Dreams Punta Cana manicures its section of Uvero Alto, but the true character of the beach is visible down the coastline. Seaweed abounds and the surf is more like the Atlantic Ocean than the Caribbean Sea.
Dreams all-inclusive family resort is located on Uvero Alto beach in the Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic. When we booked our trip, we had envisioned calm waters and a Caribbean hue (like Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos). Boy, the photos on the Dreams website are misleading.
Uvero Alto is more like the Atlantic Ocean than the Caribbean Sea. There are waves, tides and a significant amount of seaweed deposited along the coastline. The parts of the beach that are not maintained by resorts look almost jungle-like with greenery on the dunes and seaweed on the shore.
Nevertheless, our family enjoyed Uvero Alto. Here is a rundown of the good and bad:
The Good
The cabanas at Dreams are literal beds, but the early beachgoer gets the mattress, as the saying goes.
Sand - The foundation of Uvero Alto beach is a hard sand, but the top inch is powdery. The result is a soft sand that doesn't collapse underfoot or get too hot. It's like the beach was designed for taking long walks.
Water Temperature - Uvero Alto maintains a water temperature around 80 degrees Fahrenheit all year long. That's a sweet spot for staying active in the water.
Lush - Seaweed and tropical greenery give the beach a lot of character and beauty. We found it more interesting to look at than white sand and turquoise water, but if you prefer a pure beach, we hear that Bavaro Beach (also in Punta Cana) fits that bill.
No Crowds - The resort’s beach area is deep enough that we never felt crowded.
Lounge Chairs, Cabanas and Shade - The beach in front of Dreams resort is filled with chairs, sun beds (with mattresses) and shade umbrellas. "Preferred Club" guests have exclusive access to the cabana beds and prime seating areas.
The Bad
Undertow - The combination of strong tides and an uneven coastline make for strong currents. We didn’t let our daughter swim out too far.
Rocks - There are rocks underfoot. The resort does a good job of roping these areas off, but even so, we occasionally felt something jarring under our feet.
Safety - We took long beach walks, but as soon as we found ourselves beyond the strip of neighboring resorts, things felt sketchy and we turned around. Robberies are one of the most common crimes in the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Department of State says that beaches are an attractive area for thieves.
Our Verdict
Uvero Alto is a picturesque beach that has a lot to enjoy as long as water safety and personal safety are kept in mind.
