Getting around the Dominican Republic is more confusing than it needs to be, and most of the confusion is intentional — drivers who don't want to use the meter, taxi stands that "conveniently" route you to their friends' cars, and tour operators who inflate prices because they think you don't know the going rate. This guide is the practical reference for moving around the country, region by region, with the actual prices and the actual rules.
The two golden rules
Before the specifics, two rules that apply everywhere in the country:
Rule 1: Agree on the price before you get in the car. This is true for taxis, for "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis), for gua-guas (public minibuses), and for informal rides. If the driver won't name a price, walk away.
Rule 2: Have the name of your destination written down in Spanish. "Bávaro" might be clear to you but the driver may know it as "Playa Bávaro" or "Cortecito" or "Cabeza de Toro." Same for "Cap Cana" (which is "Cap Cana" but the entrance gate is on the highway past Macao, not where Google Maps puts the pin). A screenshot of your hotel's address on Google Maps, in Spanish, settles 90% of the friction.
Airport transfers
The single most important transfer you'll do is the one from the airport to your hotel. We cover this in detail in our [Punta Cana airport guide](ruta: como-llegar-de-aeropuerto-punta-cana-a-hotel). The short version:
- Punta Cana (PUJ): Pre-booked private transfer is the best option. $30–$60 USD for a sedan to most Bávaro/Cap Cana hotels. $80–$120 USD to Bayahibe or La Romana.
- Santo Domingo (SDQ): Pre-booked transfer, official taxi, or Uber (Uber does work from SDQ, unlike PUJ). $30–$50 USD to the Zona Colonial.
- Santiago (STI): Less touristy, but the airport is small. Pre-booked transfer or taxi. $25–$40 USD to most city hotels.
- Puerto Plata (POP): Pre-booked transfer or taxi. $25–$50 USD to most north coast hotels.
For all four airports, pre-booked is the best option. The price difference is small, the experience is dramatically better, and the driver is a known quantity.
Between cities
The DR has three main intercity transport options: bus, shared van (guagua), and private transfer.
Bus
The two main long-distance bus companies are Caribe Tours and Metro Tours. Both are comfortable, air-conditioned, and reliable. They run scheduled routes between Santo Domingo and the major cities (Punta Cana, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Samaná, La Romana).
What it costs: $5–$15 USD per trip, depending on the route. Santo Domingo to Punta Cana is about $10 USD and takes 2.5 hours.
Pros: Cheap, comfortable, you can book online, you don't have to think about the route.
Cons: The buses drop you at a terminal, not at your hotel. From the terminal you still need a taxi. The schedule is fixed (most routes run 6am–8pm, fewer on Sundays). The buses fill up on holidays and long weekends — book 1–2 days in advance.
Who it's for: Solo travelers, budget travelers, anyone comfortable navigating a bus terminal and a second taxi ride at the other end.
Guagua (shared minibus)
The local public transport. Minivans that run fixed routes, depart when full, and cost almost nothing.
What it costs: $1–$3 USD per trip.
Pros: The cheapest option. Authentic. Frequent.
Cons: Chaotic. The vans are crowded. The schedule is "leave when full." The drivers sometimes take roundabout routes to pick up more passengers. You need to know where to catch the guagua (usually a specific corner in a specific city) and where to get off.
Who it's for: Backpackers, locals, anyone comfortable with a bit of chaos. Not for visitors with luggage, kids, or a tight schedule.
Private transfer (between cities)
The most expensive option, the most convenient. You book in advance, the driver picks you up at your hotel, drops you at your next hotel.
What it costs: Varies by distance. Santo Domingo to Bávaro is $100–$150 USD for a sedan, $150–$200 for an SUV. Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas is $200–$280 USD for a sedan. Bávaro to Las Terrenas is $250–$350 USD.
Pros: Door to door. Your schedule. You can stop for photos, food, or a bathroom break. The driver usually knows the route better than Google Maps.
Cons: Expensive. The driver is a stranger, so the same rules apply — agree on the price, agree on the route, agree on the stops.
Who it's for: Families, groups of 3+, anyone with luggage, anyone who values time over money.
Around town
Taxis
Taxis are everywhere in the cities and resort areas. In Santo Domingo and Santiago, you can call one or wave one down. In Punta Cana and Bávaro, you usually have to call — the resorts have taxi numbers at the front desk.
What it costs: Varies wildly. A short hop in Santo Domingo might be $5 USD. The same distance in Punta Cana might be $15–$20 USD because you're a tourist. The driver will name a price; you can either accept or negotiate.
