I've always been a water baby: quite literally an Aquarius sun and rising, so consider it cosmically kismet. It is for this same reason that the dreamy cenote-style pool at Lopesan Caoba Lagoon Resort Spa & Casino [1] in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic has remained in my mind since I first experienced the property this past August.
Much like the temperatures I experienced in Los Cabos, Mexico [2] this past July, the real-feel temperatures in Punta Cana during the month of August are hot and humid, making it the perfect environment for spending (literally) every day at the pool, which is exactly what I did on this trip.
About Lopesan Caoba Lagoon Resort Spa & Casino
- The resort features 554 accommodations.
- The property has a buffet, in addition to seven à-la-carte restaurants, offering flavors from Brazil to Asia, Italy, and Mexico.
- Anchoring the complex is The Boulevard, a walkable open-air promenade lined with dining, entertainment, and leisure options, connecting guests staying at Lopesan Caoba Lagoon, Lopesan Serenity Bay, Lopesan Splash Cove, and Lopesan Costa Bávaro.
- The Boulevard also boasts a 820-seat theater, nightclub, casino, 16,000-square-foot spa, and fitness facility.
- Most memorably, the resort has their own signature Lagoon Pool and cenote-style pools, ten waterfalls, and complimentary access to the Aquatica Waterpark.
What I Liked About Lopesan Caoba Lagoon Resort Spa & Casino
Upon entry at the Lopesan Caoba Lagoon location, I felt immediately transported via the moody color palette and large artificial trees hand carved by artisans meant to evoke the feeling of a tropical forest canopy. "This space feels like an elevated Rainforest Cafe," is specifically what I said to our host on our first day, which I meant in earnest, in the best way.
Down the main staircase adjacent to the entry was the Aura bar, where we had our first group drinks, and took in the space that continued the rainforest feel with various faux botanical installations that extended to the very top of the tall ceilings.
Overall, I really enjoyed the elevated, thoughtful interiors that felt magically transportative throughout the property.
The Pools
As mentioned, the property contained several pools – most notably, their lagoon pool, as well as three connecting cenote-style pools that featured waterfalls, the Om Spa pool, a wave pool and Aquatica water park, just to name a few.
The most magical of the bunch were the cenotes, with a surface area of 2,850 meters and a maximum depth of 4.4-5 feet, making it a pool unlike any other I have ever experienced before, and taking "playing mermaids" to a whole new level for both children and adults alike.
As I swam through the gigantic pool, reminiscent of a water park ride in its own right, I was also reminded of swimming in my best friend's backyard pool for hours when we were younger, our fingertips wrinkled to oblivion from prolonged water exposure, our cheeks sun-kissed while blissfully living through the fictional mermaid storyline and underwater dramas we had created for ourselves many summers ago.
I spent most of the trip swimming through these cenotes, under the waterfalls, and through the various artificial (but incredibly life-like) cave structures, imagining how much fun I would have had as a kid, and arguably was still having as an adult. The sheer size of the pool also allowed you to feel like you were in your own oasis, never feeling overcrowded or overwhelmed amongst other resort guests.
Dining
This all-inclusive resort offers The Pavillion buffet for daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, closing between each meal time to prepare for the following service. On two occasions, we ordered room service via the Lopesan app directly to our room, which I really enjoyed, and do recommend ordering early if you can. The fresh fruit was unreal!
The dining experiences for dinner on the property were incredibly unique, as there are several a la carte restaurants to choose from that bring flavors, inspiration and even chefs from all around the world to provide culinary experiences for guests. The restaurants are a part of the all-inclusive, but reservations must be made in advance, just to note.
Our first dinner was at Sotto Terra (Italian) followed by Lima (Peruvian), Brassa Nova (Brazilian), and ended at Indra (Indian) on the last night of our stay, and it was arguably my favorite meal of the trip, including chicken tikka masala and cheesy garlic naan. My favorite beverage of the trip was a frozen banana mama: rum, coconut rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine and banana.
In addition to the food, the interior design of each restaurant had decor pieces sourced from each country of origin that the restaurant was meant to depict, which continued the theme of transporting guests to other worlds in a memorable way.
The Spa
We were treated to a hydrotherapy session at the Om Spa which felt very private, and relaxing, and made for a great recovery day from the lively white party at Bavaro beach the evening before. The Om Spa, located at the very end of the Boulevard, also includes: 31 treatment rooms, a full-service gym, pickleball courts, and various signature wellness programs.
Final Thoughts
The lovely Lopesan Caoba property is ideal for both solo trips and families, as there are endless amounts of activities and experiences for all ages, and what better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than with a trip to the Dominican Republic? But truthfully, any time of year would be a great time to escape to this multifaceted property.
I personally left the trip feeling revived from all of the swimming that I had done, and hope to someday have a pool of my very own at home, perhaps not as extravagant as a cenote, but a girl can dream!
Emily Zirimis [4] is the associate creative director at Popsugar. Before joining the PS team, she worked as Creative Design Director at Teen Vogue for nearly six years. She holds a BFA in Communications Design with a minor in Art History from Pratt Institute and has been working in the digital media space since 2014.