The Cap Cana area in the DR is awesome!
https://www.ironman.com/im703-cap-cana
Can I get my lazy ass in 70.3 shape by April?
This is good for the area, I remember being down there for some triathlon work when they began working on this back in 2016.
Congrats to them for finally getting it landed.
But is it safe at all to travel to the DR and go outside the resorts? Also thinking of risk of theft of bikes etc.
The Cap Cana area in the DR is awesome!
https://www.ironman.com/im703-cap-cana
Can I get my lazy ass in 70.3 shape by April?
Sounds like another overpriced Ironman race location. How about some better domestic races venues that you can drive to rather than fly? Ironman needs to do better than Muncie 70.3.
But is it safe at all to travel to the DR and go outside the resorts? Also thinking of risk of theft of bikes etc.
The Cap Cana area is gated with its own security. It’s where wealthy Dominicans live and where several high end resorts exist. It’s likely the safest part of the DR.
The course description says 20% of the bike course is within Cap Cana and the other 80% is on the national highway.
The Cap Cana area in the DR is awesome!
https://www.ironman.com/im703-cap-cana
Can I get my lazy ass in 70.3 shape by April?
Sounds like another overpriced Ironman race location. How about some better domestic races venues that you can drive to rather than fly? Ironman needs to do better than Muncie 70.3.
The DR is actually not that expensive all things considered given that it’s a very popular resort destination. The resorts in the Cap Cana area certainly cost more $$$ than the usual resort areas up in Punta Cana but I didn’t think it was insane.
It will be more expensive than Muncie, IN though. 
It may be the first time IM comes to the DR but the Tri Cap Cana half has been around a while… curious if it’s the same course.
I am actually just learning about this one as of yesterday. I missed this post back in September and never got any emails or saw it in Facebook and like to think I’m one who hears/learns about these races early. I usually pay attention. Apparently not…
Having just done a very large, very expensive race-cation with palm trees and blue water, I might have to wait until 2025 before I race again in a faraway tropical place. But it’s so much easier for us to get to the Caribbean. I’ve never been to the Dominican Republic, so this looks really interesting. I hear the local people are really nice and welcoming. And it’s a beautiful Island. And probably an easy flight from JFK.
Anyone know how the open water swimming is before and after the triathlon? Any good beaches safe for OWS? I love doing that before and after a race. Even if it’s doing laps close to the beach.
The area where the race is located is safe as you can possibly be in the DR. The oceanfront in Cap Cana is almost exclusively resorts. Just swim out from whatever resort you’re staying at.
It’s the ocean so you’re at the mercy of ocean conditions.
The area where the race is located is safe as you can possibly be in the DR. The oceanfront in Cap Cana is almost exclusively resorts. Just swim out from whatever resort you’re staying at.
It’s the ocean so you’re at the mercy of ocean conditions.
Right the ocean can be unpredictable at times. I never stray too far from shore. And it looks like the Cap Cana has miles of beach.
I am actually just learning about this one as of yesterday. I missed this post back in September and never got any emails or saw it in Facebook and like to think I’m one who hears/learns about these races early. I usually pay attention. Apparently not…
Having just done a very large, very expensive race-cation with palm trees and blue water, I might have to wait until 2025 before I race again in a faraway tropical place. But it’s so much easier for us to get to the Caribbean. I’ve never been to the Dominican Republic, so this looks really interesting. I hear the local people are really nice and welcoming. And it’s a beautiful Island. And probably an easy flight from JFK.
Anyone know how the open water swimming is before and after the triathlon? Any good beaches safe for OWS? I love doing that before and after a race. Even if it’s doing laps close to the beach.
Rev3 put on races in the area for 2 years (2017 & 18 IIRC) and they were awesome. Can’t remember the exact location of the 1’st one (Punta Cana) but not far from the Marriott we stayed at. The 2’nd one was a short walk down the beach from Secrets (Cap Cana). We did do some site-seeing when in Punta Cana and not at an all-inclusive and it had an unsafe feel fairly quickly. When at Secrets, we didn’t leave Cap Cana. VERY safe feel to it.
