How far is it from Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) to Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, Punta Cana?

Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) is approximately 8 miles from the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, Punta Cana, and the drive from the airport to the resort takes around 15 minutes.

Can you drink the water at Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana?

Free bottled water is available throughout the whole resort. The resort’s water and ice are filtered and safe to consume.

Do you tip at the Hyatt Ziva Punta Cana?

While tips and gratuities are included in your Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana room rate, additional tipping for exceptional service is welcome and common among guests. Tips are welcomed in USD.

What is the difference between Punta Cana and Cap Cana?

Punta Cana is an entire city, while Cap Cana is a luxury area within Punta Cana with upscale resorts, restaurants, and luxury stores.

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

Q: How much does an award night cost to stay on points at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana?

Depending on the time of year, a free night award at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana can cost 21,000 points per night during the off-peak period, 25,000 points on standard nights, and 29,000 points during peak season — all based on single or double occupancy.

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.

Read on to find out what it’s like to stay at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana!

Hotel Location

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana on Juanillo Beach in Punta Cana — Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana is located on Juanillo Beach in Punta Cana.

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 and Hyatt Zilara brands 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.

World of Hyatt award calendar — World of Hyatt all-inclusive award chart. Image Credit: Hyatt

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.

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.

Room Type	Off-Peak	Standard	Peak
Standard Room	21,000	25,000	29,000
— Extra Person	10,500	12,500	14,500
Standard Suite	35,000	40,000	45,000
— Extra Person	10,500	12,500	14,500

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana cash rates — Cash rates at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana in January. Image Credit: Hyatt

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Hotel lobby — Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana open-air lobby.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Check-in desk — Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana check-in desk.

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).

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Club Level Check-in Desk — Club Level guests or World of Hyatt Globalists are taken to a separate check-in area.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Check-in beverages — Club guests are given refreshments while they wait to be checked in.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Room key for Club guests — Club guests are provided with a wristband that also serves as a hotel room key.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Club level guest benefits — Guests staying in a Club Level room type are handed a list of benefits.

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

Hyatt Zilara Ziva Cap Cana resort map — Image Credit: Hyatt

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.

Room Amenity — A much-appreciated bottle of Champagne was waiting for us when we arrived at 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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Main Pool — The main pool starts less than 100 yards from the lobby and runs until the start of 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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana poolside cabanas. — You can book poolside cabanas at the Club Level or main area 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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana beach — Guests can enjoy an array of activities at the beach.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Beach chairs — Beach chairs were readily available all the time.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Water slides — Enjoy a day of fun at the onsite Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana water park.

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Water park kiddie area — Even the younger ones can enjoy the water park at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana.

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Kids club — The Lost City of Anac Pac, a unique name for the kids’ club.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Indoor treehouse — The kids will love the indoor treehouse at the kids’ club.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Teen zone — If you have a teen, pool tables and air hockey may be entertaining ways to spend time.

The kids’ club is open to children ages 4 to 12 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the teen lounge is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., both of which are complimentary for hotel guests.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Spa — The Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana spa has DR’s only Himalayan Salt Lounge.

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Theatre — Watch shows and performances at the Marquis Theatre. Both Ziva and Zilara guests are welcome.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Double Bed Room — Our first room had 2 double beds, a balcony, 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.

Hyatt Ziva Double Bed Room Setup — Hyatt Ziva double bed suite was spacious but we were hoping for more room as we were 5 guests.

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Room view — The resort and ocean view from our room.

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!

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Champagne and chocolate strawberries — A sweet surprise when we entered our new room the next day.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana sofabed — My daughters shared a sofa bed and were happy with the comfort.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana crib — There was a crib for the baby waiting for us as we entered the room.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana dining table — Unlike the standard suites, the master suites have a dining table with 4 chairs. Perfect for when you want to order room service.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Living room TV and minifridge with snacks. — No fighting over what to watch on TV — the room had 2 televisions.

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Minifridge — The minifridge had complimentary refreshments.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana balcony. — Not only was the new room twice the size of the first one, but so was the balcony.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana hot tub — The hot tub on the balcony was a hit with the kids, although the water from it rarely was hot.

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).

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Master suite bedroom — The bedroom was spacious, but the majority of storage was housed in the closets inside the master bathroom.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Nightstand — There were outlets and buttons beside the bed to charge your devices and control the room lighting.

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Wall lighting — The light installation behind the bed added a calming vibe to the room.

Bathrooms

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Master bathroom — All room bathrooms at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana were good in size. The master suite’s main room’s bathroom was no exception.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Second bathroom — The second bathroom had 1 sink, 1 toilet, and its own separate shower for guests sleeping in the living room.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Master bathroom shower — The master bathroom shower was enormous!

The shower was appointed with O3 toiletries.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Bathroom toiletries — The hotel uses single-use bathroom toiletries from the brand O3.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Double vanity sink — The master bathroom with its double sink vanity was roomy.

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Master bathroom toilet — The toilet in the master bedroom was enclosed.

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.

Soaking tub Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana — The soaking tub was a perfect place to bathe the baby and enjoy it after a long day of watching over the kids.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Master closets — The 2 closets are located in the bathroom. Luckily, they offer a ton of room to store your stuff.

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Hotel lockbox — Store your valuables in the lockbox, located in the master bathroom.

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.

The Chinola menu Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana — The Chinola skews towards health-conscious guests for breakfast and lunch.

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.

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Classic Dominican breakfast — My local Dominican breakfast was hearty and satisfying, albeit not that healthy.

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

Coffee Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana — Our favorite place to visit daily for coffee and sweet treats.

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana food trucks — The food trucks are designed for water park guests, as they are located right beside the kiddie area.

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.

Moments Sports Bar is open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., but late night between 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., it’s adults-only.

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.

Room Service

What’s nice about the all-inclusive concept is you can enjoy fresh food in the total comfort of your suite. From savory nibbles to fancy plates, room service is available 24 hours a day — and the best part, it’s all included.

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.

I would always order a Brugal Leyenda (a local Dominican rum with sweet hints of caramel and honey) on the rocks and my wife would have the same rum with fresh pineapple juice, which she enjoyed. The bartenders are fantastic here and can make you any drink you desire, even if you don’t care for rum.

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

Swim-up Bars

Swim-up bar Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana — The water was a bit chilly so I only grabbed my drink from a swim-up bar once.

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.

Tempest Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana — This was our favorite dinner meal at the resort. So much so that we ate here twice!

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

Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Front View — Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana main building.

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.

2 comments

Reece March 13, 2023
How did you go about adding a person on for cash? Did you just call the hotel directly? I’m hoping to do something similar.
- Katie Seemann March 16, 2023
  Yes, you should be able to contact the hotel directly to add a third person in cash to your reservation. I’d recommend emailing the hotel so you have everything in writing.