Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic [In-depth Review]

Sometimes you need a carefree vacation where the most difficult choice to make is whether to have chicken or fish for dinner. This is particularly true after the holiday season, which can be a stressful and anxiety-inducing time for many people.

Here’s where the idea of an all-inclusive resort trip kicks in. After all, one of the primary reasons people book all-inclusive vacations is to relieve themselves of the burden of logistics and travel planning so they can sunbathe carelessly.

This is exactly the kind of family trip I had in mind for after the holidays, and I had my sights set on the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, a luxury, family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

I’d previously stayed at 2 other Hyatt all-inclusive resorts, the Hyatt Ziva Cancun and the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica, but I’d heard great things about the Punta Cana resort and couldn’t wait to visit.

Hotel Location

The Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana is located in the exclusive gated community of Cap Cana in Punta Cana, right beside its adults-only sister property, the all-inclusive Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana. The resorts are only a 15-minute drive from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), 10 minutes from a luxury shopping center, and 5 minutes from an award-winning golf course.

Families and eager sunbathers will appreciate the hotel’s closeness to the airport. Instead of worrying about long airport transfers delaying the start of your vacation, you can enjoy a Mamajuana cocktail by the beach or pool almost as soon as you clear customs at the airport.

The beachfront resort is located on Juanillo Beach, a quaint white-sand beach with turquoise waters, next to several other high-end properties.

Hot Tip: Learn more about the Hyatt Ziva (an all-inclusive brand for families) and Hyatt Zilara (an all-inclusive brand for adults only) in our detailed guides.

Booking

When booking your stay at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, you can pay cash rates or use World of Hyatt points. We chose to redeem points toward free nights for 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night based on double occupancy for our 5-day, 4-night stay during the first week of the new year.

Because the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana’s 375 rooms are all-spacious suites starting at 600 square feet, families can reserve a standard room and feel good about everyone having enough room.

Hot Tip: Since this review was originally published, Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana has increased to a Category E which requires 35,000 to 45,000 points per night.

As an All-inclusive Category C property, you can expect to spend 21,000 World of Hyatt points per night during the off-peak period, 25,000 points on standard nights, and 29,000 points during peak season. These point values represent single or double occupancy.

Cash rates for our early January stay were nearly $1,000 per night, as we were traveling right after New Year’s. Generally, you can expect to find rates ranging from $415 to $1,000 per night, based on 2 people staying in the room and the time of year you visit.

My wife and I were traveling with our 9-year-old twins and infant daughter, so while I didn’t have to pony up extra points or cash for the baby (children 2 years of age and younger stay for free at Hyatt Ziva resorts!), I did have to pay to add my twin daughters to our reservation.

I was given the option of redeeming an additional 12,500 points per night and per child or paying $125 per night for each. Ultimately, I saved my points and paid the cash rate, as I like to redeem World of Hyatt points at or above our valuation of 1.5 cents per point.

Hot Tip: If you decided to use cash rather than points, consider paying for your stay using The World of Hyatt Credit Card. You could get up to 9x points on Hyatt stays booked with your card and access to a plethora of other benefits, including a Category 1-4 free night certificate per card year, a second free night certificate when you spend $15,000 on the card every year, Hyatt Discoverist status, 5 automatic elite night credits each year, and more. 

Checking In

We arrived at the resort just before 4 p.m. Upon getting out of the airport transfer van, we noticed the beautiful open-air lobby and gorgeous check-in desk awaiting us.

We were greeted by a friendly staff member and whisked away past the reception desk to the Bosque VIP Club Lounge, a separate check-in space for Club Level guests and those with top-tier Globalist elite status in the World of Hyatt program (such as myself).

In the Club Lounge, we were given a variety of tasty adult beverages (Champagne with passion fruit juice) and a fruit punch drink for the kids while we waited a few minutes for the check-in agent to assist us.

After a few minutes, the check-in agent came up to us and went over the resort amenities and our room type in detail and handed us 2 black wristbands that doubled as our room keys.

When redeeming points for a standard award night, you’re booked into a Junior Suite King or Junior Suite Double. However, because of my Globalist status with Hyatt, we were upgraded at check-in to a Club Ocean View Junior Suite Double with 2 queen-size beds and direct views of the beach and resort.

Although the upgrade was a nice touch, the room size for my group of 5 didn’t necessarily change. With 3 kids in tow, I would have liked a more spacious room (more on this later).

If you reserve (or are upgraded to) a room with Club Level access, you’re granted an assortment of exclusive perks, including access to breakfast and lunch at a club guest-only restaurant, private access to the Club Pool, Club Lounge access with top-shelf liquor, and even an assigned butler for the duration of your stay.

