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How to get internet in Punta Cana: the best prices and alternatives | May 2024

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Last update: May 6, 2024
Roams UK
Author: Roams UK
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In a nutshell

If you are travelling to Punta Cana, you should keep internet in mind. You have different options, such as eSIM, wifi, SIM and roaming. From Roams, we recommend the Holafly eSIM. For £27 it offers you 2,5GB of connection for 5 days, along with 24 hours support in English. Plus, if you enter the code ROAMS you can get it with a 5% discount.

Get a Holafly eSIM for your travels

Internet in Punta Cana: the different alternatives

When we think of an exotic holiday destination, Punta Cana is one of the most popular. Beaches, gastronomy and a unique natural environment manage to attract millions of tourists every year.

Therefore, when we travel to a foreign country like Punta Cana, internet is a question to take into account. What is the best option? Is it possible to have free internet there? All these doubts and more are answered in this article.

Firstly, we show you a table so that you can get to know the different internet alternatives in Punta Cana.

How much does internet cost in Punta Cana
Service Price/Days Data
eSIM Punta Cana Holafly
  • From £24/5 days
  • 2,5GB
SIM Card to Punta Cana
  • From £11/use
  • From 500MB
Wifi Punta Cana
  • Portable
  • Public

  • From £7/day
  • Free

  • Until 1GB/day
  • Unlimited
Roaming en Punta Cana
  • From £6/1 day
  • From 1GB

Taking into account the different alternatives, from Roams we recommend you to choose Holafly's eSIM to have internet in Punta Cana. In addition to having the best service-price ratio, it offers 24-hour support in English.

In some cases, there are additional costs that are not indicated at the beginning. For example, if you are buying an internet SIM in Punta Cana with TravelSIM you must add £10 to any plan you choose for the cost of the card. We will go into more detail about the costs and service offered by each alternative later on.

When considering the options available to you, you should consider compatibility with your device, price, amount of gigabytes and so on. Your choice of internet in Punta Cana is something you should be clear about, preferably some time before you take off.

Get a Holafly eSIM for Punta Cana


eSIM in Punta Cana: best value for money

Internet rates with eSIM in Hawaii
Company Data Price/Days Support TrustPilot
Holafly
  • Unlimited
  • Desde £24/5 days
  • English, Spanish, etc.
  • 4,5/5
Airalo
  • 1GB
  • From £10/7 days
  • English
  • 3,7/5
Flexiroam
  • 500MB
  • From £21/15 days
  • English
  • 3,9/5

When comparing the three main companies, we found Holafly's alternative to be the best. Not only does it have the best customer reviews, but it also has access to 3G and 4G networks, as well as Punta Cana-specific data plans.

Airalo, on the other hand, only has a single data plan, so if you're looking for more alternatives you don't have that option. Likewise, with Flexiroam you should use one of their global plans, as they don't have one specific to Punta Cana or the Dominican Republic.

For these reasons, we recommend the Holafly eSIM for Punta Cana. With it, you will be able to use the internet in Punta Cana without any problems, and you will enjoy great value for money.

eSim Dominican Republic
Mobile
Prepaid: 5 days expiry
Data 2.5 GB

Coverage
AT&T
Connection speed 4G
Pay as you go£245 days expiry
taxes included

Wifi in Punta Cana: the two options available to you

A different option that you can consider is the wifi in Punta Cana. In this sense, there are both portable routers for rent and free wifi points. And, although they share part of the name, they have nothing to do with each other. We explain in detail below.

Pocket wifi: portable internet in Punta Cana

When it comes to renting a portable wifi (or pocket wifi) you have several alternatives at your disposal. The most popular is Vox wifi, which offers data plans starting at 1GB per day for £7/day.

With it, you can connect up to 5 devices at a time, although this will cause your tariff to run out much more quickly. In this case, you may want to consider upgrading to a larger internet plan in Punta Cana.

Companies that rent pocket wifi do not normally include or offer the possibility of insurance in case of theft, loss or damage. If this were to happen, not only would you be left without internet, but you would be forced to pay compensation to the company. You will also have to rent another device or find an alternative to have internet access in Punta Cana until your return.

Free wifi in Punta Cana: what you need to know

Throughout the Punta Cana region, you can find plenty of free wifi hotspots. From bars to restaurants, shopping centres, stations and more.

However, using this type of network carries a high risk of data theft. This is because these types of networks are not encrypted and therefore passwords or sensitive data can be exposed to strangers.

At Roams, we strongly advise against using this alternative when it comes to internet in Punta Cana. It is always preferable to choose a data tariff with good value for money and avoid having your personal data stolen.


SIM Cards in Punta Cana: what you should know

In case you prefer to use a traditional SIM card to get internet in Punta Cana, there are several options to get it:

  • Buy the SIM card before travelling.
  • Buy the SIM card directly in Punta Cana.

From Roams, we recommend the first option, if your mobile phone is not compatible with an eSIM. The reliability of the outlets in Punta Cana and the rest of the Dominican Republic is not as high as verified internet companies.

In the worst case scenario, you could buy a SIM card for internet in Punta Cana and get a surprise: the data has already been used, it is not compatible with your phone, you have no option for a refund.

