Trips 30 to 45 minutes from Punta Cana
Higüey
The city’s main tourist attraction is its Basilica, a large modern cathedral built in the honour of the Virgen de la Altagracia, patron saint of the Dominican Republic.
If time permits, it is worthwhile to visit the rest of the city and explore Higüey’s colourful small streets, teaming with local businesses; eat the local cheese, go into a colmado (grocery shop), go to the local market and buy some local fruit and perhaps stop for a glass of beer or Coca Cola. Visitors may also wish to visit the largest supermarket in Higüey and purchase Bon Marmalade, Santo Domingo coffee, Brugal, Bermudez or Barcelo rum, or stop by a Bon ice cream shop for tropical sherbets.
Ponce de Leon House and Boca de Yuma
Located in San Rafael de Yuma, a detour south of the road that leads from Higüey to La Romana, Ponce de Leon, the famous explorer of Florida lived in this house with his wife and three daughters when he commanded the east of the country for the Spanish conquistadors back around 1505. The explorer set sail from Boca Chica to colonize Puerto Rico, and then Florida. Near the Ponce de Leon house is the fishing town of Boca de Yuma, a great place for fresh fish.