We were introduced to William, our designated butler, who was kind enough to give us a tour of the property and escort us to our room, while the bellman swiftly brought up our luggage.

Property Map for Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana and Hyatt Zila Cap Cana

Elite Benefits

While I covet my top-tier World of Hyatt Globalist status for the perks it provides at full-service Hyatt hotels, staying at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana without World of Hyatt elite status won’t significantly impact your vacation experience.

Though I did receive an upgraded room thanks to my status, the room size was the same as what I had originally booked. Instead of a larger room, I received a room in a better location with a superior ocean and resort view. However, I did receive a nice welcome amenity for being a Globalist as we entered our room.

Note if you hold top-tier Globalist status and want to apply 1 of your suite upgrade awards to your stay, you likely will be upgraded to the same room type you booked but with a bit of a better view (for example, you booked a Junior Suite King and are upgraded to a Resort View Junior Suite King). Therefore, you need to consider whether it is worthwhile for you to burn a suite upgrade award at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana.

Globalists automatically receive access to the Club Level, which includes access to the private Club Lounge with snacks and premium-brand libations, breakfast or lunch at select beachfront eateries not available to non-club guests, as well as the use of the Club Level guest pool. Not to mention, you’ll be assigned a personal butler who can help accommodate your daily needs. If you want to upgrade to the Club Level, you can ask at check-in for an additional $85 per day.

Although we made good use of the Club Level privileges, I didn’t think having access was crucial for our stay. The resort has lots of great dining options and nice pools, so I would forgo paying for the Club Level package unless the amenities provided are important to you.

Hot Tip: Interested in learning more about World of Hyatt’s top-tier Globalist elite status? Read our guide on how to earn Globalist status with World of Hyatt card spend!

Resort Fee

Since this is an all-inclusive hotel, the price you pay includes all meals, drinks, water activities, and more. Therefore, there’s no resort fee to worry about.

Amenities

There’s quite literally no shortage of amenities to enjoy at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana. Here are the main amenities to look forward to:

Pools

The Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana has 2 pools: 1 enormous infinity pool and another exclusively for Club members. Swim-up bars are available in both pools. The main pool begins just beyond the lobby and zigzags practically right onto the beach.

There was no need to wake up early and stake your claim on lounge chairs (like you would at other all-inclusive resorts) as there’s always plenty of seating on the property bordering the pools.

If you’re looking to pamper yourself a little, poolside cabanas were available for rent starting at $199 per day.

Pool access is available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bottom Line: There are 2 pools at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana. The massive infinity pool is located at the edge of the beach and open to everyone, while the other, smaller pool is for Club Level guests.

Beach

The resort’s beachfront setting places it on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic, and its location on a valuable piece of real estate makes it one of the most desirable hotels in the area. Juanillo Beach stretches for miles and has pure white sand, giant palm trees, and the shimmering blue sea as its backdrop.

Even on windy days, the sea is perfect for little kids because it is warm and shallow, and the waves are minimal.

In addition, you have the option of enjoying various beach activities like volleyball, soccer, snorkeling, kayaking, and kiteboarding, or simply relaxing on the sand and relishing a meal or a cocktail while the beach butlers cater to your every need.

Even at its busiest, beach chairs were always available, no matter the time of day. There’s so much to do at the resort that no area ever felt overcrowded and guests were always dispersed evenly across the property.

Water Park

Lean back and float down the lazy river as the youngsters race down 3 large slides at the Canapolis water park. In our case, each adult took turns watching the baby while we joined her big sisters down the adrenaline-inducing water slides.

There’s a play area with small kiddie slides and water guns, perfect for families with younger children.

The water park, which is included in your stay, was a nice touch to the property. Both times we visited, it was never crowded — a pleasant respite from the pool and beach crowds and tons of fun!

The Canapolis water park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The minimum height required is 3.94 feet.

Hot Tip: If you want to avoid lines at the water park, arrive when it opens and you’ll have the slides (almost) to yourself.

Kids’ Club and Teen Lounge

Our girls didn’t spend any time at the kids’ club on this trip, but we visited the inside and spoke with a staff member about the activities. Kids can play video games, explore the indoor treehouse or partake in fun activities with other children, including sand castle competitions, taking a cookie-making class, or playing games by the pool and beach.

If you have older children (ages 13 to 17), there’s even a dedicated space for them. The teen lounge features the latest virtual reality simulators, video games, a pool table, and an air hockey table.

