Mini-bus (guagua)
This is the way most commuters
in the Punta Cana area without
their own wheels get around.
Occasionally, you will meet other
tourists, as savvy travelers quickly
ind out that these are a good
choice if they have the time and
want to get around for cheap.
The buses offer frequent services.
Around every half hour a bus will
depart from ixed stops. They
make stops near most hotels,
although tourists may have to
walk long distances between
the hotel gateway to the lobby.
The rate is RD$30 for the longer
rides of up to about 25 kms if
the entire route is traveled. The
minibus commutes can take you
to shopping malls and stops that
leave you at walking distance
from popular restaurants and
nightspots. Since they make so
many stops, you need to allow
for the extra time.
Biggest savings are made on the
longest journeys. For instance,
you could take two of these
buses (making a change at the
Riu-Machiplan stop) for only
RD$60 to reach Macao beach
from Punta Cana, a distance that
would cost you US$45 - almost
25 times that amount - by taxi.
The Bavaro buses have the
Traumabapu sign on them. It
will be a cultural experience.
Traumabapu can be reached at
Phone 809 880-8121.
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Beyond Punta Cana
Visitors who want to make it
to Higuey on their own (Basilica
attraction) can do so cheaply by
catching one of the Sitrabapu
buses that run on the half hour
from early morning to 10:30pm.
The service commutes to Higuey,
almost 40 kms inland, for RD$60.
There are bus stops (paradas) at
Veron and Bavaro (Friusa) where
you can take a taxi or board a
Traumabapu bus.
The best way to get to Santo
Domingo from the east (a four-
hour trip) is to take the Expreso
Bavaro that departs Friusa-
Bavaro (Phone 809-552-1463) at
7:00, 10:00 am, 2:00 and 4:00
pm. This bus makes a stopover to
pick up passengers at the Veron
stop at 7:15, 10:15am, 2:15 and
4:15pm. Tickets are RD$270,
and there is a short stop in La
Romana. The bus takes you to
the Sitrabapu-Sichoprola terminal
at Calle Juan Sanchez Ramirez,
#31, near the intersection with Maximo Gomez Avenue
(Gazcue), Phone 809-682-9670.
From Santo Domingo-East, the
buses leave at 7:00, 10:00 am,
2:00 and 4:00 pm to Veron and
Friusa, with an extra 2:55 pm bus
stop at Punta Cana International
Airport. Seating is irst come,
irst served. Allow at least half an
hour before departure time.
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When traveling to Santo
Domingo, if you miss the express
bus, it is always possible to take
the Sitrabapu bus to Higuey,
and then change to the Santo
Domingo commuter bus from
there. This bus, known as a
"caliente" makes multiple stops
along the way. In Santo Domingo
it stops at Parque La Trinitaria. Its
inal stop is Parque Enriquillo, of
Duarte Avenue, near Chinatown (watch your handbag and
pockets). Anything goes on
theses buses, even a pastor
boarding to give a sermon.
Once in Santo Domingo, if you
are continuing on to other
destinations in the country, head
to Metro Bus (Phone 809 566-
7126) or Caribe Tours (Phone
809 221-4422) bus stations
from where air-conditioned
express services can be taken to
many points in the country. An
overnight stay in Santo Domingo,
the oldest city in the New World,
is always recommended for
visitors traveling from Punta
Cana.
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