Ocean El Faro, Punta Cana: An Honest Review of This 5-Star All-Inclusive

By Mark, Pack With Purpose. I stayed here on a package trip and everything below is what I actually found.

The brochures call Ocean El Faro a 5-star resort, and in a lot of ways it looks the part. Beautiful beach, four pools, a lazy river, and enough to do that you never sit still. But a couple of things kept it from feeling truly 5-star to me, and I’d rather you know them before you book than find out at the buffet. So here’s the honest version: what I loved, what I’d change, and who I’d send here.

Ocean El Faro sits up in Uvero Alto, on the quieter northern stretch of the Punta Cana coast in the Dominican Republic. It’s a big, busy, family-friendly complex, and that’s a large part of its charm.

Getting there

You’ll fly into Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), and Ocean El Faro is up the coast in Uvero Alto, about 30 to 40 minutes away.

Our transfer came bundled into the package, so there was nothing extra to book or pay for at the airport. A shuttle was waiting when we landed, the drive was smooth and easy, and we were at the resort in well under an hour. If your package includes the transfer, take it. It’s the simplest way to go.

The setting and who it’s for

This is a resort built for people who like options. Four pools, outdoor jacuzzis, and a lazy river with a gentle current, plus a family area with a water park. There are 10 restaurants, 13 bars, a coffee and ice cream shop, tennis and multi-sport courts, a theatre, a disco, and even a bowling alley.

It suits families and groups of friends best. If you’ve got kids, the water park and the kids’ and teen clubs will keep them happy, and there’s plenty for the adults too. If you’re after a small, quiet, romantic hideaway, this isn’t it. It’s a large resort and it draws a crowd, especially in peak season, so the common areas and restaurants get busy. Couples who want the adults-only feel can look at the Privilege tier and the El Beso adults-only section ($), which buys you a calmer corner of the property.

What the all-inclusive covers

The 24-hour all-inclusive covers what you’d expect: your room, all your meals across the buffets and most of the restaurants, drinks at the bars, snacks, and the entertainment. The pools, lazy river, water park, bowling, theatre shows, tennis, and the sports courts are all included too. Parking is free.

What costs extra is worth knowing up front. The Despacio Spa ($) and the shop ($) are add-ons. The Privilege tier ($) unlocks upgraded rooms and services, plus access to Vila Marina restaurant and the El Beso adults-only area. If you’re a drinker, the top-shelf liquor upgrade is also an extra, and I’ll get to why that matters below.

The pools and the grounds

The pools were a real highlight. Four of them, jacuzzis, and a lazy river that was perfect for drifting around with family and friends. Several of the pools have their own bar right on the water, so you’re never hunting around for a cold drink. That’s the kind of small thing that makes a lazy afternoon easy.

The rooms

The rooms are comfortable and nicely finished, and plenty of them look out over the ocean, which is worth asking for. They deliver on the “resort” feel. I’ll be straight, though: service and upkeep weren’t always consistent. Nothing that ruined the trip, but the odd delay and a maintenance niggle here and there stopped it short of flawless.

The food

Here’s where the 5-star label wobbles. The food isn’t 5-star, and I’d rather tell you that now than have you expecting more. A lot of it traces back to the same all-you-can-eat buffet, and you’ll spot familiar buffet dishes turning up on the a la carte menus too.

It’s not all a letdown, though. These were the spots I’d steer you toward for the best meals on the property: Sakura, the Steakhouse, and El Mercado for the buffet. Vila Marina is a step up again, but you’ll need the Privilege pass ($) to get in. Go in expecting good resort food rather than fine dining and you’ll enjoy it.

The drinks

If you like a drink, you’ll want to know this. The standard pours are watered down. It didn’t matter how much tequila I had at the bar, I just wasn’t feeling it. My friends and I ended up switching to wine toward the end of the trip, which finally did the trick. If having a proper drink matters to you, it’s worth looking at the liquor upgrade ($), or bringing your own.

The beach

The beach view is genuinely stunning, white sand and turquoise water, and it’s a lovely place to put your feet up under a tiki umbrella. Very relaxing. The catch is that the water is rocky as you wade in, and I caught my baby toe on a rock more than once. Pack water shoes and you’ll be glad you did.

One tip that saved me: on the right-hand side of the beach there’s a white sign marking where the lifeguard stops supervising. Wade in from that end and you’ll find it noticeably less rocky.

Entertainment

You will not get bored here. A nightly game at the bowling alley became a ritual for us, and it was genuinely a lot of fun. The theatre put on a different show every night, and between that, the disco, and the sports courts, there was always something on. For a family or a group, this is one of the resort’s real strengths.

Is it worth it?

Yes, with your eyes open. Ocean El Faro is a fun, activity-packed resort with a beautiful beach and pools, and for a family or a group of friends there’s a lot to love. I’d happily go back for the pools and the bowling nights alone.

Just don’t book it expecting flawless 5-star food and drinks, because that’s where it falls short. Weigh the price against what you actually want out of the week. I paid around $1,500 CAD on a package deal, which felt fair. Booked without a package you’re likely looking at closer to $1,900 to $2,200 for seven nights, depending on your room. Check current pricing and a few recent reviews before you commit, and book when the number matches what you’re after.

Resort Reviews: Our Star Ratings

These are the scores from our stay. Five stars is excellent, one is poor, and half-stars are allowed.