most commercialized theme parks in Punta Cana
Food is expensive and mediocre (best to bring your own snacks)

Katmandu Park Punta Cana

 Katmandu Punta Cana is Punta Canas newest theme park and only opened its doors in 2023. It does not only feature some of the most exciting attractions presented above such as the high ropes course or the adventure golf experience, but also the newest state-of-the-art technology, interactive games as well as immersive entertainment.

 Compared to all the other Punta Cana amusement parks presented in this article which all feature a tropical theme and are consisting of many outdoor attractions, especially a lot of water and ziplining activities, Katmandu Punta Cana is more kind of a compact city theme park, where you have all the attractions very closeby. 

Explore Katmandu Park Punta Cana, one of Punta Canas newest theme parks

 Katmandu Park Punta Cana is located within the Melía complex and can be reached by walking from several hotels, such as Melía Punta Cana, Paradisus Palma Real, Lopesan Costa Bavaro or Falcon’s Resort by Melía. The latter one (check rates for Falcon’s by Melia here*) even enjoys free entry to Katmandu Theme Park Punta Cana. The park is particularly suitable for those loving fantasy games, interactive games, physical challenges and technology-based entertainment. 

 Pricing at Katmandu Park Punta Cana: a full-day ticket incl. pick-up usually is around 120 USD per person, but you can check for discounts and offers here* (currently there is an amazing offer!). If you stay at Falcon’s by Melia, entry to Katmandu Punta Cana is for free – check room rates for Falcon’s here*.

Attractions at Katmandu Park Punta Cana

Katmandu Punta Cana features 4 immersive entertainment attractions and 4 physical respectively outdoor attractions – unique among Punta Canas’ theme parks and perfect if you’re looking for very unique family activities in Punta Cana.

  • “Legend of the Desirata”, a 4D Dark Ride, where the story of Katmandu is explained by Hira, the village elder, and the characters are introduced.
  • “EtherQuest”: an innovative and interactive tour through different rooms, where participants have to find and fight their way out of the quest, passing a combination of immersive projection and interactive gameplay. A hall of mirrors and a room for physical experiments are waiting at the end of EtherQuest.
  • “Voyage of the Fathom Wanderer”: the Caribbean’s first sunken theater
  • “Challenge of the Mad Mage”: a 4D cinema, where you gain points in an interactive battle against the other participants on seats loaded with a lot of special effects throughout the game
  • “High Point Adventure”: an outdoor high ropes course reaching 18 meters in height, featuring three levels of adrenaline-pumping challenges
  • “Expedition Golf”: two 18-hole mini-golf courses that take players through mountains, bridges and interior caves with two courses, “Earth” and “Sky” 
  • “The Quadagon” and “Maiya & Kumar’s Secret Cave”: four indoor obstacle courses for adults and the child-friendly “Maiya & Kumar’s Secret Cave” 
  • “Wheel of Infinite Wonder”: a themed carousel
Explore Katmandu Park Punta Cana, one of Punta Canas newest theme parks
Advantages and disadvantages of Katmandu Park Punta Cana

Here is a list of pros and cons of Katmandu Park in case you’re considering visiting this theme park in Punta Cana. You can book your tickets for Katmandu Park here*.

Pros of Katmandu Park in Punta Cana:

Centric location, theme park can be reached by walking from some hotels
Newest amusement park in Punta Cana, only opened in 2023
Amazing high ropes course – the only one in Punta Cana
The only adventure golf course(s) in Punta Cana
Attractions can be bought individually for very reasonable prices
The public areas of Katmandu Park Punta Cana can also be visited without buying tickets

Cons of Katmandu Park in Punta Cana:

Can get pretty hot during summer days in Punta Cana (make sure to visit in the afternoon/evening)
Immersive technology attractions are rather short
Limited food selection

Bavaro Adventure Park

 Bavaro Adventure Park was one of the first amusement parks in Punta Cana, which is in operation since 2011. It is set in a tropical environment very close to all the Bavaro hotels, hence it is particularly convenient if you’re looking for things to do in Punta Cana with your kids which don’t require a long transfer time.

 Bavaro Adventure Park’s newest addition is a cenote as well as a 1300-feet long lazy river, where you can float around and enjoy your time. Our personal highlight at this Punta Cana theme park was the zipline circuit, which ends in the water. Furthermore, they have a very cool buggy ride. Even though the vehicles are pretty old, the route they’re taking out to Cabo Engaño (the meeting point between the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean) and including a race track in an old stone quarry was pretty cool.

Zipline Excursion in Punta Cana at Bavaro Adventure Park

Pricing at Bavaro Adventure Park: single activities incl. pick-up start at around 89 USD (pretty pricey), but the full-day package with 4-5 activities included is available for around 150 USD and up (incl. pick-up from all Punta Cana resorts). You can check for discounts and offers here*.

