Punta Cana

Dominican Republic
A Vacation Insiders Guide

MEET LORENZO CAIMARI

This Insider Guide is brought

to you by Lorenzo Caimari,
owner of Villa Can Nico at the
Punta Cana Resort & Club.
It's a 5 bedroom, beautiful
ocean view villa, located
next to the golf course's first
hole, and just 300m from the
beach. Not just that, but free
entry to the beach resort!

Welcome to the quiet side

of Punta Cana! This is most
definitely not your a-typical
Punta Cana resort. It's 16
miles from the Bavaro area
where the other resorts are
located. Which means you'll
find tranquil, uncrowded
surroundings, but still with
all the resort style amenities.

Or call +1.809.723.3423

THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITOR

For the Caribbean aficionados, Punta Cana is known for
mass tourism, especially during the summer seasons,
with many all-inclusive resorts. Don't get me wrong, the
beaches are beautiful and it exudes tropical charm. But
it's busy.
Cue Lorenzo Caimari who owns a 5 bedroom villa at
the Punta Cana Resort and Club, 16 miles away from
the busy Bavaro area. He offers that tropical setting in
a more relaxed, uncrowded environment.
Being a villa inside a resort it has access to all the
modern conveniences, yet the space and comfort of
your own private retreat.
Imagine starting your day with a sunrise walk on
the white sand beach, followed by a round of golf or

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W: www.vacationinsiders.com

relaxing by the villa's private pool. Then head for lunch

at one of the incredible resort restaurants, followed
by an afternoon at the spa. Stroll back to the villa for
an early evening shower in one of the villa's private
outdoor showers, then take a romantic sunset horse
ride along the beach whilst your private chef Juliana
prepares your evening meal.
Are you in? Me too! And you will have just scratched
the surface as Lorenzo has plenty more where that
came from! This is certainly an exceptional villa, with an
exceptionally personable owner in Lorenzo. Enjoy!

ABOUT LORENZO & PUNTA CANA'S QUIET SIDE...

Hi, I'm Lorenzo and here's my story...
Originally from the Mediterranean Spanish island of Mallorca, I arrived in Punta Cana in 1989 and, from that moment,
I knew this was my kind of place! I worked as General Manager for a hotel company for 21 years so travel and tourism
are my passion and life.
I bought the lot that Villa Can Nico now stands on in 2006 and designed the house with the help of a Dominican
architect. True to my roots, I wanted a Spanish house, open, with an interior patio like you'd find in Spain, but with
the exuberance of the tropical vegetation.
The result of this design concept is a villa that we think is quite unique. It has an interior patio, interior gardens, and
2 of the bedrooms have inside AND outside showers (surrounded by a wall and a garden - no one can see you!). Villa
Can Nico feels like an open, airy house, blending with the tropical surroundings. When people arrive and open the
main door, instead of seeing a living room, they find a garden. They are usually pleasantly impressed!
In terms of location, it's almost perfection! We are just 300 meters from the beach, overlooking the first hole of the
La Cana Golf course. And close by you have the resort club house with 2 restaurants, a bar, and the Six Senses Spa.

The Villa is located inside the Punta Cana Resort & Club. The resort is 16 miles away of the other resorts of the area,
making it a more peaceful setting. People staying with us will enjoy quiet, almost deserted, beaches.
Just imagine being able to walk the empty beach at 6.30 am, as the sun rises on the horizon, a mere 300 meters from
our villa. Or enjoy the full moon over the sea sitting in the small dock.
Despite being a very quiet and calm community, there is plenty of fun to be had! You have all the benefits of being
within a resort, such as restaurants, bars, the Six Senses Spa, tennis, golf, horse back riding, excursions, a fitness
center, kite surfing, deep sea fishing, diving... is that enough?!
All of this without the inconveniences that can be typical of other resorts, such as crowded beaches, poor service,
noise. This isn't to say there aren't other good resorts, but this place is unquestionably different. If you would like to
read a little more about the resort and its history, please click here to visit their website.
Now, before you read on, there is one other notable treasure - the real boss of Villa Can Nico - our housekeeper and
Chef Extraordinaire, Juliana! Since 2009, when she started with us, she's been the proverbial rock of the villa. Anything
you need to ask, she's your real insider! And what a chef, but more on that later...!

5 EXPERIENCES YOU CANNOT MISS...

Golf at La Cana Golf by PB Dye...

Your Personal Chef Extraordinaire...

Massage at the Six Senses Spa...

Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park and Reserve...

