Puerto Plata vs Punta Cana: which is sunnier?
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic vs 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic · 267 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Punta Cana is the sunnier overall: about 2,882 hours of sunshine a year to Puerto Plata's 2,675. Punta Cana has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months; the other 7 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Puerto Plata | Punta Cana | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,675 | 2,882 |
| Sunniest month | February (89/100) | February (91/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 84/100 | 88/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 84/100 | 86/100 |
| Rain / year | 725 mm | 650 mm |
| Warmest sea | 30°C / 86°F | 30°C / 86°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 11 (extreme) |
Puerto Plata vs Punta Cana month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Plata | Punta Cana | Puerto Plata | Punta Cana | Puerto Plata | Punta Cana | Puerto Plata | Punta Cana | |
| January | 86 | 89 | 27° | 26° | 50 | 38 | 27° | 28° |
| February | 89 | 91 | 27° | 26° | 29 | 26 | 27° | 27° |
| March | 88 | 91 | 27° | 26° | 39 | 26 | 27° | 27° |
| April | 86 | 88 | 28° | 27° | 47 | 46 | 27° | 28° |
| May | 80 | 82 | 28° | 27° | 78 | 75 | 28° | 29° |
| June | 86 | 87 | 29° | 28° | 50 | 50 | 29° | 29° |
| July | 84 | 86 | 30° | 29° | 57 | 55 | 28° | 30° |
| August | 83 | 84 | 30° | 29° | 66 | 67 | 29° | 30° |
| September | 81 | 82 | 30° | 29° | 76 | 74 | 29° | 30° |
| October | 80 | 84 | 30° | 29° | 80 | 68 | 30° | 30° |
| November | 77 | 82 | 28° | 28° | 99 | 79 | 29° | 29° |
| December | 85 | 88 | 27° | 27° | 54 | 46 | 28° | 28° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Punta Cana · Feb even · Mar Punta Cana · Apr even · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct Punta Cana · Nov Punta Cana · Dec Punta Cana.
When to pick which
- November–February: Punta Cana (average score 88/100 vs 84). Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 27°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Puerto Plata averages 85/100, Punta Cana 87/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 27°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Puerto Plata averages 84/100, Punta Cana 86/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Puerto Plata averages 81/100, Punta Cana 83/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 29°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 30°C / 86°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Puerto Plata all year, Punta Cana all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Puerto Plata weather by month · Punta Cana weather by month · Best time to visit Dominican Republic.
More comparisons: Puerto Plata vs Santo Domingo · Puerto Plata vs Port-au-Prince · Puerto Plata vs Cap Haitien · Punta Cana vs San Juan · Punta Cana vs Santo Domingo · Punta Cana vs Cancún · all head-to-heads