 

Fitness Center

Full disclosure, I didn’t do an ounce of exercise during my stay (unless you consider walking from the room to my lounge chair), but I did explore the resort’s fitness center and was blown away by the size and aesthetics of it.

If you’re looking to burn some calories and stay in shape while on vacation, the 14,000 square foot, state-of-the-art gym is equipped with 2 cardio areas, free weights, and multiple rooms for daily fitness classes, such as Zumba, yoga, and spin.

The fitness center is open 24 hours a day.

Spa

Inspired by a cenote, a natural cave system found throughout the Dominican Republic, the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana’s Larimar Spa is an underground spa with a rock outcrop at the entrance and a waterfall at the hydrotherapy pool. It also has a sky-lit lagoon with larimar stone and has the first Himalayan Salt Lounge in the Dominican Republic.

A wide range of paid services are offered, including Chakra Balancing Signature Treatments, Signature Body Treatments, the Himalayan Salt Lounge with vibrational sound healing, and a heated, massaging rocking lounger experience.

The Larimar Spa is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 

Gift Shop

Forget anything at home? The gift shop has plenty of essentials, including over-the-counter medicine, sunscreen, beach bags, and local arts and crafts. I had experienced extreme discomfort from mosquito bites before arriving in Punta Cana, and the gift shop had a topical cream I needed to mend the itchiness. What a relief!

The gift shop is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Water Sports

You can enjoy non-motorized water sports — including kayaks, sailboats, and paddleboards — free of charge. While we had intentions of doing some stand-up paddleboarding on one of our days, we never got around to it. So many amenities, so little time.

Outdoor Games

My soccer-loving twins joined other kids for a game of beach soccer one afternoon. Right beside us was a full-on volleyball match happening, meanwhile, besides the main pool, guests enjoyed a game of table tennis and giant floor chess.

The outdoor games were a nice alternative for when we wanted to get up and move around.

Marquis Theatre

Depending on the day of the week, the night schedule may contain 1 or 2 performances at the Marquis Theatre. The Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana and its sister hotel, the Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, share an open-air theater/performance venue known as The Marquis, situated across the street from the Moments Sports Bar. You can expect live music and culturally-inspired shows performed at this outdoor venue.

Concierge

If you decide to spend a day away from the resort, the concierge staff can help plan an excursion. In addition to addressing any questions you may have about Punta Cana and the surrounding area, they can also help arrange transportation to the airport.

Our First Room — Club Junior Suite Double

As I had alluded to earlier in the check-in section, I had booked a Junior Suite King (the standard room at the resort) but was upgraded to a Club Junior Suite Double with 2 queen-size beds and a nice view.

The room did have a stellar view, but with 3 children, what I was wishing for was a larger-sized room.

Still, the Club Junior Suite Double had a nice balcony, a generous-sized bathroom, and comfortable beds for all … spacious enough for my family.

Our Second Room — Club One Bedroom Master Suite

We spent the first night in our room, but the next morning, I noticed the resort seemed much less crowded than the day before. After all, it was now 3 days past New Year’s Day, and many guests were already heading back home from the holidays and getting back to their daily routines.

I decided to walk to the Club Level lounge and ask a friendly check-in agent if there were any “Master Suites” available. These suites start at 1,238 square feet, more than double the size of a standard suite — and would make my family considerably more comfortable. Master Suites also boast a separate living room, sofa bed, extra full bathroom, dining table, and balcony with a private hot tub.

The agent came back and music rang to my ears: there was 1 Club One Bedroom Master Suite available for an additional $200 per night. She offered us a chance to see the room before committing to the upgrade, and my kids were excited to get a sneak peek before we sealed the deal. Once we had all seen the new digs, the decision to move rooms was unanimous.

In the spirit of full disclosure, here is the total cost of our 4-night stay at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana:

• 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night x 4 nights, for a total of 100,000 World of Hyatt points per double occupancy
• Additional $125 per night, per child x 2 children x 4 nights, for a total of $1,000 cash
• Upgrade room cost of $200 per night x 3 nights, for a total of $600 cash
• All-in cost was 100,000 World of Hyatt points and $1,600 cash

Once we arrived at our new room, another welcome amenity was waiting for us. This time, Champagne was accompanied by chocolate-covered strawberries — a much-appreciated gesture!

Living Room

The living room served as both a daytime separate living space and a nighttime children’s bedroom. When it’s time for the kids to go to bed, the large couch is converted into a cozy sofa bed, ideal for parents who want to stay up late watching TV or hanging out on the balcony.

