Coco Loco and Bravo Bavaro - MBG's Winter Amnesia

MBG Earth - Bavaro, Punta Cana - March 15-19, 2026

Bravo Bavaro, going loco over coco and rum! Oh, the fun under the tantalizing sun! Scorched feet don’t care, with tingling sunburns dancing over our noses. Hats down and bottoms up, oh winter, do we know you? Certainly not! Bavaro is our sky this March Break!

With our 15-year-old in tow, it’s family fun, sandy toes, tropical adventures, and memories waiting to be made. From beach days to poolside play and a little mischief sprinkled in, Bavaro gets it, and Bavaro delivered! Oh, that much-needed Winter amnesia!

The Lounge, Air Canada.

We go ALL OUT with this vacation, and apparently that means throwing our luggage and our feet into the Air Canada Lounge first! Comfy seats, quiet corners, and an entire space practically designed for people to do their utmost relaxing. It seems they know that once your butt touches one of those chairs, you’re not getting up anytime soon, because who knows when you’ll find another one like it at your destination! 

Why travel if you’re just going to arrive exhausted and head straight to bed? The Air Canada Lounge had our jet-set brunettes fully recharged and ready for the adrenaline-filled adventures ahead. From the food options and spacious seating areas to the loungers and clean, fresh bathrooms, that little extra money spent here? Totally A-OK!

Because why not? Vacation mode starts the moment you wheel your luggage and long before you reach the resort!

Day 1: Enjoying Platinum Perks at Grand Bavaro Princess and Dinner at Choffin Buffet

Oh, that salty-sticky feel in the air, we were right back in our natural habitat!  The warm embrace of the sun, the kiss of the ocean breeze, and that deliciously sticky tropical air made us forget winter in an instant. The moment we stepped out of the airport, we felt it! The vibe, the warmth, the energy, the good times ahead. We looked at each other and just knew… this was going to be another epic vacation destination!

Barely landed and already in vacation mode, with the sun on our faces, the breeze in our hair, and absolutely zero thoughts of snow, jackets, or winter blues. From that very first breath of tropical air, Bavaro had us hooked, and we were more than ready to make some unforgettable memories under that tantalizing Caribbean sun!

Getting to the hotel was a smooth ride, made even better by those gorgeous seaside views along the way. Our hotel, Grand Bavaro Princess, may be archaic, but the location is golden, right along the tourist strip and blessed with one of the prettiest white-sand beaches in Bavaro.

And because apparently we like to travel with "yayamanin feels", we booked the exclusive Platinum Membership. Translation: our pleasantly well-fed selves get the VIP treatment: member-only beach space, a private pool, exclusive restaurants, and access to those oh-so-restricted areas. Basically, if there’s a “Platinum Only” sign, you know we’re pretending to own it. I'll spell it: every beat feels like a red-carpet moment in a swimsuit and bare feet!

Dinner that night was lovely, as if the unlimited Coco Locos and endless platters of whatever hadn’t already stretched our tummies to their limits! But apparently, we weren’t done yet. Off we went to Chopin Buffet with an unlimited feast of seafood, steak, pasta, desserts, and basically anything else we could stuff ourselves in.

It was the perfect ending to our first day in Punta Cana. Little did we know then… the Coco Loco madness was only getting started, and our days ahead were about to go completely gaga for Coco Loco! Oh, you sinful little sweet treat!

Day 2 - Exploring Hard Rock Hotel, breakfast at Cappuccino and Dinner at Soho

Being Platinum has its perks, and apparently, one of them is getting your name on the “You’re Invited!” list for just about any happenings around the area. New boutique? Invitation. New spa? Invitation. New hotel? Need I say more? 

So, naturally, when confronted by a "VIP", "Free", "no-obligation" and "invite-only" exclusive invitation to tour the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, we couldn't say no. Not exactly the newest kid on the Punta Cana block, but with their membership program feeling shiny, fresh, and very much ready to impress, we were more than happy to hop along. Apparently, they thought we had “the look” or maybe they just thought we had it all. LOL. Either way, we showed up! Who says no to freebies and VIP treats?

And honestly? That little trip to Hard Rock felt like a mini-holiday within our holiday. The biggest bonus was the waterpark, something Grand Bavaro Princess didn’t have. The father-daughter duo was especially thrilled, because why not? The vacation isn't complete without a few "what-did-I-get-into" moments. Whats more, Hard Rock's own version of Coco Loco, but I think wherever in Punta Cana, Coco Loco reigns supreme!

We wandered around, enjoyed the massive resort, checked out the amenities, sampled the food, and soaked up the whole Hard Rock experience. It was a completely different vibe from our hotel, and for a few hours, we happily pretended we were Hard Rock guests living the full rock-star resort life. 

Breakfast at Cappuccino, their Asian-Mexican fusion spot, was a welcome change. We happily ate in before heading back to Grand Bavaro Princess. Dinner at Soho brought us back to our hotel for a proper steak night and a touch of fine dining. After a full day of water slides, wandering, eating, and exploring, sitting down to a delicious meal felt like the perfect grand finale.

