How to Get From Santo Domingo to Punta Cana: Your Guide to Reaching the Caribbean Paradise
As one of the most popular vacation spots in the Dominican Republic, there are plenty of ways to travel from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana, the tropical paradise known for its stunning beach resorts. Whether you’re planning a family holiday or a romantic trip, understanding your transportation options is crucial.
The driving time from Santo Domingo to this Caribbean paradise is typically around 2 hours, depending on your chosen method. Taking an airport taxi is the most convenient and quickest option.
However, it can get expensive depending on the time of year. The Expreso Bavaro is a more budget-friendly alternative if you don’t mind taking a public bus. Other options include Uber, public transport, and private transportation. In this article, I’ll list all the best transport options for getting from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana, including average costs and travel time.
How to Get From Santo Domingo to Punta Cana: 5 Transport Methods
When traveling to Punta Cana, it’s frequently cheaper to land at Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport and take transportation from there. Here are some of the best methods of transportation from Santo Domingo:
1. Santo Domingo Airport Taxi
When you land at the Santo Domingo International Airport, you can book a Santo Domingo Airport Taxi through the airport itself. The airport hires these taxis to help travelers get to their destinations. However, the fare can be pretty expensive. The average journey cost is between $160 $180 for a one-way drive. This method will take roughly 2 hours to get to Punta Cana. Some services may offer hotel pickup for added convenience.
2. Local Taxi
In Santo Domingo, you’ll find plenty of local taxis to get you to your destination. Taxi crime rarely occurs in the Dominican Republic, so it’s usually safe to take a local cab from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana. Taxi drivers in Santo Domingo don’t offer a flat rate to Punta Cana. But they usually charge less than the official taxi rates at Santo Domingo Airport, around $120 to $140 for a one-way trip. Nevertheless, you’ll have to make prices known before taking the taxi. Thus, you know how much you’re expected to pay by the end of the trip. Always inquire about round-trip options if you plan to return to Santo Domingo.
3. VIP Transfer
If you’re looking for a more exclusive ride from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana, you can always book a VIP transfer from companies such as Transekur Corporativo, Go Transfer, and Prestige Limousine Service. These private transportation services usually include free Wi-Fi, GPS tracking, drinks, and the like. In addition, the professional drivers come appropriately dressed and in modern cars. As you might expect, VIP round-trips are considerably more expensive than regular taxis. Prices vary from company to company. However, it’s usually around the $200+ mark. Even so, the price might be worth it for the comfort, safety, and convenience the service brings. This is especially true for those on a family holiday or romantic trip.
4. Uber and Cabify
Yes, Uber operates in the Dominican Republic! From Santo Domingo to Punta Cana, Uber prices are significantly lower than local taxis, with an official Uber rate of roughly $100. However, it’s rare to find Uber drivers willing to drive from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana at this rate. Especially since they must go back to Santo Domingo after dropping you off. In addition, it’s a 2-hour drive, and gas is costly. Cabify is an excellent alternative to Uber. It’s the second most used mobility application in Santo Domingo, after Uber. But since it’s only available in Santo Domingo, finding a cabbie willing to drive to Punta Cana at a fixed rate is also rare.
5. Air-conditioned Bus
There are plenty of bus services in Santo Domingo, but you won’t find one near Santo Domingo Airport. You’ll need to take a taxi from Santo Domingo Airport to Parque Enriquillo (located in Santo Domingo city center) and book a bus ride. You can also take a moto concho (motorcycle taxi) from the airport to Santo Domingo city center for only $1 to $5, but I don’t recommend it because you can never guarantee its safety. Also, taking a moto concho is only possible if you carry light luggage.
From Parque Enriquillo bus terminal, you can book a bus ride with either Exthe preso Bavaro, Caribe Tours, or Parada de Higüey to Punta Cana. These companies offer air-conditioned buses. Some even provide shuttle bus services. Tickets cost between $10 to $20, sometimes even less, making it the cheapest way to travel. Make sure to buy the ticket early in the day so you can grab a seat early. The total journey time from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana via bus is around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Most buses will drop you off at Veron station. From there, you can take a local taxi to your beach resort.
Getting to Punta Cana by Air: The Fastest Way
It goes without saying that the quickest and easiest method of going from San Domingo to Punta C is by air. It’s the most expensive option on this list, with tickets costing an average of $250 (one way). But if you’ve got some money to spare, this is the fastest way to travel. There’s just one problem: flights to Punta Cana are minimal. Currently, the only airline that operates from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana is TUI Fly, which only offers two direct flights per week. It’s always worth checking the flight times. Use flight tracking services to rearrange your schedule per flight availability.
Car Rental: Explore at Your Own Pace
You can always rent a car for several days to avoid being dependent on transportation services to get to Punta Cana. It’s expensive but well worth the cost if you’re planning to drive around town to explore local restaurants, shops, and the like. Popular car rental services in Santo Domingo include Avis Rent-A-Car, C&C Service Car Rental, and Europcar Rent-A-Car.
It’s an easy drive from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana. The driving route takes you through some beautiful Dominican roads, and the road distance is approximately 122 miles (196 km). It takes two hours if you do it non-stop, but it’s worth taking in the sights and visiting the nearby cities on the route. On your drive, you’ll pass through La Romana, Bavaro, and Bayahibe. La Romana is the most popular city on the route and features top attractions like Rio Chavon, Catalina Island, and Altos de Chavon. Google Map’s directions to Punta Cana are accurate. Additionally, you’ll find a lot of road signs pointing you in the right direction, so you’ll rarely get lost.
What’s the Distance Between Santo Domingo Airport to Punta Cana?
The distance between Santo Domingo’s Las Americas Airport to Punta Cana is roughly 100 miles (160 km). The distance from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana is 122 miles (196 km). With regular traffic, it should take you around two hours to arrive in Punta Cana.
Is It Safe to Maps’a Taxi From Santo Domingo to Punta Cana?
From my experience, taking a taxi from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana is perfectly safe as long as you take suitable precautions.
- Always call for a taxi instead of hailing one.
- Use the taxi provided by the airport or the hotel.
- Never take a taxi alone at night or if you’re drunk.
- Before entering the taxi, look for a meter, a badge, a radio, and a door handle. Don’t get into the vehicle if you don’t see any of those.
- Always sit in the backseat, not the passenger seat.
- Keep expensive items hidden.
- Send your live location to a close friend or family member.
Conclusion
You can take several transportation options from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana, including taxis, Uber, buses, and VIP transfers. At Punta Cana Adventures, we specialize in arranging activities such as excursions and tours. We also offer VIP airport transfer services. Taking an Uber/VIP transport is the easiest and most convenient, but it can be expensive. On the other hand, taking a bus is cheap and safe, but it takes about 30 minutes longer than regular transport. Whichever method you choose, you’ll soon find yourself in the tropical paradise of Punta Cana, ready to start your Caribbean adventure.