A crib was placed in both our original room and our newly-upgraded Club One Bedroom Master Suite, which was much appreciated as we didn’t have to call to request one. High chairs can also be requested for in-room dining, and you will also find them available at all the restaurants onsite.

There was also an oval-shaped dining table with 4 seats, great for sharing a meal, and a desk with 1 chair, perfect for when the kids needed a little screen time.

The living area had a 42-inch flat-screen TV and a small bar area with a minifridge stocked with complimentary refreshments such as sodas, juices, beers, and water.

A Nespresso machine, additional snacks, and water bottles were stored on a shelf above the minifridge.

Bedroom

Our bedroom was enormous and well-appointed, with warm, creamy tones. There was a king bed and a sofa for extra lounging, as well as a very large bathroom, a nice-sized balcony, and a 42-inch TV.

The balcony was undoubtedly the children’s favorite feature of the room, as they enjoyed turning on the jets in the hot tub and playing with the bubbles.

The console table below the TV offered very little drawer space for extra storage, so you’ll likely going to want to store your clothes and luggage in the 2 large closets located within the roomy bathroom (more on this later).

Additionally, the living area provided plenty of space for laying your belongings down if you need extra storage.

The king-sized bed was flanked by nightstands, with a lamp only on one side, but ports for charging your electronic devices and adjusting the lighting in the room on each side.

In terms of lighting, a light shone through the blue floral pattern of the wood behind the bed and subtly brightened the space.

Bathrooms

The Club One Bedroom Master Suite offered 2 full bathrooms — 1 with both a shower and soaking tub and the other with simply a shower. There’s no other way to put it — the bathroom was enormous. The other bathroom in the living area was considerably smaller, but it still had plenty of space.

The extra bathroom was perhaps the strongest justification for upgrading to this room type. For a family with 3 children, having a second complete bathroom is essential for maintaining sanity.

The master bathroom shower was vast with a rainfall shower head and handheld spray as well. The water pressure in the previous room was oddly much stronger than in this room, but I didn’t mention it earlier because it was still satisfactory.

The shower was appointed with O3 toiletries.

The double vanity provided plenty of room for 2 (or more) people, so an argument about counter space will never occur when getting dolled up for the day or night.

The toilet had a privacy door, adjacent to the tub, shower, and sink.

After spending our days on the water, we’d bathe the baby in the deep soaking tub, while the older girls would love to take bubble baths.

There was plenty of storage space, with 2 large closets in the bathroom. This is where we stored most of our clothes and kept our bags.

In 1 of the closets in the master bathroom, there’s a safe where you could store your valuable possessions.

Bottom Line: There are 375 spacious suites at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, starting at 600 square feet.

Food and Beverage

Bosque Club Lounge

This elegant and peaceful lounge, artistically designed with natural elements, is a great place for Club members to relax with drinks and small bites. This is where we were taken for check-in when we arrived at the resort.

You can expect top-shelf drinks and light bites such as hummus and celery or chocolate truffles. We’d stop in here daily for quick snacks after grabbing our coffee at the Coffee Republic next door.

Bosque Club Lounge is open from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily.

The Chinola

Only Club Level guests are permitted to dine at beachfront The Chinola for breakfast and lunch, while all guests are welcome there for dinner. The menu at breakfast and lunch was noticeably skewed towards vegan and health-conscious guests, and we had breakfast and lunch here on our beach day.

My wife had the avocado toast for breakfast, while my daughters ordered the gluten-free pancakes with a side of Nutella. I had quite possibly the least healthy dish for breakfast, appropriately named “Break Your Diet Criollo Style” — a combination of fried eggs, fried cheese, mangu (a Dominican-style mashed plantain dish), avocado, and salami.

While it was nice to have breakfast and lunch at The Chinola, the options were limited compared to the resort’s main buffet.

The Chinola is open to Club Level guests for breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. All guests are welcome for dinner between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Coffee Republic

Speaking of coffee, if you fancy a cappuccino, latte, or gourmet sweets, stop by the coffee shop conveniently located beside the check-in counter. We visited it daily for a dose of caffeine and fancy fruit popsicles.

The Coffee Republic is open from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily.

El Mercado

From the decor to the tastes, this gourmet buffet is modeled like a Caribbean market with several stations to satisfy all tastes. This is the go-to buffet at the resort, and with so many different options, my entire family was always excited to go down to El Mercado for breakfast.

I looked forward every morning to selecting a new fruit juice.

El Mercado is open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. for breakfast, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch, and 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for dinner.

