What to do in Punta Cana when it rains

What the rain is usually like

The Ministry of Tourism puts the driest season between December and April. The rest of the year is rainier, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking between mid-August and mid-October.

In practice, many rainy days bring short downpours followed by sunshine. Before canceling plans, check the hourly forecast.

Indoor activities

• Movies in Bávaro: Caribbean Cinemas has seven screens at San Juan Shopping Center, on Carretera Barceló. Some movies are dubbed and others subtitled.
• Shopping malls: Downtown Mall (enclosed and air-conditioned, on Avenida Barceló), BlueMall Puntacana (near the airport) and San Juan Shopping Center (partly open-air, with a supermarket and IKEA).
• Spa: most resorts have one. The Hard Rock's Rock Spa, for example, is open from 8 AM to 6 PM and has a hydrotherapy circuit. Ask whether they accept non-guests.
• Tastings and workshops: there are chocolate workshops and cigar factory visits with rum tastings. Tour agencies sell them.

Nighttime options

• Coco Bongo: a show with acrobats plus a nightclub at Downtown Punta Cana. 18+ only, with ID.
• Imagine: a nightclub inside a natural cave. Open Saturdays from 10 PM to 3 AM, 18+ only.
• Casino: the Hard Rock's has more than 400 machines and a poker room open from 18:00 to 4:00. You must be 18 to gamble.

A longer outing: a cave and a village

The Cueva de las Maravillas, between San Pedro de Macorís and La Romana, is visited on a guided tour along a lit route of about 240 meters with Taíno paintings. It's underground, so the rain doesn't matter. It's often paired with Altos de Chavón, a Mediterranean-style village with a church, an amphitheater and an archaeological museum, part of which is under cover.

Agencies sell the two together as a day trip of about 9 hours from Punta Cana. Confirm the cave's hours and price before you go: the information we found is a few years old.

If it's just drizzling

Scape Park, in Cap Cana, is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. Almost everything is outdoors, but the Hoyo Azul cenote and the caves are just as enjoyable in a drizzle; in a storm, save it for another day.

Tips

• Save sunny days for the beach and boat excursions; in bad weather, operators may cancel trips out to sea.
• If you book excursions in the rainy season, make sure cancellation is free.
• Bring a light rain jacket or a compact umbrella: it's more practical than waiting for the rain to stop.