All-Inclusive

Margaritaville Resorts

Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton

Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Family-Friendly Party & Nightlife

5.0 Stars

268 Rooms

10 Restaurants

7 Pools

Opened 2021

What Guests Say

8/ 10

Good

Based on 1.7k reviews

Category Scores

Dining

Service

Rooms

8.5

Cleanliness

Location

9.5

Value

7.5

Guests Love

Culinary Excellence
Guests consistently praise the extensive and high-quality food options, from diverse buffets to à la carte restaurants, creating a delightful culinary journey throughout their stay.
Exceptional Service
The resort's staff are frequently highlighted for their attentiveness, friendliness, and efficiency, contributing significantly to a positive and seamless guest experience from check-in to departure.
Luxurious Accommodations
Rooms are lauded for being modern, spacious, clean, and well-appointed, featuring comforts like rainfall showers and often offering stunning ocean views that enhance the stay.
Pristine Beach & Pools
Direct access to the beautiful white sands of Juanillo Beach, combined with a variety of well-maintained pools, provides ample opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment for all ages.
Unique Ambiance
The resort successfully blends a free-spirited Caribbean vibe with luxury, offering a playful yet sophisticated atmosphere that appeals to diverse guests, whether families or adults-only.

Guests Warn

Potential Extra Costs
Guests should be mindful that some premium dining experiences, specific dishes, or spa services may incur additional charges beyond the standard all-inclusive rate, impacting overall value perception.
Room Service Limitations
While 24-hour room service is offered, it does not include alcoholic beverages and has a more restricted menu after breakfast hours, which can be a minor inconvenience for some.
Pool Temperature
Some guests have noted that the pool water can be quite cool, particularly during certain seasons, which might affect enjoyment for those who prefer warmer water for swimming.

Aggregate score derived from public review platforms. Category scores reflect our editorial assessment based on analysis of guest reviews. ResortFlock is not affiliated with or endorsed by any review platform.

Reviewed by Resort Flock Staff·Last updated August 2026

Overview

Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave is the family-oriented section of the larger Island Reserve property on Juanillo Beach in Cap Cana — the resort split into family (Wave) and adults-only (Hammock) sections in October 2022. At 516 rooms, Wave is the larger of the two. The property sits 13–15 kilometers from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), typically a 13–20 minute drive — one of the faster airport connections in the Cap Cana corridor.

What makes this more than a standard all-inclusive is Karisma's Gourmet Inclusive program. The system covers a wider spectrum of dining quality and beverage selection than typical all-inclusives, and includes a customizable in-room refreshment center — guests use a point system through Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions to personalize their minibar. The 10+ dining and bar venues range from the international buffet at The Boathouse to the LandShark Brewery & Grill (the only LandShark brewery outside the US), JWB Steakhouse, and Frank & Lola's Italian Trattoria.

Families specifically benefit from the Parakeet Kids Club, which runs supervised programs for children aged 4–12 — arts, cooking classes, lab experiments, and movie screenings. Parents get genuinely usable resort time. The four pools in the Wave section include a dedicated kids' pool and three large main pools.

The honest drawback is scale. At 500+ rooms across a sprawling property, this is not an intimate resort. Navigating between venues, managing reservation windows, and finding pool chairs during peak hours requires more effort than at smaller properties. The Gourmet Inclusive system also means specialty restaurants require advance reservations — guests who arrive expecting to walk in anywhere for dinner will need to adjust their approach.

Practically: Hilton Honors points apply through the Hilton partnership. The Wave section allows access to shared areas between the family and adults-only Hammock sections, giving families more dining options. Juanillo Beach — calm water, white sand — is one of the better resort beaches in the Dominican Republic.

Pros

+Karisma's Gourmet Inclusive program sets a higher baseline than most Dominican Republic all-inclusives — dining variety and quality exceed what the room rate typically suggests
+The Parakeet Kids Club's structured programming (cooking, science, arts) gives parents genuine downtime rather than just babysitting
+Juanillo Beach is one of the calmer, cleaner resort beaches in the Dominican Republic — a real differentiator versus the high-sargassum areas further up the coast

Cons

−At 500+ rooms, this is a large resort — navigating between venues and securing pool chairs during peak hours takes planning and early starts
−Specialty restaurant reservations fill within hours of check-in, so guests who don't move immediately after arrival may miss their preferred venues on preferred nights
−The Wave and Hammock sections share some infrastructure — families expecting a completely separate adults-free environment in all shared zones will need to manage expectations

Tips

Walk directly to the restaurant desk after dropping bags on arrival day — JWB Steakhouse and Frank & Lola's book out for the best time slots within hours
Use the Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions system to stock your minibar before the first afternoon — it's a differentiating perk that many guests don't use until day two
Go to the pool before 9 AM during peak season — chair availability drops sharply by mid-morning

FAQ

Is Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton all-inclusive?: Yes, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton is an all-inclusive resort. Most dining, drinks, and activities are included in your stay.
Is Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton adults-only?: No, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton is family-friendly and welcomes guests of all ages. The resort features a kids club.
How many restaurants does Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton have?: Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton has 10 restaurants and dining venues.
How many pools does Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton have?: Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton has 7 swimming pools.
How many rooms does Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton have?: Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton has 268 rooms and suites.
What is the star rating of Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton?: Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton is a 5.0-star resort.
Where is Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton located?: Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton is located in Cap Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
What resort chain is Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton part of?: Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton is part of Margaritaville Resorts.
Does Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton have a spa?: Yes, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton has an on-site spa. The St.
Does Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton have beach access?: Yes, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton has beach access.
Does Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton have a kids club?: Yes, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton has a kids club with supervised activities for children.
Is Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton good for families?: Yes, Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton is family-friendly and welcomes guests of all ages. It features a kids club with supervised activities. The resort has 7 pools.
What's included at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton?: Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton includes Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at on-site restaurants and buffet., Drinks, including house brand alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic refreshments., 24-hour room service (excluding alcohol and with limited menu options after breakfast)., Allotted points for customizable in-room mini-bar via Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions., Access to the resort's fitness center/gym., and more.
What is the best room at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton?: The top room category at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana Wave - A Karisma All-Inclusive Experience For All by Hilton is the Jimmy Buffett Suite. The resort's signature penthouse suite, boasting over 1,400 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.

What's Included

Included in Your Stay

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at on-site restaurants and buffet.
Drinks, including house brand alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic refreshments.
24-hour room service (excluding alcohol and with limited menu options after breakfast).
Allotted points for customizable in-room mini-bar via Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions.
Access to the resort's fitness center/gym.
Supervised activities for children aged 4-12 at the Parakeet Kids Club.
Live entertainment, including concerts and themed parties at the 5 o'Clock Somewhere bar.
Non-motorized water sports, such as kayaking.
Usage of tennis courts.
Access to all general swimming pools (across both Wave and Hammock sections).
Direct access to Juanillo Beach.
Wi-Fi access throughout the resort.
Taxes and gratuities.

Available at Extra Cost

Dining at specific premium restaurants or for special dishes (e.g., A-lam-bik).
Premium brand alcoholic beverages or specific top-shelf liquors.
All services, treatments, and massages at St. Somewhere Spa by Karisma.
Excursions and tours arranged through the concierge or tour desk.
Personalized butler service (available with certain top-tier suites).
In-suite private chef dinners (available with certain top-tier suites).
Specific pillow and aromatherapy menus (available with certain top-tier suites).