Every year, around 3.45 million international tourists visit Punta Cana.
Is this any wonder when the Dominican Republic’s easternmost tip offers such wonders as clear seas, blue skies, lots of sun and relaxing beach resorts?
Just a couple of highlights of the area include Juanillo, a stunning beach with a relaxing bar to enjoy a cocktail (or two!) and Carretera Cabeza de Toro, a wonderful place for snorkeling and chilling.
After a day of exploring, snorkeling, touring and relaxing, you’ll need some hearty food. Consider local meals such as La Bandera or other rice, stewed beans, and meat dishes served with salad and fried plantains. Yum!
Of course, before you can enjoy these local delights, you need to first arrive safely at your luxurious Punta Cana resort.
In order to do this, when you land at the local airport, you’ll need to secure a ride from there to your hotel. In this article, we’ll look at the best Punta Cana transfers for you to consider.
Let’s get started!
1. A Pre-Booked Transfer
If you’d like a safe, easy and stress-free ride to your hotel then a Punta Cana transfer is your best bet for airport transportation, and it’s smart to book this airport transfer in advance to ensure availability.
This option is as simple as booking your dates, how many passengers and the destinations to and from. Child seats are often included at no extra charge for family travel. Then, when you arrive at the airport, drivers monitor flight status for a timely pickup on arrival, so you can relax on your way to your resort.
Your bags will certainly fit, unlike on a local bus. You’ll be in the comfort of a vehicle, with private transfers offering vans or luxury SUVs, but the price will have already been fixed and paid for, unlike in a taxi.
Better yet, we have transfers running between the airport and hundreds of Punta Cana resorts so you’ll definitely be able to arrive at your destination safely.
Book round trip transfers so you don’t have to worry about how you’ll get back to the airport either. Prices are as little as just $36.
2. Local Public Transportation
This option is perhaps the least glamorous on the list but will certainly save you a few Dominican pesos. APTRA is also a public transportation service available in Punta Cana. The buses in the Dominican Republic are known as Guaguas. You can expect to pay around RD$40 (or $0.80 in USD) for a trip. Shared shuttles are another budget-friendly option. They may require waiting for other passengers and can make multiple stops.
If you manage to get on the right bus, pay, and ask your driver to inform you when you’re near your stop, then you’re doing well.
However, this method isn’t usually recommended for newbies to the country. This is mainly due to unreliable bus times and very little information online. You’ll also find that stops are impossible to find and conditions on buses are cramped.
Therefore, it’s not the most popular transfer method if you’re in a rush, exhausted after a long flight or don’t know any Spanish to ask for help.
However, if you’re convinced that you want to do as the locals do, taking a bus is perfectly safe, just a little annoying.
Look out for “TRAMABAPU or SITRABAPU” marked buses. A few other tips to keep in mind are that you can hail a bus anywhere on the street. Also, make sure to have some small change on hand to pay the conductor. Good luck!
3. Take a Taxi
This option is by far the most expensive when compared to every other transfer available to you. But, when feeling tired and unorganized, it may be the only option you want to go with!
Although the cost of a ride is negotiable, you can expect to pay upwards of $50 for a taxi ride as short as just 20 minutes.
You’ll need to remember to negotiate before you get into the car as there are no meters. You’ll also be respected if you speak in Spanish.
Perhaps not the best option for English-speaking newbies to Punta Cana. Consider learning a few Spanish phrases before leaving for the Dominican Republic.
4. Hire Your Own Car and Risk the Roads
This is another option which isn’t for the faint-hearted. In order to hire a car at the airport, you’ll need to be over 21.
But, if you’re an inexperienced driver, this option shouldn’t even be considered at all. Driving in the Dominican Republic is no easy feat.
Road signs and stop signs are more guidelines than hard rules for many and at night, don’t expect well-lit roads or clear signs.
If you do choose this option, you should have a smartphone which is usable in the country in order to navigate your way easily to the hotel.
It’s highly recommended that you take out extra insurance. As a result, this is one of the more expensive transfer options.
5. Do as Locals Do and Hop on the Back of Motoconchos
Wondering what a “motoconcho” is? These are the motorcycle taxis that you’ll regularly see around Punta Cana.
This a cheap, fun and very common way to travel. You’ll have no difficulty finding a motoconcho driver. Again, negotiate the rate before hopping on the back.
The drivers wearing orange or yellow vests are part of the local unions and should be more reliable than others. Expect to pay as little as $2 USD.
However, this option is, yet again, not one for the risk-averse. This is because you won’t have a helmet offered and you’ll be going fast. Don’t take risks that you’re uncomfortable with.
Punta Cana Private Transportation Made Simple with TravelSeach Guru
It’s clear that the safest and most hassle-free way to travel to your resort is by booking Punta Cana transfers with Travel Search Guru, a trusted provider of Punta Cana airport transfers and private transportation services. Your reservation is confirmed by email after payment, and you can contact us for help or larger group requests. At Punta Cana international airport, our professional meet-and-greet service includes a driver waiting after customs with a sign at your terminal pickup point. Clear communication and flight monitoring help us deliver punctual transfer services from the moment travelers land, so you don’t need to risk a motorcycle ride without a helmet or negotiate a taxi price in broken Spanish.
When you’ve got your private transportation sorted, it’s time to relax and start planning the rest of your journey.
How does a private party sound? Maybe you’d prefer tours and excursions like sea fishing or a Monkeyland and Zipline adventure trip? There’s certainly something for you.
Private transfers can accommodate a group of up to 60 with service options that include vans, luxury SUVs, and routes to Santo Domingo.
Check out our full list of activities for the Dominican Republic and book an adventure that you and your family will enjoy doing while in the country!