Caribbean Sea Snorkeling Excursion...

The Punta Cana Resort & Club is home to true championship quality
golf, with 45 holes set over 2 courses. Our favorite is La Cana, with 27
holes, 14 of which have stunning ocean views. Designed by P.B. Dye, son
of Pete Dye, a very well respected golf course architect. Comparisons
to Pebble Beach have been made by Golf Magazine! It also has state
of the art Seashore Paspalum grass for maintenance with minimal
environmental impact. It's an excellent course, not just in our opinion!

Some people might think that hiring a personal chef is just a luxury.
Not so in this case. Meet Juliana, our housekeeper AND chef. Juliana
prepares and serves incredible food - just have a look at some of these
pictures. Imagine being able to sit down to a beautifully presented,
delicious meal at a table already set for you? Do it!! And then spend
your valuable vacation time on the beach, at the spa, on the golf course,
or just sipping a drink whilst reading a good book! Don't miss Juliana!

The Six Senses Spa is located in the resort. It's part of the wider Six
Senses brand who operate spas in other prestigious locations around
the world. Which means you'll find an exceptional spa, with a "Leading
Spa" distinction from The Leading Hotels of the World. Set in an 1,800
square meter space, there are 7 treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room,
jacuzzi, and relaxation area. You can find a full menu of massages,
facials, wraps and more at this link.

Owned and operated by the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, in 1,500

acres of our resort, this is one of the only private forest reserves in
Punta Cana. The reserve has a network of trails leading to 12 freshwater
lagoons which you can take a dip in! The Taino Indians call these lagoons
"eyes", hence the name Indigenous Eyes. In order to support the Punta
Cana Foundation, guests are charged US$10 per person for visiting and
swimming in the Indigenous Eyes. This is a stunning place, don't miss it!

A half day tour, returning after lunch, that takes you on a catamaran
from Punta Cana Marina. You'll get to snorkel the natural reef, explore a
collection of submerged statues in an underwater museum, plus swim
in the Playa Blanca natural pool - really fun as the pool is in the middle
of the ocean, yet the water is waist high! Then on to the Playa Blanca
restaurant for lunch in a private area. We suggest Gray Line (the official
excursion provider of the resort) to book this tour - it's well worth it!

4 FOR THE SPORT LOVER...

Kite Surfing and Stand Up Paddle-boarding...
If you feel adventurous then you should take a trip
to the guys at Kite Club Punta Cana. Don't worry,
adventurous doesn't mean you have to be a pro,
in fact they manage all levels and provide lessons they are an International Kiteboarding Organization
certified school. It's not just the official stamp that
should convince you, they are also a friendly group
and revel in teaching you in a safe environment after all Punta Cana is renowned for waist deep,
flat and warm
waters, an ideal
spot for learning.
Head on over to
the TripAdvisor
review page and
you'll find many
good reviews. We
know you'll love
the experience!

Underwater...
The Punta Cana
Aquatic Center
in the Resort
has a number
of options for
those that want
to explore what
lies
beneath
the surface of the ocean! Run by Blue Vision
Adventures you can, amongst other water sports,
enjoy diving and deep sea fishing charters. If you've
never dived, that's no problem, they also run learn
to dive courses. The ocean around Punta Cana is
warm and clear, perfect for divers of all abilities. If
you would like to deep sea fish, they run half and
full days. The fishing is amazing, you'll find white
and blue marlin through the summer months, with
tuna and mahi-mahi at their peak earlier in the year.
The good news is you should catch something!

The Tennis Center...

As part of your stay with us you will have access
to the Tennis Center at the Punta Cana Resort &
Club. The center is amazing, with plenty of clay
courts. Not only can you enjoy the courts (book 24
hours in advance), but there are also daily practice
/ teaching sessions for both adults and kids. If you
want private lessons, that's also possible, and the
tuition is of a high standard - the tennis pro, Felix de
los Santos, is certified under US and international
tennis standards.
There are also a
number of tennis
events
during
the year. For full
information on
the club please
visit the resort
website at this
link. Enjoy!

Horse Riding...
Horse rides can
be
organized
directly through
El
Rancho
at
the Punta Cana
Resort & Club.
The rides are all
relatively short at
1 or 2 hours, making it an easy experience to enjoy
without consuming your entire day. In fact, one of
our favorite rides is the sunset adventure which will
be the perfect start to your romantic evening. If you
are a beginner, don't worry, El Rancho now offers
riding classes. And they are also set up for kids, with
ponies and school horses. This is a great way to tour
our natural surroundings and enjoy that picture
postcard ride along our white sand beaches! All of
our guests who have experienced it give positive
feedback so well worth doing!

