If you’re looking for a family-friendly vacation destination that has everything on property, Club Med—pioneer of the all-inclusive concept—is an excellent choice. We visited the brand’s flagship North American resort, Club Med Punta Cana, set along the stunning coastline of the Dominican Republic. The property recently unveiled a series of renovations, including a refreshed poolside bar, a new coffee shop and lounge, an elevated food hall and updated rooms featuring spa-style bathrooms. But what we loved most were the choose-your-own-adventure activity options, from pickleball and tennis to yoga and, our favorite: circus classes.
Circus is a signature of Club Med with shows performed by professionals on stage in the evenings and circus classes are offered at many, but not all, Club Med resorts during the day. The programming is most commonly found at the brands Sun Resorts, such as Punta Cana, where it has become a popular activity for families.
Club Med’s Circus classes vary by resort, with each skill not offered at everything resort, but core offerings typically include flying trapeze (solo or duo), aerial silks, tightrope, high bungee, trampoline, juggling and aerial hoop/lyra.
A different apparatus is scheduled daily for guests to enjoy complimentary as part of the standard programming. For those looking for a more personalized experience, or to do an activity not on the schedule for that days, several resorts offer private one-on-one or small group exclusive sessions for an additional fee -which we think is well worth it for the extra attention and additional time to do things like fly through the sky on a trapeze or flip through the air on the high bungee.
Circus instruction has long been part of the fabric of the Club Med brand and we’re told the flying trapeze, is one of the brand’s most recognizable and longstanding activities and has become a beloved part of the experience for families and repeat guests.
Punta Cana is known for having one of the most robust circus setups, with expanded spaces and a wider selection of disciplines compared to typical resort programming. It’s a destination where guests can experience a more comprehensive range of circus activities, while other resorts offer a tailored selection based on their facilities and staffing.
While lessons are open for both children and adults, while the kids are in class, adults who don’t want to join them can find more grounding activities in the yoga pagoda, spa or in a chair under the sun on the beach.