Transportation from Puerto Plata to Punta Cana

[Hank]

May be flying into Puerto Plata from New York on American Airlines. How does one get from Puerto Plata to Punta Cana?

 

[Hank]

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[Jim Hinsch]

You can fly, or travel by road to Santo Domingo and then on to Puerto Plata. This message has been heavily discussed in the past. Search the message archives.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[Loren]

Wow, if you drive, it will take you at least 6 or 7 hours, maybe more. You will probably want to fly on a local airline. The cheapest way would be to take an express guagua, probably transferring in the capital. That would definitely take all day, and you would have to leave early in the morning. If you go to a resort, you will probably have to transfer to a taxi for the very last part of your journey, because I don't think the guaguas actually go to the resorts. They definitely go to Higuey, and I am pretty sure they go to Punta Cana.

You will be in for a long ride, but it may be fun if you are patient, and you will go through almost all the major cities. If you take the guaguas, you will definitely be around real Dominicans and not tourists.

 

[DR One]

If you will be staying at a resort in Punta Cana, you should look into changing your flight arrangements so you can land at the Punta Cana Airport, which is less than half an hour from most area hotels.

If you cannot change these, your best option would be to take an Air Santo Domingo flight from Puerto Plata International to Punta Cana International, but your flight would have to coincide with their twice-a-day flights. They have flights at 11:15 am and 6 pm. It will cost you RD$700 per person, one way. It's probably the best way to go. You can buy the flight upon arrival, there usually is space. Tel. 809 683-8020

Another option is to spend two or three days visiting the North Coast, and then another day in Santo Domingo visiting the capital city and then head for Punta Cana.

Or head to Puerto Plata city from the airport (about 20 minutes) and then take a Metro Bus to Santo Domingo (the airport taxi will cost more than the bus to Santo Domingo which is about US$6 for the four hour trip). They leave several times a day. Once in Santo Domingo, a taxi from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana will cost about RD$1,500, one way. You can also fly to Punta Cana (Air Santo Domingo) for RD$500 one way per person with departures at 8:15, 10:30 am and 5 pm from Herrera Airport in Santo Domingo.

You could rent a car for that money and make the drive. You will surely get lost on the way, but if you ask and ask and ask, friendly Dominicans on the way will set you straight. Note that it's a four hour trip by road to Santo Domingo, and then another four hour trip to Punta Cana.

Unfortunately, there are no deluxe bus companies making the trip to Punta Cana. You would have to take a minibus to Higuey and then another bus to Punta Cana. This minibus-connection (Santo Domingo-Punta Cana) will cost you less than RD$100 per person (about US$7 per person).

Conclusion, the cheapest way is take a minibus to Puerto Plata from outside the airport, then a Metro to Santo Domingo, then a taxi to Parque Enriquillo to take the bus to Higuey, and then a bus to Punta Cana.

The most comfortable and carefree way is to take the Air Santo Domingo connection into Punta Cana, taking from there a taxi to your hotel.

Half way options are the Metro Bus, taxis and renting a car.