Walking Around Natura Park area?

We'll be visiting Natura Park Resort for 4 days in mid-February. We have never stayed at an all-inclusive before. We are generally pretty adventuresome, but is it advisable to leave the complex and walk along the road in the evening? or the beach? Do street vendors leave you alone if you just say, "no, thanks." or are they hard sell. Can you just chat with locals, or are they suspicious of tourists. We stayed in Negril, Jamaica last year and absolutely loved wandering wherever we wanted and enjoyed the people immensely. Will we be able to do the same in the Punta Cana area?

The hotels in the area are rather close if you walk on the beach strip, far away if you go by the outside road. Feel free to walk on the beach, and then take a taxi back when you get tired -- it's about a 40 km stretch. Hotels nearest to you are the Allegro and Catalonia Bavaro Resort to the south and Bavaro Barcelo hotels to the north. There is a 4 wheel motor bike tour up the coastline, that should be interesting and then you can choose your hotel for next year. You will find Dominicans are spontaneous and friendly people.

Check out Debbie's Dominican webpage for lots of info on the DR. I dont have the address handy but you can find her page by looking at INFOSEEK.com and typing in Debbie's Dominican. Good luck.

By the way, I'll be at Natura Park Feb 14-21. When will you be there?