Dominican Republic with the most Blue Flag Beaches in Latin America
The Dominican Republic has the largest number of beaches with prestigious Blue Flag certification in Latin America and the Caribbean with 14 blue flag beach certified properties. Four properties in Punta Cana have the certification: Bahia Principe Bavaro, Barcelo Punta Cana and Iberostar. Barcelo Bavaro in Bavaro beach is also a Blue Flag Beach. There are two more in the Cabeza de Toro area: Grand Oasis Grand and Cabeza de Toro Natura Park.
In all honesty, I was skeptical about the Buggie excursion in Punta Cana. There is just something about whizzing by quiet country homes with a noisy little ‘cage on wheels’ that puts me off.
Things didn’t start well either. Myself and another 10 tourists, or so, were dropped off at a small ranch in the countryside of northern Punta Cana. The ranch was quaint and we were asked to sit down and wait as our Buggies were on their way. “Just 5 minutes”, said one of the guides. 
Punta Cana is the leading and fastest growing port of entry in the Dominican Republic and in the Caribbean, and the 2nd busiest airport in the Caribbean. Currently, there are more than 4.5 million annual passenger movements in more than 15,000 commercial aircraft operations.
The Dominican Republic, the Caribbean’s top tourism destination, expects record numbers of tourists this year and next. It’s on pace to receive nearly 5 million visitors in 2011, topping the record set last year. 
The last strands of light are being squeezed away behind the mountain range in the distance, leaving a faded orange glow in the horizon. I hold my kerosene lamp up to the thermometer alongside the front door of the log cabin. It reads only 50°F. The ribs I’ve been barbecuing in the cabin’s front porch sizzle from the flames of a mix of burning wood and charcoal. With two glasses of wine, my girlfriend and I sit down at a small table on the porch, our breath now visible, as we admire the forming night sky with each star seemingly taking its position in turn. 
