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Threat assessment · Dominican Republic
Punta Cana
Our rating, plus the advisories, health notices, emergency numbers and crime data behind it, from official sources checked Oct 20, 2026.
Nepsis threat assessment
Punta Cana
Reviewed Oct 20, 2026. Scored with our published method; never below the State Department level.
Crime and scams and Transit and roads set the level.
Top actions
- Keep your phone and bags away from the curb, since thieves on motorcycles snatch items from pedestrians.
- Arrange airport transfers from PUJ in advance and keep car windows shut and doors locked while driving.
- Check the Atlantic hurricane forecast daily during your stay, since the season runs through November.
Know before you go
Dial 911 for police, fire or ambulance; Atlantic hurricane season runs through November, so follow local forecasts.
Official advisories
What governments say right now.
Checked Oct 20, 2026. We link every source so you can read it yourself.
| U.S. State Department | Level 2: Exercise increased caution (updated Jun 11, 2025) Read it → |
|---|---|
| UK Foreign Office (FCDO) | Last updated Aug 7, 2026. Latest change: Updated information about outdoor activities and adventure tourism (‘Safety and security’ page). Read it → |
| CDC health notices | No active CDC travel health notice for this country. CDC travel notices → |
| Emergency numbers | Telephone: 911 (ambulance, fire, police) |
| Main airport | PUJ |
Crime and scams
What the UK Foreign Office advises.
Excerpt from UK FCDO travel advice, lightly trimmed for travelers outside the UK. This advice covers all of Dominican Republic, not only Punta Cana. Full FCDO safety advice →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The crime rate in the Dominican Republic is high. Incidents range from opportunistic bag-snatching and pickpocketing to violent crime and carjacking.
Stay alert when on the street or driving to the risk of drive-by robberies. Thieves on motorcycles snatch bags and valuables from pedestrians and sometimes reach through the windows of cars at red lights to steal belongings.
There have been incidents where foreigners have been mugged at gunpoint or knifepoint during the daytime while walking in residential districts.
Attackers may be armed, even if you cannot see a weapon.
Protecting yourself and your belongings
You can take steps to reduce your personal risk by:
- avoiding remote areas, particularly after dark
- not wearing expensive jewellery or carrying large amounts of cash
- keeping smartphones and other electronic items out of sight
- not leaving your bags or other possession on chairs or tables in restaurants and bars
- keeping car windows shut and doors locked
- carrying your bags on the side away from the road
If you’re robbed, do not fight back or do anything that puts you at greater risk.
Bank card crime
Bank card cloning and identity theft are a risk in the Dominican Republic. Keep your payment card in view when paying or pay in cash.
Sexual assault
Incidents of assault, rape and sexual aggression against foreigners have occurred, including at beach resorts. In some cases, hotel employees or fellow guests have been implicated.
You can take steps to reduce your risk
- avoid walking alone at night
- do not leave drinks unattended
- be wary when dealing with strangers, and anyone offering rides or other invitations
- report the incident with local authorities
- explain the process
- translate for you if there’s a language barrier
See FCDO ’s guidance for victims of rape and sexual assault abroad.
You must formally report a crime to the Dominican Republic authorities before you leave the country so they can investigate.
What this page is
Built on official data.
Our rating above is built on the official government and police data on this page, checked Oct 20, 2026. It does not replace your government's advisory. Planning a trip here? A Nepsis kit turns it into an arrival plan you can carry. See the kits.