One hotel, one waterpark, two very happy bellies, and a whole lot of Platinum perks later… we were starting to realize that this vacation was going to be less about taking it easy and more about eating, exploring, and accepting every invitation that came our way!

Day 3: Cayacoa Cave, Cayacoa ATV and Cenote, dinner at Choffin Buffet

Throwing in a nature and cultural tour on our 3rd day in Bavaro is always one of the best decisions we make on every trip. We always have our Biw Day, where Biw gets to decide where we go and what we do, plus a scenic and cultural tour that lets us experience the destination beyond the usual tourist spots.

Our goal has always been an immersive experience, getting to know the places we visit, connecting with the locals, discovering their traditions, and, of course, tasting all the delicious local delicacies along the way.

Cayacoa Cave

A tour to Cayacoa Cave is easily one of the core memories of this trip. I enjoyed this adventure for so many reasons. We had a very experienced tour guide who brought the cave’s ancient history to life, but prior to that, we had a coffee and cocoa tasting. Back to the cave: the roots, the stalagmites, the earthy smell, the cool air, and every hidden corner seemed to stretch endlessly back into antiquity. It felt almost otherworldly, like stepping into a place untouched by time.

Despite its ancient silence, the cave felt incredibly alive. You could almost feel life breathing through the air, every little sound, movement, root, and living organism thriving in its own mysterious rhythm.

Cenote and ATV.

This one was definitely made for Papa and Biw, they absolutely live for adventure! So, diving into the cool emerald waters of a cenote after a strenuous ATV ride? For them, that’s the crème de la crème of the whole experience. Me? Well… I suffered through every bit of it, but I’ll take my little victory lap for surviving such an incredible adventure! Good job, little Mama.

Animal Feeding

Lately, in the Caribbean, farm animals and aviaries have become such a wonderful part of these tours, alongside cenotes, caves, and oh-so-beautiful, mystical lagoons! There’s something incredibly special about seeing how nature, animals, culture, and everyday life coexist.

No wonder the Caribbean keeps finding its way onto our dream-destination list. It’s one of those places that reminds us what true cohabitation between humans and animals can look like, surrounded by breathtaking nature and the most charming, warm, and accommodating locals.

Another day, another adventure, another little piece of paradise to take home with us. The day ended splendidly with a sumptuous dinner back at Choffin Buffet. And if I haven’t already highlighted above just how effortlessly this restaurant brings out your inner glutton, making a second trip here pretty much proves the point. Some places you visit once. Choffin Buffet? Apparently, twice is not even enough.

Day 4: Saona Island, Blue Lagoon, Playa Paimillia

There is always that "winning destination "in every trip, and for us, ours happened on the fourth day in beautiful Bavaro! We planned a cruise to none other than Saona Island — yes, that island! Jack Sparrow, anyone? 

But honestly, the cruise alone was already an unforgettable renegade moment. Every inch of the ship, every splash of the waves, and every salty breeze screamed FREEDOM! Forget Jack Sparrow; his rum is always gone, there is no freedom in that!

Abandon cause, abandon reason, throw in your bandana and just be merry, be wild, and party! The dancing all around us, the singing carried by the wind, and the endless laughter and giggles made the whole ocean feel like one giant celebration.

The Titas and Titos of our time were back in their Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake era, reliving their glory days like nobody was watching. Meanwhile, the little ones were out there casually playing grown-up, lounging by the mast, soaking in the sunshine, and taking it all in with their own little happy musings.

Somewhere between the music, the ocean, the laughter, and all the carefree madness, the cruise carried us onward to Blue Lagoon and Playa del Palmilla, the perfect finale after our little liberation and celebration at Saona Island. Saona wasn’t just a cruise; it was a whole mood!

Day 5: Enjoying Bavaro Princess and Platinum Perks, then back to Coco Loco Madness. 

Post-renegade mode, after our most liberating expedition to date, we came crawling back to Bavaro Princess, tamed, happy, and very, very sore.  Lol. I guess we had a few too many “Oops… I Did It Again” moments during that cruise, and clearly, we are no longer at the age of “Bringing Sexy Back.” Ouch. 

Anyway, goodbye to our feeling-teenagers era and hello to kwarentahin feels! Thankfully, Platinum Perks reminded us that a relaxing vacation can be just as liberating. Not that we regretted a single wild moment that came before, but our final day in Bavaro absolutely deserved some serious R&R.

We soaked up every bit of the hotel, from the powdery white-sand beach and exclusive pool to the private members-only dinner and, of course, the very generous servings of Coco Loco. We even squeezed in some souvenir shopping, picking up little treasures from the hotel’s exclusive shop and the beachside vendors.

And just like that, our Bavaro, Punta Cana adventure came to a delicious, sun-soaked, slightly tipsy close. From the food and the places to the rebellious cruise, the cave adventures, the cenotes, and those wonderfully lazy beach days, every part of it was exactly what we needed.

Bravo Bavaro, you were unforgettable. And now I’m a firm believer: any day is a good day with a Coco Loco. Onward to our next sunny trip, MBG.

*MBGXBavaro*    *TheMarcosesXPuntaCana*    *21/2Gypsies*