Common Tourist Scams in Punta Cana (and How to Avoid Them)
Scams and money
- ATM skimming: use ATMs inside Banco Popular, BanReservas, or Scotiabank branches. Avoid free-standing ATMs in convenience stores.
- Card cloning — keep an eye on your card at restaurants; portable POS machines are standard at honest places.
- "Free" gifts at the airport or resort lobbies in exchange for a presentation — almost always a timeshare pitch. They're not unsafe, just a 90-minute time sink.
- Currency: US dollars are widely accepted in the resort zone but the conversion rate the resorts use is poor. Use Dominican pesos for off-resort spending; ATMs dispense pesos by default.
FAQ
- What's the biggest scam to avoid in Punta Cana?
- Unregulated excursion operators selling catamaran/snorkel/ATV trips on the beach at half the resort-desk price — the DR has had several fatal catamaran accidents involving informal operators, with uninsured boats, no life jackets, and no maritime radio. Book through the resort tour desk, established operators (Bávaro Adventure Park, Outback Adventures), or Viator/GetYourGuide where you can read recent reviews. Confirm life jackets exist and the operator has the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) sticker. Other patterns: ATM card-cloning (use Banco Popular, BanReservas, or Scotiabank branch machines), 'free gift' timeshare presentations at the airport, and unlicensed taxis at the curb.
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