Rancho Macao

Punta CanaArabiaAsia PacificCanadaCaribbeanEuropeLatin AmericaUnited StatesPhotograph by

Edited by MastercardSHAREMelanie Fourie

16 September 2014If you came to Punta Cana to explore the exquisitely rugged landscape, all-terrain buggies are the best way to do it. Better still when you book a tour at a place like Rancho Macao: That way, you have a guide to lead the way as you bound for hours in your high-speed, four-wheel-drive buggy.Sporting your coolest sunglasses, swimsuit, and whichever clothes can stand up to mud splatters, you strap into the seat of your little red buggy. Your new set of wheels comes with storage space for your stuff (as well as a cooler for much-needed snacks), and you quickly get used to the feel of the steering wheel and the rev of the engine. After a few instructions from your guide, you’re off!Navigate your way through the puddles on a winding dirt road as you whiz past palm trees, banana plantations, and secluded farmland, all accented by Punta Cana’s impressive mountain range in the distance. Ahead of you, you watch your friends’ buggy bowl through the mud puddles, and you give a whoop as you race through with a satisfying splash.