Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach

The Dominican Republic is a popular vacation destination for couples because of its romantic tropical setting, affordability, and huge selection of luxury all-inclusive resorts. There are more than 120 resorts in the Dominican Republic, making it a great choice for a destination wedding, an adults-only trip, or a family holiday. 

If you’re interested in a honeymoon, romantic trip, or destination wedding, Secrets Resorts have 2 luxury adults-only locations in the Dominican Republic. While they all offer the Secrets distinct brand of customer service, amenities and experiences vary slightly by location. Choosing the right one for you will help make your trip all that it can be. 

To help you decide, we’ve compared two Secrets locations in Punta Cana, Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach, in terms of accommodations, dining, and activities. Keep reading to find out how these two resorts differ, then reach out to one of our expert Secrets travel planners to start planning your getaway. 

Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach: Overview

Secrets Resorts are Hyatt’s brand of adult-only all-inclusive resorts. They offer relaxing, comfortable stays in upscale accommodations and pride themselves on delivering outstanding customer service, gourmet meals, and fun activities and entertainment. Specifically geared toward couples, they also offer their own unique brand of wedding, honeymoon, and romance packages.

Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana is located on Bavaro Beach, a Dominican oasis known for its spectacular bath-temperature water and white, soft sand. The elegant property was renovated recently to add more rooms, restaurants, and pools. Landscaping consists of lush tropical greenery, palm trees, and flowers. The medium-sized resort has 639 guest rooms and suites, a history of good reviews, and a solid Trip Advisor rating of 4.5. 

Secrets Cap Cana is a bit smaller, with 457 rooms, and set in a glitzy gated community. It’s much more secluded and is geared toward couples who want a private, peaceful getaway. It’s newer than Secrets Royal Beach, having been constructed in 2016, and has a rating of 5 on TripAdvisor, making it the best-reviewed location in the chain’s portfolio. 

Outstanding customer service is at the center of every Secrets location, and both resorts get rave reviews about the friendly staff and warm atmosphere. 

Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach: Rooms & Suites

There isn’t much variance between Secrets locations when it comes to their standard rooms and suites. Private furnished outdoor spaces, a fully-stocked minibar, and large marble bathrooms are standard. Some higher-end rooms come with private pools or hot tubs. Standard Junior Suites at Royal Beach average between $230 and $320 per night. Rates are slightly higher at Cap Cana. The cheapest Junior Suite comes with a King-sized bed and is priced at around $290 per night.  

Two long accommodation buildings feature suites and luxurious one-bedroom rooms at Secrets Royal Beach. The decor is modern with shades of gray and white mingling against a dark-wood background. Suites offer views of the gardens, beachfront, or swimming pool and have rain showers and deep soaking tubs. 

There is more variety among the standard suites at Secrets Cap Cana. The decor is fresh, with reddish-brown wooden accents, creamy-white furniture, and brightly colored pillows and rugs. Rooms at Secrets Cap Cana are modern with techy add-ons like USB plugs and motion-triggered lights. It’s worth noting that some reviews mention the power going off at inopportune times, like while watching TV for instance. 

In either location, guests have the option to upgrade to Preferred Club rooms, which are more luxurious and come with better amenities like swim-up entrances, a premium minibar, nicer bath products, and access to exclusive lounges, pools, and restaurants.

At Secrets Royal Beach, Preferred Club guests will also have access to a private beach club in an exclusive part of the beach, plus daily breakfast and hors d’oeuvres served in your room.

Secrets Cap Cana Preferred Club accommodations include stylish bungalows with Caribbean decor and direct beach access plus massive Presidential Suites with a dining area, two large rain showers, incredible views from two oceanfront balconies, and a private plunge pool. 

Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach: Food & Drinks

Unlimited meals and snacks prepared by world-class chefs plus unlimited nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks are all included in the Secrets rates. Restaurants and bars vary by location. At Secrets Royal Beach, you can get grilled favorites, sandwiches, salads, pasta, appetizers, and cold drinks at Barefoot Grill on the beach. Snacks and coffee are also available at Coco Cafe. 

For Western meals, there’s the Bluewater Grill or La Riviera International Buffet. Bordeaux, El Patio, Himitsu, and Olio are the resort’s French, Mexican, Asian and Mediterranean dinner options.

There are also 6 bars located at various points around the resort including Marlin on the beach, Eclipse Nightclub for late-night dancing and drinks, and Manatees, Barracuda, Drifters, and Freshco, the swim-up and pool bars. 

In addition to the aforementioned dining options at Secrets Royal Beach, Secrets Cap Cana has Oceana, a fresh seafood restaurant; Portofino for Italian cuisine; and the Seaside Grill for lunch and dinner. The international buffet is called the Market Cafe and it’s open for breakfast and lunch only. There are 6 bars at the Cap Cana location as well, including a music lounge called Desires and a theater bar called Showtime.  

Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach: Beaches

The Dominican Republic is home to some of the Caribbean’s best beaches. Secrets Cap Cana and Secrets Royal Beach each sit on two picture-perfect stretches of white-sand beaches with shaded loungers, cabanas, and turquoise water. 

Secrets Royal Beach is on the world-renowned Bavaro Beach. It’s 30 miles long and perfect for sunset strolls and days spent splashing in the warm Caribbean water or lounging under the sun. However, this public beach is popular with tourists and vendors, and finding a private or quiet area is next to impossible. 