La Zizi Food Trucks

The food trucks on site are located in front of the water park. If you’re enjoying a day on the slides and lazy river and don’t want to go far, the food trucks will be your only food option nearby. Otherwise, you’ll need to walk back to the main building to grab a bite.

We ate from the food trucks on the day we visited the water park. While the food isn’t gourmet by any means, the nachos, burgers, and chicken wings were enough to minimize stomach rumblings.

The food trucks’ hours of operation are the same as the water park, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Moments Sports Bar

Smack dab between the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana and the adults-only Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana is the sports bar. Logically with 3 kids, we didn’t have a meal here, but it did look like a cool spot to hang out and play a game of pool, grub on bar food, or watch a big sporting event.

Navigator

This beachfront eatery was adequate for 1 of the days when we were lounging by the pool. The open-air restaurant serves lunch and dinner, but we only went there for lunch.

To be honest, I don’t even recall what my family and I ate. While the restaurant had beach views, the food didn’t blow us away.

Navigator is open for lunch and dinner service from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Noodle & Thread

Reminiscent of an old-school tailor’s shop with sewing machines and vintage clothing, this chic Italian trattoria serves comforting classics with a twist.

We ate here on the third night and everyone enjoyed their pasta and pizza.

While the resort doesn’t require reservations for its restaurants, Noodle & Thread gets busy for dinner (the only time it’s open), so if you have young children that require an early bedtime, I suggest arriving for dinner at 6 p.m. when the restaurant opens.

Noodle & Thread is only open for dinner service from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Prontoz

When we arrived at the resort from the airport around 4 p.m., the only hearty food option readily available was Prontoz as all the restaurants were preparing for dinner service. The restaurant dubs itself as “fast and flavorful,” and rightfully so. It was just what we needed to recharge after our flight.

We each ordered our own personal pizza, and I ordered a delicious cheeseburger as well (I was starving!). On another day, we ordered pizzas to eat by the pool as none of us wanted to stop lounging around.

Prontoz is the quick solution to your hunger pangs. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rum Bar

Grog Grotto is the official name of this bar, but for guests of the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, it’s called the “Rum Bar,” as shown by the large, colorful sign. Every night before dinner, my wife and I would stop here for a drink before heading to our restaurant of choice. If any of the restaurants have a bit of a wait for a table, this is where many guests congregate to enjoy an adult beverage.

The Rum Bar is open from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. daily.

Swim-up Bars

The 2 swim-up bars are Spiritz and Cocoonz. Enjoy a drink in the main infinity pool where Spiritz is located, or if you’re a Club Level guest, swim up to the bartender at Cocoonz. On our first morning, we secured seats at the Club Pool and I watched as my girls swam up excitedly and ordered 2 Shirley Temples.

Both swim-up bars are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tempest

This Asian-inspired restaurant features hibachi and made-to-order wok and chef-prepared dishes. My family ate here twice as the hibachi was tasty (note: not greasy) and fun for my kids. Normally I’m not a big hibachi guy, but the quality here was better than any hibachi I’ve had back home.

If you opt for hibachi, you’ll be seated with other guests as you observe a hibachi chef preparing homemade fried rice and sautéing the beef, chicken, and shrimp right in front of your eyes.

Just like Noodle & Thread, Tempest is only open for dinner service from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Twisted Timbers

The final bar I’ll mention on the Ziva side is directly across from the reception desk.

This is a perfect meeting spot for large groups before venturing out to different parts of the resort or when heading off-site for an excursion and wanting to gather beforehand. This lobby lounge is centered around a wooden bar top that twists and winds through the space like a snake.

Twisted Timbers is open from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Service

What was apparent to us early on — and for the entire duration of our stay — was that the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana staff are exceptionally trained to uphold high service standards and everyone went out of their way to genuinely help. Every time we encountered a staff member, they would greet us with the gesture of putting their hand on their heart, eye contact, and a smile. This was consistent throughout our stay.

The hotel was impeccably spotless and our room always smelled and felt clean after we’d returned from a day out in the sun. They went above and beyond to ensure we had enough towels and plenty of water and snacks for the 5 of us.

The wait staff and bartenders at the restaurants and bars were attentive and always super friendly.

Final Thoughts

Our whole experience at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana was excellent from start to finish. If you’re searching for a top-end all-inclusive experience, this gorgeous resort checks off all the boxes.

From the quality of food and drinks to the elevated service standards across the board, we left with a highly favorable impression of this property. Having been to several other Hyatt Ziva properties in Mexico and Jamaica, the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana just might be the crown jewel of the Ziva brand — and dare I say — one of Punta Cana’s best resorts.