I can picture it now. I’ll start my day barefoot on the beach, the Caribbean sun rising over Juanillo’s sugar-white sands. The sea is warm and clear, the breeze soft with salt. Perfect for a dip after my gentle stroll. Then home to sip a rich coffee on my terrace, watching golfers glide across a lush green fairway below.
Few places have such postcard-perfect beaches as this exclusive Caribbean enclave…Click here to access our new special report, The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to the Dominican Republic
Then cycle to the market for fresh fruit…swim in the rooftop infinity pool as the sun melts into the sea…In the evening wander into a gallery and stroll around the marina. This is a place where I’ll linger over a long lunch with friends, or set off on a sunset sail from the marina…
I’m excited about my new condo in the Crystal Garden Community in Cap Cana.
Everything I need is will be right here: a spa, a gym with ocean views, a rooftop bar, one of the best beaches in the Caribbean just a short stroll away.
And, of course, a co-working space where I can stay on top of my work and investments.
Cap Cana isn’t a place you visit—it’s a place you feel. A lifestyle you step into, and never want to leave.
Here I am on stunning Playa Juanillo in Cap Cana, where the ultra-rich colors of the sand, sea, and sky pop with vitality.
Set on the Caribbean shores of the Dominican Republic, Cap Cana is often called a “master-planned community.” But that doesn’t quite capture the size and scale of what’s happening here. This is a secure bastion of wealth and luxury that functions with a high degree of autonomy.
The view from the rooftop amenities at the Crystal Garden Community in Cap Cana will be of the vibrant ocean… Although not to be considered final, renders give us a great idea of what RETA members will be getting.
In September I bought alongside RETA members in our first-ever deal here.
I bought for the gains—I figure on $275,000 five years after delivery.
I bought for the income opportunity…being silly conservative I expect gross yields of nearly 12% renting short term with plenty of time for personal use.
And I bought for the incredible lifestyle…
To stroll those white sands…swim in that warm azure water…play golf on that Jack Nicklaus course…dine in those gourmet restaurants…
The exclusive Caribbean community of Cap Cana has everything from water parks and a vast marina to perfect beaches, gourmet dining, and world-class golf.
And soon I’m about to bring members of my Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA) group a chance to buy too…
More about all that in a minute…
First, let me tell you about Cap Cana.
Before the 1970s the area on easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic was sparsely populated and hard to reach.
Then a pioneering partnership opened the area’s first resort in the Punta Cana Club.
Roads were improved…and in 1984 Punta Cana Airport welcomed its first international flight. From there the international hotel chains recognized the opportunity and arrived.
With the birth of Cap Cana in the early 2000s things ramped up considerably…
The Caribbean islands are home to some of the world’s most luxurious communities but Cap Cana is unique in the sheer variety, scale and size of what it offers. It’s also among the most accessible, only 10 minutes from Punta Cana airport—the region’s most connected and largest airport. Read our brand-new special report on buying here: The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to the Dominican Republic.
The vision for Cap Cana was to create a destination that would offer luxury living and world-class amenities.
It’s wrong to think of Cap Cana as just a master-planned community.
This is 30,000 acres—twice the size of Manhattan—planned down to the last perfect blade of grass to be one of the leading luxury communities in the entire Caribbean.
Nearly two billion dollars has been spent on infrastructure and facilities.
The wealthy fly their horses here to stable them in Cap Cana’s state-of-the-art equestrian facility.
The centrepiece of Cap Cana is the marina, one of the largest in the Caribbean, capable of accommodating mega yachts up to 250 feet. Some of the world’s best sports fishing tournaments are run out of here.
The waters around Cap Cana marina are renowned for their world-class sports fishing, attracting anglers from around the globe in pursuit of marlin, sailfish, and other prized catches.
And since it opened in 2006 the Punta Espada Golf Course has been ranked among the world’s finest. The renowned Golf Week magazine ranked it as the “No. 1 course in the Caribbean and Mexico” and Golf Digest as 35th in the world. I can’t wait to play along the sea as an owner in Cap Cana.
Cap Cana is home to the largest water park in the Caribbean, El Dorado Park. It opened in March 2024 and includes an amphitheater for live music and shows which was inaugurated by Elton John. (Tickets were from $830 to $2,180.)
And then there’s Juanillo beach, a contender for the best beach on earth.
The RETA deal where I bought alongside RETA members is a stroll or a two-minute golf-cart ride to this beach.
Juanillo beach. You can walk for miles along the sand, paddleboard, snorkel, kayak, or simply relax at the beach club.
And a highlight is the plans for the $500-million Juanillo Village.
This is a lavish project with a Barcelona-inspired shopping street leading down to Juanillo Beach. The plan is for art galleries, boutiques, cafés…
Juanillo Beach is set to be the beating heart with the development of Juanillo Village.
Planners have told my team that Las Ramblas, Barcelona, pictured, serves as inspiration for the main drag of Juanillo Village.
As I say, I bought in Cap Cana alongside RETA members. To remind you:
- I expect our condos will be worth $275,000 more just five years after delivery.
- Being silly conservative I expect gross yields of nearly 12% renting short term.
- And I’m in for the lifestyle…to stroll the white sands…swim in that warm azure water…play golf on that Jack Nicklaus course…dine in those gourmet restaurants…
Now the good news…
I’m working on a new deal in Cap Cana…it’s just as stunning as the last…
I can’t wait to spend time in Cap Cana…to golf…to dine…to stroll the beach…the last RETA deal here was a chance to own best-in-class real estate at RETA pricing in a unique luxury destination…a stroll to one of the best beaches on earth.
Right now, Cap Cana is at the sweet spot moment. That inflection point. The luxury amenities are in…condos in the marina are into the $600,000s and much, much more…Just across the road from Crystal Garden is Juanillo Village. As I say, this is a high-end $500-million project set to anchor Cap Cana. Typical two-bed condos in Juanillo Village are also set to list for $600,000 and up, and I don’t expect them to have the same expansive and verdant views as Crystal Garden. …Yet thanks to our members only deal we will be able to buy at prices you wouldn’t believe.
I’ll be sharing more details of this opportunity very soon. But I can assure you, it’s something to get excited about.
And don’t forget to read our free report: The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to the Dominican Republic.
Inside, you’ll get insights on taxes, residency, healthcare, property laws, and a breakdown of the island’s best regions.
Wishing you good real estate investing,
Ronan McMahon
Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
P.S. This week I’m sharing some of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic. Today, we’ll look at Playa Saona.
Nestled off the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Playa Saona epitomizes the quintessential Caribbean paradise. Located within Cotubanamá National Park, this expansive stretch of powdery white sand is fringed by towering palm trees that sway gently in the tropical breeze, while the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea caress the shoreline in rhythmic waves.
Where the palms meet the sea—Playa Saona’s untouched beauty is pure Caribbean daydream.
As a protected nature reserve, the beach remains largely untouched by modern development, offering visitors an unspoiled retreat. The surrounding marine environment boasts vibrant coral reefs teeming with starfish, sea turtles, and tropical fish, making it an ideal spot for snorkeling and swimming.
Saona Island lies just 1.5 miles off the mainland, separated by the Catuano Strait. Accessible primarily by catamaran or speedboat from Bayahibe, the journey itself is part of the adventure, passing through mangroves and shallow sandbanks where marine life thrives.
Beyond its natural beauty, Saona Island holds historical significance—it was named by Christopher Columbus in 1494 and was once home to the Taíno people. Today, visitors can bask in the sun, explore the rich biodiversity, or simply relax to the soothing sounds of nature in this Caribbean sanctuary.
If you haven’t already done so, make sure to read our special report here.
