Airport transfers: Punta Cana and Santo Domingo
The Dominican Republic has four main tourist airports — Punta Cana (PUJ), Las Américas in Santo Domingo (SDQ), Puerto Plata (POP) and La Romana (LRM) — and most visitors only need to plan one road transfer at each end. Here's how the logistics actually work.
From Punta Cana airport (PUJ)
PUJ sits right behind the resort corridor: Bávaro and Cabeza de Toro hotels are 20-30 minutes away, Cap Cana 15-20 minutes, and Uvero Alto 40-50 minutes. Most all-inclusive bookings can add a shared shuttle, but a pre-booked private transfer costs only moderately more and skips the multi-resort drop-off loop.
For Miches, plan on roughly an hour and a half by road via Uvero Alto; resorts there arrange transfers as standard because there's little ad-hoc taxi supply on that coast.
From Santo Domingo airport (SDQ)
Las Américas Airport is about 30 minutes east of the Zona Colonial and, conveniently, about 20 minutes west of Boca Chica — which is why a beach night in Boca Chica pairs so well with SDQ flights. Official airport taxis and pre-booked private drivers are the standard options; ride-hailing apps operate in the capital but pickups at the airport itself can be restricted.
Between regions
Santo Domingo to Punta Cana takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours on a modern toll highway; comfortable intercity coaches run daily between the capital and Bávaro, and private transfers do hotel-to-hotel. Santo Domingo to Samaná or Las Terrenas is about 2.5 hours via the toll road through Los Haitises' edge.
If your trip combines coasts, consider flying into one airport and out of another (for example SDQ in, PUJ out) — it usually beats backtracking by road.
Practical notes
Pre-book transfers for arrivals after dark, agree taxi fares before getting in when there's no meter, and carry small US dollar or peso notes for tips and tolls. US dollars are widely accepted, but change comes back in Dominican pesos (DOP).
Frequently asked questions
How long is the transfer from PUJ to Bávaro?
Typically 20-30 minutes depending on the resort's position on the strip; Uvero Alto is the outlier at 40-50 minutes.
Is there public transport from the airports?
Nothing practical with luggage from PUJ or SDQ terminals themselves. Intercity coaches connect the cities, but you'd still need a taxi to reach the terminal, so door-to-door transfers win for most travelers.
Should I rent a car?
Not for a single-resort beach trip. It makes sense for multi-region itineraries like the north coast or Samaná Peninsula, where distances between towns are short and attractions are spread out.
Which airport should I use for La Romana and Bayahibe?
La Romana (LRM) if your dates match its limited flight schedule; otherwise PUJ, about 60-75 minutes away by road, has far more connections.