Before the 80s, the Punta Cana area only served as a beach outing for a handful of adventurous Dominicans. There was nothing out there but beach and scrub. Many of the beach lands were owned by wealthy cattle and horse ranchers from Higuey, the capital of La Altagracia province. As tourism gradually developed following the pioneering resort investments of Club Med (France) and Barcelo Bavaro (Spain), a new Punta Cana culture has evolved, energetic yet at the same time slow-paced. It can be said that Punta Cana is a half-and-half mix of Dominican and foreign cultures.

To go back to very early history, traces and remains have been found of the original island settlers, groups of Igneri and their successors, the Taino, Arawak, Caribe and Ciguayo Indians. The Taino Indians were exterminated by the hardships under Spanish rule. The Indian culture lives until the present day in many of the area's original place names, from Higuey to Macao.

Travel to Higuey and discover the magic of the legend of Our Lady of Altagracia and the Basilica that was built in her honor. With capacity to seat approximately 1,000, the Basilica of Our Lady of La Altagracia is the largest church in the Caribbean and Central America. It is the center of religious worship and pilgrimage in honor of the spiritual protector of the Dominican people who flock there by the thousands on Altagracia Day (21 January) every year.

The Haitian workers who migrated to the area to build the resorts have also left their mark, especially in much of the artwork that is sold in the area.

So, tourists traveling in the Punta Cana area will find a cosmopolitan blend of the culture brought in by residents from all around the world attracted by the sun and sand, as well as by business and work opportunities. Nevertheless, certain distinct traits of Dominican culture prevail.

Openness and friendliness are truly what Dominicans are famous for. It is very easy to engage a Dominican in conversation.

Life in Punta Cana is bustling with activity, and a lot is getting done. But the style is for landing a business deal over a leisurely lunch at the beach. And the guagua drivers have time to play a game of dominoes between bus changes, as can frequently be seen at the bus stops at Veron and Riu.

Leave the wool jacket and tie back home. While hotels may ask men to wear a light jacket when dining at one of their a la carte restaurants, leading entrepreneur Frank Rainieri, who coined the name of the Punta Cana destination, has decreed that East Coast etiquette calls for the "guayabera." The elegant white linen or cotton shirt-jacket goes better with the balmy climate. For women, casually elegant flowing clothes in white or colors will work well for evening. One of the best places to meet Dominicans is at any of Punta Cana's nightspots that are thronging with locals who mingle with the visitors. There will be time to practice the Latin dance steps that can be learned at the resorts, like merengue, bachata and salsa, and even the now very popular reggaeton. See the list of nightspots in this guide.

More and more resorts are opening Dominican and Caribbean food restaurants. Tourists taking excursions into the countryside will be treated to a Dominican meal - probably a delicious rice and stewed chicken with fried plantains. Also check for restaurants that offer the "plato del dia". See the list of restaurants in this guide. For restaurant reviews, see www.dr1.com/travel/puntacana

It's hot in Punta Cana, making air-conditioning a plus for those who can afford it. But take in the many details by innovative architects who are rising to the challenge by staging the best of the tropics for resort tourists. Some of the country's top decorators and architects are active in the region, designing resorts and luxury villas for the rich and famous. Even Oscar de la Renta has left his touch in tourism at the boutique hotel Tortuga Bay.

Note the many works of Dominican art in the architecture and decor of the area's hotels. The very colorful houses of El Seibo and La Otra Banda, prior to modernization, have been copied and are now preserved in the tourist shopping hamlets many resorts have recreated for their tourists. Many hotel lobbies make dramatic statements with the work by Jose Ignacio Morales, best known as "El Artistico," and his impressive metal statues. Take in the artwork created by leading Dominican artist Thimo Pimentel at the Punta Cana Village's Galeria, and his Huellas mural in honor of the original Igneris settlers at Cap Cana.

Browse through gift shops for arts and crafts that may catch your fancy to take home. Check out the clothing stores for local designs and details such as amber and larimar-studded fashions. See the Shopping section for information on where to shop.