VIK Hotel Cayena Beach
Vik Hotel Cayena Beach is the 47-room exclusive wing of the VIK complex on Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana, and that context matters before you book. Cayena guests get their own pool, a private beach area, room service and a breakfast-and-lunch restaurant (El Cano) that guests of the larger VIK Arena Blanca next door cannot use, while still having access to all of Arena Blanca's facilities, pools and entertainment. Travelers who use it that way, retreating to the quiet Cayena side and dipping into Arena Blanca when they want more going on, tend to rate their stays well. Every room is a 55-square-meter ocean suite with a sea-view terrace or balcony, which is unusual at this price level.
Things to Know
- Timeshare Property
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Bavaro Beach location on the white-sand stretch that defines Punta Cana, with umbrellas and hammocks on the beach and a private beach area for Cayena guests
- +Only 47 rooms: Cayena is the small, exclusive wing of the two-hotel VIK complex, with its own guests-only pool, yet you can also use everything at the much larger VIK Arena Blanca next door
- +Every room is a 55-square-meter Cayena Deluxe Ocean Suite with a sea-view terrace or balcony, a sofa bed and free Wi-Fi, so there is no bad-view room category to get stuck in
- +El Cano serves breakfast and lunch with daily specials exclusively for Cayena guests, a genuine perk that Arena Blanca guests cannot book
- +Room service for drinks and snacks on your terrace, the private beach area or in your room is part of the Cayena offer
- +Kayaks, snorkel gear, boogie boards, two free tennis courts, table tennis, beach volleyball and a fitness center are all included, and the Pelicano dive school, rated PADI 5-Star, sits right next to the complex
- +Mini club for ages 4 to 12 runs morning and afternoon sessions, with babysitting available for a fee, which makes it workable for families with school-age kids
Cons
- −Sargassum seaweed can pile up on Bavaro Beach and cloud the water, roughly May through September; it is a Punta Cana-wide issue but it can rule out ocean swimming for days
- −Imported spirits are not included (local liquor, wine and beer are), and neither are motorized water sports, real scuba dives, parasailing, the spa or the casino
- −Dinner options on the Cayena side are thin: the El Mirador buffet, La Trattoria a la carte, and night snacks at Bar Calypso, so most evening variety means walking over to Arena Blanca
- −La Trattoria enforces a casual-elegant dress code: men and boys over 12 need long pants, a sleeved shirt and closed shoes
- −Cayena's own reception is only staffed Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm; outside those hours you deal with the busier Arena Blanca front desk
- −The buffet draws consistently mixed reviews from travelers, who steer people toward the a la carte option and El Cano lunches instead
- −Some travelers report being approached about vacation-club sales presentations during their stay; declining is easy but expect the pitch
The all-inclusive covers meals and snacks across the bars and restaurants, local spirits, wine and beer, coffee and pastries, free Wi-Fi in the rooms, daytime activities and night shows. On the Cayena side you eat at El Cano for breakfast and lunch, the El Mirador international buffet for all three meals, and La Trattoria, an a la carte with a daily-changing Italian, Mexican and international menu and a long-pants dress code for men; Bar Calypso handles late-night sandwiches and soup. The buffet gets the most mixed reviews, and travelers single out the staff, especially bartenders and waiters, as a real bright spot. Kayaks, snorkel gear, tennis and a pool diving lesson are included; actual dives with the adjacent Pelicano PADI 5-Star school, parasailing, motorized water sports, imported drinks and the spa are paid extras.
Cayena suits couples and families with kids aged 4 to 12 who want a smaller, calmer base on Bavaro Beach without giving up the amenities of a big resort, and divers who want a top-rated dive school next door. It is not the place for a lively nightlife scene or a long list of specialty restaurants, and the official website's copy has not been refreshed in years, so confirm details directly before booking. Sargassum season (roughly May through September) is the biggest wildcard; travel November through April if a clear ocean swim matters. Compared with the large Barcelo, Riu and Iberostar resorts along Bavaro, its draw is scale: fewer guests, ocean-view suites and a quieter pool.
Common Questions
What is the difference between VIK Cayena Beach and VIK Arena Blanca?
How bad is the seaweed and when is it worst?
Is diving included, and is the dive center any good?
Is VIK Cayena Beach good for families with kids?
Where should we eat?
Restaurants (3)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | El Mirador (at VIK Hotel Arena Blanca) |
| International & fusion | El Cano, La Trattoria (at VIK Hotel Arena Blanca) |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Bávaro Beach20 min drive · 6.5 mi
Macao Beach20 min drive · 10 mi
Cap Cana Marina35 min drive · 20 mi
45 min drive · 24 mi
More things to do (21)
- Playa Blanca · beach30 min drive · 18 mi
- Juanillo Beach · beach35 min drive · 21 mi
- Scape Park · adventure park45 min drive · 24 mi
- Punta Espada Golf Club · golf40 min drive · 23 mi
- Higüey · town55 min drive · 25 mi
- Arena Gorda Beach · beach7 min drive · 1.2 mi
- Los Corales · town11 min drive · 3.7 mi
- White Sands Golf Course · golf4 min drive · 1.0 mi
- Iberostar Bávaro Golf Club · golf9 min drive · 2.9 mi
- Cana Bay Golf Club · golf12 min drive · 4.5 mi
- Cocotal Golf & Country Club · golf15 min drive · 7.4 mi
- Vista Cana Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 9.4 mi
- Catalonia Caribe Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 12 mi
- Barceló Bávaro Golf · golf25 min drive · 7.0 mi
- Dolphin Explorer · adventure park30 min drive · 14 mi
- Dolphin Island Park · adventure park30 min drive · 7.7 mi
- Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park · nature35 min drive · 19 mi
- Deep-sea fishing charter · excursion35 min drive · 20 mi
- Hoyo Claro · cenote45 min drive · 24 mi
- Cabo Engaño Beach · beach50 min drive · 16 mi
- Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia, Higüey · historic site55 min drive · 25 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Seaweed & sargassum
Punta Cana gets sargassum, typically worst May through August.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.3 · 56 reviews
“I was a bit nervous about staying here after reading all the poor reviews, however, my stay was nothing short of great! The buffet food was good with plenty of choice, the 2 sit-down restaurants were amazing! Did not run into one unfriendly employe...”
“Holidays in Holtu VIK are the best holidays of our lives. This hotel is a VIP zone for another hotel, whose infrastructure can also be used. The service at the hotel is fantastic, especially the reception staff. Barbara and Melany are extremely compe...”
“- Best location possible - All workers work hard to meet your needs and as someone who hates tipping, even I was happy to tip for their incredible service. We got sick on the trip and we got room service, full refunds for last minute trip cancellatio...”
