Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana
Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana is the family half of the Hyatt complex on Juanillo Beach in Cap Cana, opened in November 2019 next to the adults-only Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana and run by Playa. It has 375 suites, it was ranked number one in its category in Tripadvisor's 2025 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best awards, and travelers keep holding it up as the benchmark for family all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic. The gated Cap Cana setting is a big part of that: it feels private and quiet next to the Bavaro hotel strip, and the airport is about 15 minutes away.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Ranked number one in its category in Tripadvisor's 2025 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best awards, and recent guests keep calling it the best hotel they have stayed at in Punta Cana
- +A genuinely varied dinner line-up included in the rate: Noodle and Thread (Italian in a mock tailor's shop full of sewing machines), Tempest Table (Mongolian grill and teppan tables), Navigator Grill (Caribbean seafood), The Chinola on the beach and the El Mercado market-hall buffet
- +Canapolis water park has a lazy river with a grotto cascade, water cannons and five slides, plus La Zizi, a food truck parked right there doing burgers, nachos and hot dogs
- +Cap Cana is a gated 30,000-acre community, so the resort feels far calmer than the Bavaro strip, and Punta Cana airport is only about 15 minutes away
- +The Lost City of Anac Pac kids club runs supervised games and a Spider Zone, and teens 13 to 17 get their own club, so both age groups are actually looked after
- +The Refinery is a 14,000 sq ft gym open around the clock, with beach yoga, Pilates, Zumba, aqua-cycling and non-motorized watersports all included
- +Swim-up junior suites open straight onto semi-private pools, and Club Level adds private check-in, premium liquor, a la carte breakfast and lunch and a private Club Pool
- +World of Hyatt points earn and redeem here, which loyalty members say gets them outsized value on a resort that is expensive in cash
Cons
- −The resort spreads across 40 oceanfront acres, so the walks between restaurants, pools and the beach add up by day three
- −The day winds down early at the pools: both swim-up bars (Spiritz and the Club guests' Cocoonz) close at 6pm and the Prontoz snack bar at 5pm, leaving the Moments sports lounge (open to 2am, adults only after 11pm) as the late-night option
- −Airport transfers are not on the resort's long list of inclusions, so you need to book one separately even though almost everything else is covered
- −Some of the best bits cost extra or sit behind Club Level: The Blind Butcher South American restaurant carries a surcharge, and The Chinola serves breakfast and lunch to Club guests only
- −Swim-up suites are restricted to guests 13 and older, so families with younger kids cannot book the room type the resort advertises most
- −Standard rooms are all 600 sq ft junior suites that differ mainly by view, so upgrading inside that tier buys a better outlook rather than a better room
- −Prices sit near the top of the Dominican all-inclusive market, and guests comparing it with Bavaro resorts sometimes question whether the premium is earned outside the food and kids facilities
The food is the main reason guests come back. Noodle and Thread does Italian in a room dressed as an old tailor's shop, Tempest Table builds its menu around a Mongolian grill and teppan tables, Navigator Grill does Caribbean seafood, The Chinola is the beachside clean-eating spot (dinner for everyone, breakfast and lunch for Club guests), and El Mercado is the market-style buffet. The Blind Butcher, a South American grill, is the one restaurant with a surcharge. For kids there is the Canapolis water park (lazy river, grotto cascade, water cannons, five slides and a 3.94 ft height minimum) with a food truck beside it, plus the Lost City of Anac Pac kids and teen clubs. Adults get the cenote-inspired underground Larimar Spa with its hydrotherapy pool, and a 14,000 sq ft gym that never closes. Service gets warm, specific praise; the common gripe is that the pool bars shut at 6pm.
This is the resort for families who want the top end of the market and couples who care more about food and service than nightlife; couples who want no kids at all should look at Zilara next door. Price-wise it competes with the Puntacana Resort and Club properties rather than the Bavaro mid-market, and World of Hyatt members get strong redemption value. Golf at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada, deep-sea fishing and zip-lining can all be arranged through the resort at extra cost, though plenty of guests never leave the property.
Common Questions
Is the water park good for older kids and teenagers?
How does the food compare to other all-inclusives?
Is it worth paying for an ocean-view or oceanfront room?
Can I visit if I am staying elsewhere in Punta Cana?
Is it a good choice for a honeymoon without kids?
How far is it from Punta Cana airport, and are transfers included?
Restaurants (5)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | El Mercado |
| Italian | Noodle and Thread |
| Asian | Tempest Table |
| Caribbean & local | Navigator Grill |
| International & fusion | The Blind Butcher (extra charge) |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. Venues marked "extra charge" are not covered by the all-inclusive rate; the others are, per the resort.
What's nearby
Bávaro Beach35 min drive · 16 mi
Macao Beach45 min drive · 28 mi
Cap Cana Marina10 min drive · 3.6 mi
15 min drive · 4.8 mi
More things to do (23)
- Playa Blanca · beach20 min drive · 7.9 mi
- Juanillo Beach · beach10 min drive · 3.6 mi
- Scape Park · adventure park15 min drive · 5.0 mi
- Punta Espada Golf Club · golf11 min drive · 4.3 mi
- Higüey · town55 min drive · 35 mi
- Arena Gorda Beach · beach40 min drive · 21 mi
- Cabeza de Toro Beach · beach60 min drive · 19 mi
- Marinarium snorkel cruise · excursion60 min drive · 19 mi
- Los Corales · town35 min drive · 17 mi
- Deep-sea fishing charter · excursion10 min drive · 3.6 mi
- Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park · nature12 min drive · 4.2 mi
- Catalonia Caribe Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 13 mi
- Dolphin Explorer · adventure park30 min drive · 15 mi
- Cocotal Golf & Country Club · golf30 min drive · 17 mi
- Vista Cana Golf Club · golf35 min drive · 17 mi
- White Sands Golf Course · golf35 min drive · 20 mi
- Iberostar Bávaro Golf Club · golf35 min drive · 20 mi
- Barceló Bávaro Golf · golf40 min drive · 17 mi
- Cana Bay Golf Club · golf40 min drive · 22 mi
- Hoyo Claro · cenote40 min drive · 17 mi
- Dolphin Island Park · adventure park45 min drive · 17 mi
- Cabo Engaño Beach · beach55 min drive · 17 mi
- Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia, Higüey · historic site55 min drive · 35 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Punta Cana gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 1,300 reviews
“The resort was amazing. There were always activities going on at night. This was our first time staying at a family-friendly all-inclusive resort; prior to this, we had always stayed at adults-only ones. The resort was beautiful, the staff members we...”
“Luxury resort and everything was just perfect. Excellent service by friendly staff. The buffet food is good but the restaurants are the highlight, both the italian and asian restaurants had quality food. Navigator and the pool side grill were great f...”
“This resort exceeded my expectations. Very well maintained. Clean rooms though beds and pillows could be more comfortable. The hospitality was amazing from the restaurant/buffet staff to the front desk to the bar attendants. Everyone was just so nice...”