The main firm offering mobile data SIMs for Punta Cana is TravelSIM. Their plans, while more expensive than Holafly's eSIM, with prices starting at £11 for 500MB, are still reliable and backed by their customers.

When buying an internet SIM in Punta Cana from TravelSIM you will need to bear in mind that you will need to add £10 for the cost of the card to your data plan. This is not the case with eSIMs, as you simply scan a QR to activate it.


Roaming in Punta Cana

The option of using roaming in Punta Cana is probably the most expensive, if we compare it with the other alternatives presented. Even if it is easy to ask your phone company to activate this option, believe us, your bill at the end of the month will give you a headache.

Therefore, even if providers such as EE, O2, Three offer data roaming, we advise you to make this your last option.

With an eSIM, such as Holafly for Punta Cana, not only will you have internet from the moment you arrive in this Central American destination, but you will already know how much you will pay so that your economy is not seriously affected.


Internet coverage in Punta Cana: something to keep in mind

Punta Cana has some of the best internet connectivity in the Dominican Republic. Being an epicentre of tourists, you will have no problem connecting to high-speed networks.

In this sense, Claro Mobile is the operator that offers the best coverage in Punta Cana. However, the connection here continues to improve on a daily basis, as there are still many spots that lack quality mobile internet access.

When deciding on one option or another for internet in Punta Cana, check which networks are used by your preferred alternative. In some cases, low cost may mean poorer internet access, although this is not always the case. In the case of the eSIM Holafly you have access to LTE, 3G and 4G networks in Punta Cana as well as in the rest of the Dominican Republic.

Get the best internet in Punta Cana with the Holafly eSIM

Advantages of having internet in Punta Cana

Punta Cana is one of the most touristic places in the Caribbean. There are many places to discover and routes to take to make the most of your stay there, not to mention the local cuisine.

If you have a data tariff in Punta Cana you can use applications such as Google Maps to guide you to the different points of interest. Also, if you rent a car, you'll be able to plan routes without getting lost in the process.

You can download Punta Cana Runaway, an app available on both iOS and Android that features more than 1.000 cultural attractions. This free guide has a large directory of museums, monuments, beaches, bars, restaurants and more.

Download Punta Cana Runaway
Disponible en Google PlayConsíguelo en el App Store

The country's Department of Tourism also has a platform called Your Concierge. It has information on activities of interest to tourists and guidance on entertainment and accommodation offers throughout the country.

If you have a data tariff like Holafly's eSIM, you will be able to enjoy hundreds of applications on a daily basis. Its extensive internet service means you can surf the web without fear of running out of data in a short period of time.

eSim Dominican Republic
Mobile
Prepaid: 5 days expiry
Data 2.5 GB

Coverage
AT&T
Connection speed 4G
Pay as you go£245 days expiry
taxes included

Tips before travelling to Punta Cana

When travelling to a destination such as Punta Cana, we must be clear about certain things before getting on the plane. In this way, we will avoid unforeseen events, and we will be able to fully enjoy our stay there:

  • Travel insured: it is important to have travel insurance in Punta Cana to avoid expenses in case we need to go, for example, to the doctor.
  • Type of hotel: depending on the idea of your trip, you can choose all-inclusive hotels, adults only, hotels for children.
  • Documentation: make sure you have all your documentation in force and ready. If you have any doubts about what documents you need, you can always consult the official websites.
  • Currency exchange: the currency used in Punta Cana is the Dominican Peso. We recommend you to exchange currency before travelling to have cash and a good price.
  • Time of year: generally, tourists arrive in Punta Cana between June and September. Be aware of the climate, inclement weather and seasonal prices.


FAQs: internet in Punta Cana

What is the best internet service in Punta Cana?

The best option for internet in Punta Cana is the Holafly eSIM. It offers 2.5 Gb of mobile data for 5 days for £24 and 24-hour support in English. Other options are prepaid SIMs, pocket wifi or roaming. Although it is also possible to access public wifi networks, Roams strongly advises against using them as they are very insecure.

What is the internet like in Punta Cana?

The internet in Punta Cana, along with the rest of the country, ranks 130th in international comparison (1) . In this sense, it has broadband connection along with 4G and 5G networks in constant expansion.

Which companies provide internet in Punta Cana.

The top 10 companies offering internet in Punta Cana are:

  • Advanced VOIP Telecom
  • Altice Dominicana
  • ASTER
  • BT Latam Dominicana
  • Cable Visión E. González
  • Cap Cana
  • Cerronet
  • Colortel
  • Columbus Network Dominicana
  • Compañía Dominicana de Teléfonos

Fuentes del artículo
  1. Telecomunicaciones en la República Dominicana. DatosMundial.com. Consulted in https://www.datosmundial.com/america/republica-dominicana/telecomunicacion.php
Our methodology
Roams offers a free information and comparison service, which tries to help anyone find the product that best suits their needs. To ensure that the data presented is correct, extensive market research and product analysis is carried out. Our database of mobile phone and internet rates is updated every day. The content is frequently reviewed by a team of writers with previous experience and/or specific training in telephony.

Personas que han participado en este post:

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Actualizado por Roams UK

Roams offers its advice on recurring-use services to enhance consumer savings. Its expertise is already valued by thousands of users, who trust Roams comparisons in different sectors to hire the best option.

Laura Burón
Edited and revised por Laura Burón