In the Caribbean, no island is as synonymous with "party" as the Dominican Republic and, on the island, Punta Cana reigns supreme.  The palm-lined beaches along the Coconut Coast, home to countless resorts vying to outdo each other in amenities and party-power, play no small part in making the Punta Cana airport the most visited in the Caribbean. This year, Blue Diamond Resorts added to DR’s raucous roster of celebration with the first Caribbean Pride, a weeklong bash hosted at its adults-only, ultra-luxury property, CHIC by Royalton, and even a hurricane couldn’t quiet the island’s pride.

Originally scheduled from September 16-23, Hurricane Maria’s double punch to the Caribbean (battering an already weakened region just days after Hurricane Irma tore through) managed to cut the festivities a little short, but not before proud partiers took over CHIC for five days of nonstop revelry. The event’s Plan It guide was packed with debaucherous programs, starting the party early each day with alcoholic ice breakers like Crush It (mojito making), Sip It (mamajuana mixology) and Swallow It (hot shots mixology). Famed Toronto drag queen Miss Conception hosted afternoon games ranging from Dab It (poolside bingo) and Werk It (bathing beauty contest) to the popular Miss/Mr. Caribbean Pride Contest, Win It. For the more physical of the frolickers, Caribbean Pride offered multiple wellness-with-a-twist programs: Wiggle It (samba lessons), Twirl It (pole-dancing classes), Spike It (pool volleyball), Shake It (Brazilian Cardio), and even Ride It (bull riding). As packed as the days were, though, the nightly parties were the main attractions and included the Xposed Pool Party, Femme Fatale, Electric Circus, and the Sashay Away Saturday performance by DJ Darnell. For those up early and still feeling a little too much of the previous night’s celebration, morning programs like Burn It (hangover cures) and Blend It (smoothie workshop) helped ease the groggy back into another day of hedonism. Pride swag decked the property from top to bottom as CHIC staff packed as much party into one week as possible.

Located in northern Punta Cana on Uvero Alto, less crowded on both sand and sea than the more populated Bavaro Beach, CHIC by Royalton isn’t just in all-inclusive, it bills itself as All-Exclusive, referring to the property’s hyper-personalization of your stay, spanning from the color of the lights in your suite to the Sports Event Guarantee, assuring that you can view your favorite team’s game in any major sport at SCORE Sports Bar & Lounge. With daily blowouts, opportunities to indulge are endless.  Ride a unicorn or get lost in the sudsy mayhem of a foam party, show off on the runway at a poolside fashion show featuring the CHIC Angels, dress to impress for a moonlight beach bash, or ogle shimmering mermaids swimming in a glass-walled pool at a mermaid party. CHIC is the premier social destination for upscale, round-the-clock parties—even when the public party is over, 24-hour complimentary room-service keeps the private party going until you’re ready to crash in your handcrafted DreamBed, designed exclusively for Blue Diamond Resorts.

Diamond Club suites are also stocked with premium liquor taps to keep the drinks freely flowing. Diamond Club service also comes with VIP check-in and a personal butler who provides services ranging from unpacking and ironing to accommodating unique requests. Butlers will oversee the care of your suite, orient you to the resort and its programs, and check in with you daily to ensure you’re making the most of your time at CHIC. Still not sure if you want to spring for Diamond Club luxury? Other perks include an oversize soaking tub, a rain shower, and a private beach with plush cabanas serviced by a waterfront grill with an exclusive menu for members.

You may not want to leave the all-inclusive atmosphere of CHIC by Royalton at all, but take at least one afternoon to explore some of the natural beauty of the Dominican Republic beyond the sparkling beach of Uvero Alto. If snorkeling is your shtick, you’re in luck: the 30 km coral reef off Punta Cana is the island’s longest and tour operators will shuttle you to areas not affected by most of the coast’s busy boat traffic for calmer waters and maximum wildlife encounters. A less physical option is a serene catamaran tour of the Bavaro coastline, where you can gaze back at the island while enjoying a drink at sea. There’s also adventure to be had on land: Get down and dirty on a dune buggy, experiencing the lush landscape of Punta Cana up close and personal as you learn about island life away from the resorts and visit rural villages, stop in town for a drink, and learn about local customs with your guide. End up at yet another sparkling beach to rinse off the mud (yup) before heading back to CHIC. Pro tip: Bring junk clothes for this one—they’ll be ruined (there’s a mudproof, waterproof box atop your buggy for sensitive items like your wallet, phone, and camera).

Though the nearest major city is about an hour’s drive away, there’s still some off-property nightlife to be found in Punta Cana, too. Coco Bongo, the legendary performance-turned-dance-party of Cancun fame, opened a Punta Cana location in 2014 and it’s been a must-visit for revelers ever since.  A circular theater with a central stage under state of the art lighting and sound systems surrounded by dance floor and VIP tables, the open-bar party features 2.5 hours of lavish performances featuring all manner of entertainers from acrobats to singers, and dancing, dancing, dancing. Some may not be comfortable with the sardine-packed nature of the crowd, but others will recognize its validation of the show’s popularity. It’s not a quiet evening of dinner theater; it’s a wild night of drinking theater!

With the success of Caribbean Pride 2017, Blue Diamond Resorts recently announced that the party will return to CHIC Punta Cana during the week of September 15-22, 2018. Caribbean Pride 2018 will include more than 50 events over 7 high-energy days of non-stop celebration, offsite excursions, and performances from international DJs and drag queens, including Toronto’s Miss Conception, who will return after launching the inaugural Caribbean Pride with such success in 2017.

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Contributor Brandon Schultz |

Locale Dominican Republic |

Topic Gay Pride | Caribbean Pride | CHIC Resorts | Travel |