I am actually just learning about this one as of yesterday. I missed this post back in September and never got any emails or saw it in Facebook and like to think I’m one who hears/learns about these races early. I usually pay attention. Apparently not…
Having just done a very large, very expensive race-cation with palm trees and blue water, I might have to wait until 2025 before I race again in a faraway tropical place. But it’s so much easier for us to get to the Caribbean. I’ve never been to the Dominican Republic, so this looks really interesting. I hear the local people are really nice and welcoming. And it’s a beautiful Island. And probably an easy flight from JFK.
Anyone know how the open water swimming is before and after the triathlon? Any good beaches safe for OWS? I love doing that before and after a race. Even if it’s doing laps close to the beach.
Rev3 put on races in the area for 2 years (2017 & 18 IIRC) and they were awesome. Can’t remember the exact location of the 1’st one (Punta Cana) but not far from the Marriott we stayed at. The 2’nd one was a short walk down the beach from Secrets (Cap Cana). We did do some site-seeing when in Punta Cana and not at an all-inclusive and it had an unsafe feel fairly quickly. When at Secrets, we didn’t leave Cap Cana. VERY safe feel to it.
Thanks that’s good to know. I would prefer feeling safe! I would be open to an all-inclusive. Just have to check to make sure they have veggie food for us. Nowadays it’s gotten so much easier. Kona had so much food for us in the restaurants there. There are some AirB&Bs available in the Cap Cana area. I do like having a kitchen. I’ve eaten well on all the Caribbeans islands I’ve been to so far (restaurants and cooking my own food). So not too worried about that. Being able to do a little open water swimming and nice beaches is more of a thing for me to research. But sounds like it’s good in the Cap Cana area.
We stayed at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana last year. The 18+ sister resort (Hyatt Zilara) is right next door. They share almost all amenities and restaurants with each other. My wife is a vegetarian and there was no shortage of places to eat. I think the two places combined have like 15 restaurants. The Ziva has a club level restaurant that is organic with half the menu being vegetarian.
The resorts in Cap Cana are going to be a bit more expensive than Punta Cana. The resorts are mostly new and higher end than Punta Cana. The Ziva and Zilara are 4.5 star resorts so it ain’t cheap but if I were doing the race I’d stay at the Ziva, Zilara, or Secrets (also owned by Hyatt and also 18+).
I think the race hotel is going to be Margaritaville from what I recall.
We stayed at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana last year. The 18+ sister resort (Hyatt Zilara) is right next door. They share almost all amenities and restaurants with each other. My wife is a vegetarian and there was no shortage of places to eat. I think the two places combined have like 15 restaurants. The Ziva has a club level restaurant that is organic with half the menu being vegetarian.
The resorts in Cap Cana are going to be a bit more expensive than Punta Cana. The resorts are mostly new and higher end than Punta Cana. The Ziva and Zilara are 4.5 star resorts so it ain’t cheap but if I were doing the race I’d stay at the Ziva, Zilara, or Secrets (also owned by Hyatt and also 18+).
I think the race hotel is going to be Margaritaville from what I recall.
Thanks this is all good intel. We would need an 18+ resort. Nice that they have those. I will definitely scope out that organic restaurant!
I checked flights and it’s $500 from the major cities where I am likely to be in April. I am looking for a half ironman around that time. Oceanside is sold out and Texas looks miserable. This one would be a major candidate but would need to figure out how much lodging costs and whether I could split it with someone as a divorced/single dude
I checked flights and it’s $500 from the major cities where I am likely to be in April. I am looking for a half ironman around that time. Oceanside is sold out and Texas looks miserable. This one would be a major candidate but would need to figure out how much lodging costs and whether I could split it with someone as a divorced/single dude
Check out some AirB&Bs for this one. There are some in the Cap Cana area. That might be more economical.
Just an fyi - I did the Texas 70.3 in Galveston (2019). I loved it! But the only caveat is the unpredictable weather lately. A crazy microburst storm came in and shut the whole race down. I was in the first AG to start so luckily got to finish but my friend didn’t finish. He did go back the following year to finish it. But if I think this new one in Cap Cana, DR sounds really fun. I personally love the Caribbean so I would vote for this one. But Texas 70.3 is not a bad option if you decide to stay in the US. It’s a PR course!
ETA - Cap Cana will be infinitely hotter. So it will be a lot of sitting in the sauna before I do this one (still thinking 2025 for me). When I did Texas 70.3 it was cloudy and overcast and even the run felt cooler than normal. I think it could be warm on a sunny day but nothing like the Caribbean.