LORENZO'S FAVORITE RESTAURANTS...

La Yola...

La Yola is a Mediterranean cuisine and seafood restaurant at the Punta

Cana Resort & Club. It sits right next to the sea so you feel the ocean
as well as taste it! Not only is this our favorite, it also comes highly
recommended by many past guests, as well as having a 2014 Certificate
of Excellence from TripAdvisor where it has consistently good reviews see this link. We enjoy all the dishes, but our favorite is the Baked Tropical
Lobster. You can find their full menu by clicking here.

Mamma Luisa...

This is an option if you feel like stepping out of the resort and
experiencing something of Punta Cana. It's located in the Punta Cana
Village and, as the name implies, is an Italian restaurant! With plenty
of really good reviews on TripAdvisor, it's great option. It has a warm
family feel, and an extensive menu and wine list. Which all serves to
make this an ideal place for couples as well as families with kids. Our
favorite dishes are the Spinach Lasagna and Pesto Seafood Pasta.

Playa Blanca...
Serving fresh seafood, grilled meats and some fantastic cocktails.
It's open for lunch and dinner. Both are great, but a lunch here on
the white sand, in front of turquoise waters, is not to be missed! It
has a wonderful atmosphere, being open air, often with live music.
It comes with plenty of good TripAdvisor reviews, notching up a
4-star average. You can find their full menu by clicking here. Our
favorite is Cordon Blue Playa Blanca.

The Grill...
This is located at La Cana Golf and Beach Club so works well for
a simple bite after your round at La Cana! It's a relaxed setting
overlooking the ocean with an American style menu. Being in the
golf club it's also a good 19th hole option, particularly a cool beer
or something from their cocktail menu. Our favorite is the House
Hamburger.

LORENZO'S TIPS ON WHERE TO STAY...

Being located in the Punta Cana Resort & Club there are a wide range of accommodation options
depending on your needs. Below is Lorenzos very own villa, along with a couple of other
suggestions from the resort. Hopefully there is something for everyone!

Lorenzos Very Own...

A beautiful 5 bedroom / 5.5 bathroom home just 300 meters from

the stunning ocean and facing the first hole of La Cana golf course.
Equipped with wifi, air conditioning, its own pool, and much more,
including Juliana! It's perfect for a large family, or 2 families traveling
together, sleeping up to 12 people. Being part of the Punta Cana
Resort & Club there is easy access to all the club's facilities.
Please visit Lorenzo's Villa Can Nico website for more information...

Lorenzo Suggests...

Tortuga Bay is a hotel, not an individually owned vacation rental

like mine. Yet it still retains a personal and intimate feel. The 400+
TripAdvisor reviews, at an average 5 stars, will tell you all you need to
know! It is pure luxury, with interiors designed by Oscar de la Renta.
There are 13 luxurious beachfront villas, from 1 bedroom junior
suites to 4 bedroom villas.
Please visit the Tortuga Bay website for more information...

Lorenzo Suggests...

The Westin may be a huge brand name but this place oozes charm
and sophistication. It's inside the Punta Cana Resort & Club so, whilst
it's a hotel, you'll still experience a more relaxed and quiet space than
in the more touristy areas of Punta Cana. Plus you have access to all
the fantastic resort facilities. Head over to TripAdvisor and you'll find
solid reviews.
Please visit the Westin website for more information...

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY...
Pack for a Purpose...

Punta Cana Eco Foundation...

Punta Cana Foundation...

The Resort promotes Pack for

a Purpose, whose mission is to
"positively impact communities
around the world by assisting
travelers who want to bring
meaningful contributions to
the destinations they visit". In
essence, you leave a little room
in your suitcase to fill with
supplies for our community.
Please ask me if you'd like to get
involved. It's incredibly simple!

The Resort has created this

foundation "to protect and
preserve the natural resources
of the Punta Cana region, while
contributing to the sustainable
development of the Dominican
Republic". We wholeheartedly
support this and, if any guests
are interested in finding out
more, including simple ways to
get involved, then please let me
know.

This
is
a
complimentary
foundation to the ecological
one, this time with a focus on
the local community, specifically
with the goal of improving
conditions through programs in
health, education, and cultural
activities. You can read more
on the website by clicking here.
Once again, if you would like to
get involved during your stay
please let me know.

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