The honest truth about taxi prices in Punta Cana: The prices are 2–3x what a Dominican would pay for the same ride. This is the unofficial "tourist tax" on transportation. You can avoid it by walking (most of Bávaro is walkable), by using the hotel's shuttle (if it has one), or by pre-booking transfers for the longer trips.
Uber
Uber works in Santo Domingo. It does not work in Punta Cana (the airport bans it, and most drivers cancel when they see the airport pickup). It has limited presence in Santiago.
In Santo Domingo, Uber is the easiest way to get around — the price is fixed, the driver is rated, the route is on the map. Use it for short trips in the city.
Moto-concho (motorcycle taxi)
The fastest way through Santo Domingo traffic. The driver wears a colored vest with a number. You hop on the back, tell them where you're going, they quote a price, you go.
What it costs: $1–$3 USD for short trips in Santo Domingo.
Who it's for: Locals and adventurous tourists. Not for people with luggage, not for kids, not for anyone in formal clothing.
The safety question: Most moto-concho drivers are fine. A few are reckless. Hold on tight, wear a helmet if offered, and don't ride if you've been drinking.
Gua-gua (local bus)
The cheapest way around. Minibuses that run fixed routes, leave when full, and cost $0.50–$1 USD per trip. In Santo Domingo, the main routes run along the major avenues (27 de Febrero, Independencia, Abraham Lincoln) and through the Zona Colonial.
Who it's for: Locals, backpackers, anyone who wants to see "real" Dominican transit. Not for visitors on a tight schedule.
Walking
In the Zona Colonial, walking is the answer for almost everything. In Bávaro, you can walk between most of the hotels, the beach, and the restaurants along the main strip. In Las Terrenas, the town is small and walkable. In Punta Cana proper (the commercial area near the airport), walking is fine during the day, less comfortable at night.
Practical realities
Tolls
The main highways have toll booths. The tolls are small ($1–$3 USD each), and most legitimate transfer prices include them. If you're taking a taxi, ask explicitly whether the price includes tolls.
Gas stations
There are gas stations on the main highways and in the cities. Between the airport and Bávaro, there are two or three. They're well-marked. If you're driving a rental, fill up before you leave the highway.
Road quality
The main highways (the "autopista" roads) are good. The secondary roads are mixed — some are paved and well-maintained, some are paved and full of potholes, some are unpaved. The road from Las Terrenas to Las Galeras (for the boat to Playa Rincón) is paved but rough. The road from Las Galeras to Playa Frontón is unpaved. Plan accordingly.
Driving at night
Driving at night in the DR is not for the inexperienced. Roads are unlit, motorcycles don't have lights, and pedestrians walk on the highway. If you're doing a long drive, leave early and arrive before dark. If you have to drive at night, stick to the main highways.
What to do if you have car trouble
If your rental breaks down, call the rental company's emergency number (it's on the contract). If your private transfer breaks down, call the company — most will send a replacement within an hour. If you're in a taxi and it breaks down, pay for the distance traveled and find another taxi.
A note on safety
The DR is generally safe for tourists on the standard routes, in the standard cities, and in the resort areas. Thefts and scams happen, and they happen more often to tourists than to locals. Common-sense rules:
- Don't leave valuables in a parked car.
- Don't take an unmarked taxi — only official yellow taxis or pre-booked transfers.
- Don't get into a car with someone who's been drinking.
- Don't walk alone at night in unfamiliar areas of Santo Domingo (the Malecón is fine, the back streets of the Zona Colonial are usually fine, but the marginal neighborhoods are not).
- Agree on the price before you get in any car.
- If something feels wrong, get out.
The beaches, the resort areas, the Zona Colonial, the Malecón, the major highways — all of these are safe for tourists. The places to be more careful are the side streets of Santo Domingo at night and the unmarked taxis that approach you outside the airports.
What we recommend
Airport to hotel and hotel to airport: Pre-booked private transfer, every time. It's not the cheapest option but it's the only one where the price is fixed, the driver is known, and the schedule is yours.
Between cities: Private transfer if you're 2+ people, with luggage, or on a tight schedule. Caribe Tours or Metro Tours bus if you're solo, on a budget, and flexible. Guagua if you're adventurous.
Around Santo Domingo: Uber for short trips, walking for the Zona Colonial, moto-concho if you're brave, gua-gua if you want the full local experience.
Around Punta Cana and Bávaro: Walk the strip. Call a taxi for the longer trips. The resorts will help you book.
Long distance (inter-city, multi-day): Private driver for the full trip. This is what we do. We can put together a driver who stays with you for the week, drives you between cities, and is available for the day trips. If you're doing a multi-region trip, this is the most relaxed way to do it.
If you want help with any of this, send us your itinerary and we'll quote the transfers.