Thanks for the info. I guess I just feel like if I’m going to spend a couple thousand dollars it should be beautiful. I know the gulf coast. It’s ugly. It’s not cute or fun or exotic, but it is flat. I don’t care about a PR really, because I have no records. I do worry about the lack of competition in the DR… I really don’t want to win my first triathlon, that would be sort of embarrassing.
Thanks for the info. I guess I just feel like if I’m going to spend a couple thousand dollars it should be beautiful. I know the gulf coast. It’s ugly. It’s not cute or fun or exotic, but it is flat. I don’t care about a PR really, because I have no records. I do worry about the lack of competition in the DR… I really don’t want to win my first triathlon, that would be sort of embarrassing.
IIRC - the winner when it was Rev3 did a 4:15’ish in very hot and humid conditions…
Swim was beautiful. Bike was “ok” but then I usually focus on the road ahead. Run was beautiful. Cocktails at the resort were rum focused (as you would expect).
We stayed at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana last year. The 18+ sister resort (Hyatt Zilara) is right next door. They share almost all amenities and restaurants with each other. My wife is a vegetarian and there was no shortage of places to eat. I think the two places combined have like 15 restaurants. The Ziva has a club level restaurant that is organic with half the menu being vegetarian.
The resorts in Cap Cana are going to be a bit more expensive than Punta Cana. The resorts are mostly new and higher end than Punta Cana. The Ziva and Zilara are 4.5 star resorts so it ain’t cheap but if I were doing the race I’d stay at the Ziva, Zilara, or Secrets (also owned by Hyatt and also 18+).
I think the race hotel is going to be Margaritaville from what I recall.
Thanks this is all good intel. We would need an 18+ resort. Nice that they have those. I will definitely scope out that organic restaurant!
I only mentioned 18+ in case you were thinking about bringing kids under 18. I actually preferred the Ziva side over the Zilara side. I was there during New Year’s week and kids weren’t an issue at all.
Some 18+ resorts can be more noisy and more annoying than a family resort depending if there are a lot of 18-25 year olds looking to drink themselves stupid all week. Won’t be an issue at Zilara or Secrets because there won’t be many young folks who can afford it. ðŸ˜
Chinola is the name of the organic restaurant. I thought it was the best restaurant at Ziva/Zilara. As I stated, it’s for club level guests only. I’d recommend going for club level because there are other perks too. It wasn’t that much more for club level.
We stayed at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana last year. The 18+ sister resort (Hyatt Zilara) is right next door. They share almost all amenities and restaurants with each other. My wife is a vegetarian and there was no shortage of places to eat. I think the two places combined have like 15 restaurants. The Ziva has a club level restaurant that is organic with half the menu being vegetarian.
The resorts in Cap Cana are going to be a bit more expensive than Punta Cana. The resorts are mostly new and higher end than Punta Cana. The Ziva and Zilara are 4.5 star resorts so it ain’t cheap but if I were doing the race I’d stay at the Ziva, Zilara, or Secrets (also owned by Hyatt and also 18+).
I think the race hotel is going to be Margaritaville from what I recall.
Thanks this is all good intel. We would need an 18+ resort. Nice that they have those. I will definitely scope out that organic restaurant!
I only mentioned 18+ in case you were thinking about bringing kids under 18. I actually preferred the Ziva side over the Zilara side. I was there during New Year’s week and kids weren’t an issue at all.
Some 18+ resorts can be more noisy and more annoying than a family resort depending if there are a lot of 18-25 year olds looking to drink themselves stupid all week. Won’t be an issue at Zilara or Secrets because there won’t be many young folks who can afford it. ðŸ˜
Chinola is the name of the organic restaurant. I thought it was the best restaurant at Ziva/Zilara. As I stated, it’s for club level guests only. I’d recommend going for club level because there are other perks too. It wasn’t that much more for club level.
Interesting, I hadn’t thought about 18-25 yr olds partying. That wouldn’t be awesome for me. I don’t mind paying a bit more to have a more peaceful (less annoying) experience. And good tip on the club level. Thanks!
I feel like I’m becoming an old fart as a 40 plus resort would sound pretty darn good to me