Punta Cana International Airport sits in the middle of the Dominican Republic's eastern resort corridor. There is no public bus or train connection, so every option involves a car or van. Prices are quoted in US dollars, which is the standard currency for tourist transport here.
Airport taxi: official fixed rates by hotel
Official airport taxis operate on fixed one-way rates posted by the Asociacion de Taxistas Turistico de Beron Bavaro (rate sheet published at puntacanainternationalairport.com), for 1-4 passengers with USD 20 per additional passenger. Rates to specific hotels range from USD 10 (Hotel Sheraton, nearest the airport) to USD 80 (Sivory Punta Cana / Zoetry, at the far end of the strip), with most Bavaro-area hotels between USD 20 and USD 40. These prices are per vehicle, not per person, and are not negotiable -- check the posted board for your exact hotel and confirm before departure.
Private transfer and shared shuttle: no fixed rate
Pre-booked sedan and minivan transfers, and shared shuttles, are run by independent operators who set their own prices. There is no single published rate -- get an exact quote when booking. In practice these tend to land in a similar range to the posted taxi fare for the same hotel, sometimes lower for shared shuttles (which make multiple stops) and higher for a minivan booked well in advance. Confirm the price and what is included (meet-and-greet, luggage handling) before you pay.
Costs to specific destinations (official taxi rate, one way)
| Destination | Taxi (1-4 pax) |
|---|---|
| Bavaro / Punta Cana hotel zone | USD 10-80 (most hotels USD 20-40) |
| Cap Cana (Hyatt Zyva / Margarita Village / Secrets Cap Cana area) | USD 30 |
| Higuey | USD 70 (USD 90 round trip) |
| Bayahibe | USD 100 (USD 130 round trip) |
| La Romana / Casa de Campo | USD 120 (USD 150 round trip) |
| Santo Domingo | USD 200 (USD 260 round trip) |
| Uvero Alto | Not on the association's posted list -- confirm with your driver or the dispatch board |
Fixed-price private transfer
PUJ Punta Cana City Center
From€26for 2 passengers
Other destinations
Source: Asociacion de Taxistas Turistico de Beron Bavaro rate sheet, posted at puntacanainternationalairport.com. Private transfer prices for these same destinations vary by operator -- get a quote when booking.
What affects the price
Distance is the main factor. Bavaro is 25-30 km away. La Romana is 60 km. Santo Domingo is over 180 km.
Vehicle type matters for groups. A sedan fits 2-3 passengers with luggage. A minivan handles 4-7 comfortably. Larger groups pay the taxi association's USD 20-per-extra-passenger surcharge, or need a minibus for a private transfer.
Time of day has minimal effect on official taxi rates, which are fixed regardless of time. Some private transfer providers add a small surcharge for pickups between midnight and 6 AM -- ask when booking.
Season does not significantly change official taxi rates. The Dominican Republic has year-round tourism.
Common money traps
- Unsolicited drivers inside the terminal: These are often unlicensed and may charge more than the official posted rate. Walk past them to the official taxi rank.
- Currency confusion: Some drivers may quote in Dominican Pesos to make the price sound high, then accept USD at an unfavorable rate. Confirm the currency before agreeing.
- Resort transfers included in your package: Check your booking. Many all-inclusive packages include airport transfers. Paying twice is a common oversight.
- Round-trip pricing: Ask whether a round-trip booking (transfer or taxi) is cheaper than two one-way bookings -- discounts vary by operator.
The honest recommendation
For most visitors heading to Bavaro or Cap Cana, get quotes from a couple of pre-booked private transfer operators and compare against the posted taxi rate for your specific hotel -- the driver is waiting for you either way, and the ride is direct. Shared shuttles mainly make sense for budget solo travellers willing to accept a longer, multi-stop ride. For destinations beyond the Punta Cana resort strip, the official taxi rate climbs steeply with distance, so a pre-booked transfer quote is worth comparing.