Attractions at Bavaro Adventure Park 

Bavaro Adventure Park offers the following attractions:

  • Dune buggy adventure out to Cabo Engaño and on an old stone quarry race track
  • Horseback riding experience
  • Zipline circuit incl. hanging bridge and water splash
  • Punta Cana cenote
  • Lazy river
An artificial waterfall in one of Punta Canas theme parks at Bavaro Adventure Park
Advantages and disadvantages of Bavaro Adventure Park

Here is a list of pros and cons of Bavaro Adventure Park in case you’re considering visiting this amusement park in Punta Cana. You can book your tickets for Bavaro Adventure Park here*.

Pros of Bavaro Adventure Park in Punta Cana:

Most centric (tropical) theme park in Punta Cana, only 20-30 minutes transfer time from most resorts (or even shorter)
Longest lazy river in Punta Cana
Super fun (even though short) zipline which ends in the water
“Mix and Match” activities, hence you can buy different packages or pay for the entire park
Perfect for easy-going families who want to enjoy a relaxed day in a tropical environment

Cons of Bavaro Adventure Park in Punta Cana:

The most expensive amusement park in Punta Cana
Zipline circuit is rather short

La Hacienda Park

 La Hacienda Park was our latest visit when it comes to Punta Cana theme parks – and it was definitely a worthwhile one. The park is located deep in the Dominican countryside, close to the provincial capital of La Altagracia, Higuey. While it requires one of the longest drives among all Punta Cana amusement parks, it also gives you the most authentic impression of local life and the natural countryside.

 The top attraction of La Hacienda Park is definitely the zipline circuit. Even though it consists of only 5 cables, they are more than 2 miles long and therefore much longer than the 8 cables at Scape Park Cap Cana or the 6 cables at Bavaro Adventure Park. Furthermore, they feature spectacular views over the Anamuya Mountains, the mountains closest to Punta Cana. The views are truly fantastic and the last 3000-feet cable will get your adrenaline pumping.

 Besides this, La Hacienda Park is definitely a very family-friendly theme park in Punta Cana and perfect if you’re looking for the best activities with kids in Punta Cana. The buggy tour is not too rough, the Dominican Safari is easy-going and the horseback ride will make kids’ hearts beat faster. You can also feed a few animals during the buggy tour. Just the conditions of some of them have to be mentioned, as the park should definitely pay more attention to sufficient space and convenient living conditions for some of the parks’ animals – at least during the day when visitors are coming, as during the night they are apparently living out in the wide farmlands of La Hacienda Park.

Dune buggy ride through tropical vegetation at La Hacienda Park Punta Cana

 La Hacienda Park is not only a good call for families, but also for foodies, as the lunch is included and definitely the best you can get among all the theme parks in Punta Cana. You might even find better Dominican dishes than in your resort in Punta Cana, as it is prepared with local and the taste of the local countryside.

Pricing at La Hacienda Park: prices incl. pick-up usually start at 99 USD per person, but you can check for discounts and offers here*

Attractions at La Hacienda Park

This family-friendly theme park in Punta Cana counts on the following attractions:

A restaurant at La Hacienda theme park Punta Cana with a delicious Dominican lunch
Advantages and disadvantages of La Hacienda Park

Here is a list of pros and cons of La Hacienda Park in case you’re considering visiting this theme park in Punta Cana. You can book your tickets for La Hacienda Park here*.

Pros of La Hacienda Park in Punta Cana:

Longest zipline in Punta Cana with the most spectacular views
Very family-friendly with lots of attractions for smaller kids
Best lunch among all amusement parks in Punta Cana with traditional recipes
Staff goes above and beyond and feels like a family
Unique insights into the rural countryside of the Dominican Republic
Home of the only chair lift in the Dominican Republic
Cheapest option among all theme parks in Punta Cana
Best price-value ratio
Lockers and filtered drinking water (no bottles) are free of charge

Cons of La Hacienda Park in Punta Cana:

Punta Cana theme park which is furthest away from most Punta Cana resorts (driving time 1 hour+)
Some of the animals live in pretty small cages during the day
The buggy ride is pretty slow and not exciting

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Author Chris from Punta Cana Travel Blog, Punta Cana's leading travel website

CHRIS

Author, Travel Coach & Punta Cana based digital nomad

Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean Soul. Since 2011 I have been living in the Caribbean, among them 5 years in the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is my home-base here in the country and I’d love to tell you more about how to experience Punta Cana off-the-beaten-track and give you all the advice you want to know for your vacation in Punta Cana.

2 thoughts on “Punta Cana theme parks – the BIG comparison of the best amusement parks in Punta Cana”

  1. Does any Palladium property in Punta Cana have a water park for ages 14 to adults ? I believe you haven’t had any post about any Palladium property there . Thanks .

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