News

Jun 05, 2023

Dominican Republic’s Cap Cana Offers Polo, Golf and Plenty of Fishing in the Caribbean

Delivers the most important property news around the world to your inbox each

Delivers the most important property news around the world to your inbox each weekday

Cap Cana, one of the gated, planned communities in the Dominican Republic, is getting a lot of attention lately because of its rapid development.

"We’re seeing big investments and developments coming up," said Nurit Coombe, a broker and cofounder of Team Nurit & Alex, an affiliate of Los Angeles-based company the Agency. "Since the government is completely dedicated to increasing investment and tourism, they’re putting a lot of money and effort into making tourism accessible, amazing and safe, having enough hotel rooms and increasing the airport's capacity."

The Agency recently opened a branch in the Dominican Republic in January. "This island is expanding," Coombe said. "It's amazing to see what we’ve already done in three months."

Major hoteliers are making moves, including the St. Regis, which will offer hotel suites and 70 branded residences, including a penthouse priced at US$25 million. The 20,742-square foot apartment offers rare, 360-degree views of the ocean, a world-class golf course and forests.

More: Close to Beaches and Galleries, Edgewater Is at the Pulse of Miami

Along with residential and hospitality development, Cap Cana will be the home of El Dorado Park, which will be the largest water theme park in the Caribbean when it opens this year. The new tourist attraction plans to offer water rides, snorkeling, and an amphitheater for live music and shows.

Aaron Navarro, the vice president of sales for the St. Regis Cap Cana Resort & Residences, regularly fields questions about the area's safety from prospective buyers.

"I get the common question about safety, and, ‘Can my kids move freely around the community?’" Navarro said. "A lot of families find they’re able to let their kids roam around on bikes and make use of the beaches and not worry."

Indiana Castaños, an independent real estate agent, described the community as relaxed and family-friendly. "It offers you a sense of security. The infrastructure is comparable and relatable to the U.S.," Castaños said.

Boundaries

Cap Cana spans 30,000 acres along the eastern tip of the island, from the Cap Cana Marina on the northeastern border, the Punta Espada Golf Club and La Palapa by Eden Roc along the southeastern border, and the Juanillo enclave on the northwestern corner.

Price Range

Villas range in price from around US$2 million to US$20 million. Condos typically list between US$350,000 to US$1 million. Many luxury residences in the area are listed in U.S. dollars.

Housing Stock

Coombe represents the sellers of a modern villa in the Cap Cana Marina with prominent, glass walls, six bedrooms and six bathrooms, a fairly ubiquitous style on the higher end of the luxury segment. It comes with a pool, lush landscape and, of course, Caribbean views. Inside, several areas have been carved out for indoor gardens. A large kitchen and sprawling open living area make the house a prime entertaining oasis. It's listed for US$5.9 million.

"New construction tends to be contemporary in style with open floor plans," Coombe said. "It's moving toward the contemporary, California style."

A four-bedroom, four-bathroom house with a private beach is listed at US$5.39 million. With a relatively large 0.77-acre lot, the house has a pool, a rooftop hot tub and ocean views.

"You can find tropical, Caribbean design, for instance, at the Caleton [a beach resort], ranging from US$1.45 million to US$4.5 million and overlooking either a golf course or the ocean, Castaños said. "When you go to the Dominican Republic, it's to enjoy the sun and the weather, so you’ll find oversized windows and spaces with a lot of light."

More: Nostalgia and Great Value in Chicago's Highland Park Suburb

The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort & Residences includes 70 condos and two penthouses under the Marriott umbrella. Alejandro Acebal Canney of AC Arquitectos & Asociado designed the property, which is slated to open in the spring or summer of 2024 and is more than 40% sold.

Plenty of lots are available for purchase, though the price ranges considerably, from about US$400,000 to US$4 million depending on size and location. For instance, a parcel of land with 1.65 acres directly on the Caribbean Sea is offered for US$3.8 million.

What Makes It Unique

Cap Cana has a unique tax incentive to encourage tourism, balanced with a relaxed island culture that celebrates nature.

"In Cap Cana, we have some new developments in the luxury market, and they’ll have what is called the confotur law applied. The confotur is an incentive that the government gives in the touristic areas," Castaños said. "When a buyer acquires a home, they’re exempt from paying taxes for almost 15 years."

Cap Cana hosts an annual fishing tournament, with an opening celebration featuring a parade of boats decorated by the local fishermen and families.

"All the community gathers in La Marina in December for the opening season," Castaños said. "It's very beautiful to see. We have another parade to welcome spring with ferries for the kids."

More: Colorful Homes and Parks Abound in Berlin's Wealthiest Borough, Steglitz-Zehlendorf

Luxury Amenities

Other than stretches of white sandy beaches and the marina, Cap Cana offers abundant opportunities for outdoor activities. Golfing is popular at the Punta Espada Golf Club, along with polo at the equestrian club called Los Establos Ciudad Ecuestre.

"If you like to go ride horses, if you like to have a full adventure day with ziplining, go sport fishing, relax at the beach or play at one of the top golf courses in the Caribbean, it's all within the gates of Cap Cana," Navarro said. "It's very conveniently located."

The adventure park, Scape Park, offers cave exploration, ziplining, off-roading in buggies and diving in a spring called hoyo azul, or"blue hole."

"Hoyo azul is very iconic," Castaños said. "If you went to Cap Cana and didn't visit the blue hole, it's like you never made it. You can also enjoy one of the most exciting ziplines because you’ll be going along the cliff overlooking the lush vegetation all around."

The marina offers plentiful fishing opportunities, as it is one of the top-rated bill fisheries in the world.

Cap Cana is close to the Punta Cana International Airport, with direct flights to Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, New York, Madrid, Belgium, and plenty of cities in Central and South America.

MANSION GLOBAL BOUTIQUE: 9 Stylish Home Picks From Women-Led Businesses

Who Lives There

Navarro said buyers at St. Regis Cap Cana Resort & Residences have traveled from other parts of the Dominican Republic and Caribbean region like Puerto Rico, the U.S. and from across the Atlantic in Spain and Belgium.

Miguel Ángel Jiménez, the Spanish professional golfer and 21-time European Tour winner, is partnering with the St. Regis.

"We have a lot of snowbirds coming here," Castaños said, including Americans from the Northeast and Midwest.

As for celebrity sightings, the nearby community called Casa de Campo offers more glitz and glam compared to the more casual and relaxed Cap Cana.

More: Roots Run Deep in Montreal's Posh Mountainside Neighborhood Outremont

Outlook

Buyers in Cap Cana seem to be meeting the Dominican Republic's real estate development boom with equal or greater demand.

Since tourism is so popular in the area, Navarro said all-inclusive resorts and branded residences will continue to expand as they have in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Turks and Caicos.

"If you’re a tourist, you’re most likely going to be staying at an all-inclusive [property]," he said. "We’ve heard whispers of a few other projects coming up with high-end brands as well. With [the St. Regis Cap Cana Resort & Residences] coming into the market, a lot of developers understand that with the Dominican [Republic] being one of the most stable destinations for tourism in the Caribbean, it makes sense to start doing similar concepts like this: a hotel with a residential component."

Castaños said she has more buyers than listings at the moment, but expects that to change considering the influx in investment and development across a variety of price points, from affordable projects to villas.

"I don't think we’ll have problems with inventory because there is a lot of land being developed," she said.

Click for more profiles of high-end neighborhoods around the world

Shares the stories you may have missed from the world of luxury real estate