The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Aruba vs Punta Cana

Aruba and Punta Cana, side by side: live travel advisories, our resort catalog's real guest data, and each destination's honest weather picture — everything you need to break the tie.

Aruba guide · Punta Cana guide · How we score

By the numbers

ArubaPunta Cana
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 1: Exercise Normal PrecautionsLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog1020
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.6
Nightly ratesUnder $300–$500/nightUnder $300–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts2 of 108 of 20
Hurricane exposureOutside the hurricane beltIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonOctober–December, and 'rainy' is generous — this is one of the driest islands in the CaribbeanMay and August–October, mostly brief tropical downpours
Sweet spotYear-round; January–March is peak season and priced like itDecember–April
CurrencyAruban florin — USD universally acceptedDominican peso — USD accepted everywhere tourists go
Flight time~4–4.5h from the US East Coast~3.5–4.5h from the US East Coast

Advisory levels sync from travel.state.gov; catalog figures reflect the resorts we've researched, not every hotel in the country.

Weather, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aruba — high °F858586878889899090898785
Punta Cana — high °F848485868788898988878684
Aruba — rain (in)1.50.80.40.50.60.71.31.01.83.03.73.2
Punta Cana — rain (in)2.01.71.72.54.53.02.53.53.54.53.52.5

Approximate climate normals for Palm Beach / Eagle Beach and Punta Cana / Bávaro — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Aruba

  1. 1.Barceló Aruba - All Inclusive — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort — · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive — · ★ 4.5

Chains here: Divi Resorts · RIU Hotels & Resorts · Barceló

Full Aruba guide

Best of Punta Cana

  1. 1.Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa — Cap Cana, Dominican Republic · ★ 4.6
  2. 2.Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection Resort — Cap Cana, Dominican Republic · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.Excellence Punta Cana — · ★ 4.9

Chains here: Secrets · Barceló Hotels & Resorts · The Luxury Collection

Full Punta Cana guide

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