Juanillo Beach at Secrets Cap Cana stands out as one of its most appealing amenities. It’s lined with palm trees with hammocks suspended between them, plus loungers set up under wide umbrellas. Surfboards, snorkel masks, kayaks, windsurfing boards, and SUPs are available free of charge. Guests interested in Hobie Cat catamarans can take advantage of a free intro lesson as well. 

Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach: Pools

In addition to beach access, Secrets resorts also have refreshing swimming pools and hot tubs for guests to enjoy. 

There are 3 pools and 4 hot tubs at Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana. The main pool makes its way through the landscaped gardens, with wooden benches connecting sections of the pool deck. A second pool, where most of the activities are held during the day, can get quite rowdy and finding a lounger can be difficult unless you head down early in the morning. For a quieter experience, the Preferred Club area has an exclusive, peaceful infinity pool.

Two infinity pools at Secrets Cap Cana overlook the beach: one that’s open to all guests and one that’s just for Preferred members. There are also 2 hot tubs on the pool deck and 3 pool bars. 

Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach: Activities

A variety of activities and entertainment options are available at Secrets resorts to keep guests entertained during their stay, including free Spanish lessons, intro scuba lessons in the swimming pool, water aerobics, and a dedicated nightclub. 

At Secrets Royal Beach, you can take an instructor-led yoga class on the beach and then head to the spa for a massage, body treatment, or facial (spa services are extra). Get your blood pumping at the gym or get a team together for a game of beach volleyball. There’s also a casino across the road at Now Larimar, Secrets’ family-friendly sister resort. On some nights, the resort plays movies on a big-screen projector on the beach. 

If you feel like venturing off-site, Punta Cana also offers lots to do in and around the town like shopping, tours to popular tourist attractions and eco reserves, and several golf courses scattered across the island. At Cocotal Golf & Country Club, Secrets Royal Beach guests will enjoy discounted green fees. 

Secrets Cap Cana has a large gym, free guided yoga, and a lovely spa as well, plus they offer free guided bike tours from the resort to the nearby marina. Watersports equipment is included and there are land-based sports as well. Nightly entertainment doesn’t differ much between the resorts either. Every night, there are live theater performances, musical performances, and theme parties.

Secrets resorts cater especially to couples and offer a wide range of destination wedding packages and romantic add-ons available to make your trip extra special. Candle-lit dinners on the beach, breakfast in bed, couples’ spa treatments and more can be arranged through the 24-hour concierge. 

Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach: What’s Included? 

At all Secrets resorts, the rate includes unlimited dining and drinks plus a range of amenities and services. Use of non-motorized watersports equipment; nightly entertainment like theme parties, performances and a nightclub; 24-hour concierge and room service; a daily re-stocked minibar; and access to the gym and other sports courts are covered at both Secrets Royal Beach and Secrets Cap Cana. When guests book a minimum-night stay, some celebratory packages are included in the rate as well. 

Tips are not included, however, so it’s recommended to bring cash for those. Airport transfers are also not included so you’ll need to arrange transportation. We recommend doing this in advance through the resort.

Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach: Location 

Secrets Royal Beach is about a 25-minute drive from the airport in the heart of Bavaro, an area of Punta Cana. Shops, local restaurants, and other popular attractions are easily accessible, and several are within walking distance. The resort has its nightclub, but if you want a change of atmosphere there are lots of popular bars, lounges, and nightclubs that can be reached via a quick beach walk in a safe, tourist-friendly location. 

Secrets Cap Cana is only 15 minutes from the airport but is quite secluded, and guests need to call a taxi to the resort to get anywhere, which can be expensive even if only going a short distance. There is, however, free and valet parking. The nearest “hot spot” is a marina with a collection of local restaurants and a bar, which is about a 5-minute drive away. 

Other nearby points of interest include a golf course, Punta Cana Village, Scape Park eco-reserve, and an adventure park, all less than an hour away. UNESCO World Heritage Site Santo Domingo is a 2-hour scenic drive from Secrets Cap Cana.

Secrets Cap Cana vs. Secrets Royal Beach: Conclusion

Both Secrets resorts in Punta Cana are part of a luxury all-inclusive resort chain aimed at couples. Secrets Royal Beach and Secrets Cap Cana have comparable offerings in terms of dining, amenities, and accommodation, plus the option of romantic add-ons.

Secrets Royal Beach is lively and not as peaceful as other Secrets resorts, and a few amenities are located next door at the family-friendly all-inclusive Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana. However, it is conveniently located near several other resorts plus lots of restaurants, bars and shops. If you want to be near the action, stay at Secrets Royal Beach. For an intimate, peaceful getaway, Secrets Cap Cana is your best bet. 

In terms of ratings and reviews, Secrets Cap Cana is the winner, with a 4.7 rating on Google vs. 4.4 for Secrets Royal Beach. In fact, Secrets Cap Cana is the top-rated of all the Secrets resorts.

If you’re not sure whether either of these is the right Secrets resort for you, here are some other articles that can help: 10 Best Secrets Resorts, 5 Best Secrets Resorts in Mexico, Cheapest Secrets Resort, and Impression by Secrets Isla Mujeres Review. You can also talk to a Secrets travel advisor to help find the perfect location for your trip.