Dominican Republic Transport

Air

There are three main airports serving this small country: Punta Cana (PUJ) in the east; Las Americas (SDQ) in Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata (POP). The national airline is Air Santo Domingo, which offers domestic and limited international flights.

Las Americas International Airport is situated 29kms east of Santo Domingo and is the biggest of all three airports. Facilities include: duty-free shopping, post office, bank with 24-hour exchange facilities, a number of restaurants and bars, and wireless internet access. The airport is accessible for those in wheelchairs and there are also specially designed toilets and telephones.

Taxis are available from outside of the terminal and car hire is available from the Arrivals lounge. Your hotel may be able to arrange a free shuttle bus to transfer you when you arrive, but this will need to be booked in advance of your arrival at the airport.

There are a number of car parking spaces available, with both short-term and long-term parking available. If you are a passenger and have a valid disabled persons’ badge, you will find designated spaces close to the terminal building.

Puerto Plata Airport can be found 18kms from Puerto Plata and it serves holidaymakers on international flights. Facilities are very good and include: duty-free shopping, banks and ATMs, bureaux de change desks, restaurants and bars, first-aid and a tourist help desk. There is disabled access throughout, along with adapted toilets and telephones.

Ground transfer options include taxis and hire cars as well as hotel shuttle services, if they have been pre-arranged.

Parking options include spaces for long-term and short-term parking as well as designated spaces for those with a valid disabled persons’ badge.

Punta Cana Airport is a small but very exotic airport offering flights across the country as well as to some limited international destinations. Facilities at the airport are limited, but include a selection of shops, snack bars and restaurants, duty–free shopping and ATMs.

You will find taxis and car hire available at the airport. It takes approximately 30 minutes to reach Punta Cana, depending on traffic. Some of the top-end hotels provide free shuttle services between the hotel and the airport, although this must be arranged in advance of your arrival.

There is short-term and long-term parking at the airport, with designated spaces for disabled drivers.

Car

As the Dominican Republic takes up two-thirds of the island, road travel to the country is limited. There are however three routes from Haiti: the road from Port-au-Prince to Santo Domingo at Jimaní / Malpasse; the road from Cap-Haitian to Santiago at Dajabón / Ouanaminthe; and a third route near the centre of the island at Elías Pinâ / Belladere. The borders are open daily from 08:00 to 16:00.

Sea

As an island, the country is naturally home to many ports. These include: Barahona, La Romana, Palenque, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, San Pedro de Macoris and Santo Domingo. There are not many international ferry routes available, despite the number of ports, with only a small number of cruises stopping here.

Air

The national carrier, Air Santo Domingo, services a number of regular flights between Santo Domingo, Santiago, Samana, Punta Cana and Puerto Plata.

Bus

Buses (known locally as gua-guas) are perfect for getting around the country. Most towns and cities have regularly scheduled bus services connecting to different cities countrywide. The different routes are often independently run and simple, usually connecting two cities within one region or between one city and the capital. Because of the geography of the country, you always have to pass through Santo Domingo to get from one to another, so the capital acts in someway like a transport hub.

Car

Traffic drives on the right in the Dominican Republic. There is a reasonable network of roads including the Sanchez Highway, which runs west from Santo Domingo to Elias Pina on the Haitian frontier. The Mella Highway travels east from Santo Domingo to Higuey in the southeast; while the Duarte Highway runs north and west from Santo Domingo to Santiago and Monte Cristi. However, not all roads are all-weather and four-wheel drive vehicles are essential for wet weather. Checkpoints near military installations are everywhere; though no serious difficulties in passing through them have been reported.

Always remember to keep doors and windows locked at all times. Driving at night is not recommended because of poor lighting and signage. There are several car hire companies in Santo Domingo, with the minimum age for car hire being 25. A credit card is required for car hire transactions and insurance is compulsory.

Taxi

Travellers are recommended to hire tourist taxis or radio taxis, which can be arranged in advance; always try to avoid unmarked taxis. Santo Domingo has an estimated 7,000 share-taxis called carro de conchos. These operate a 24-hour service in Santo Domingo, Santiago and Puerto Plata.