Public transportation in the Dominican Republic is highly efficient, with an extensive network of well-maintained roads connecting cities and popular tourist destinations across the country. These routes take travelers through picturesque landscapes, including lush green vistas along the Santo Domingo-Santiago-Puerto Plata highway, as well as breathtaking coastal and mountain views on the journey to Barahona.
Taxis in Santo Domingo and other cities can be easily obtained at airports and hotels, or you can pre-book them in advance. Taxi contact information can be found in local phone books. Taxis are known to be a safe and cost-effective mode of transportation. While taxi drivers typically don't use meters, fares are well-defined. For instance, a 5 km trip in Santo Domingo typically costs around 150 DOP, and a 10 km journey is approximately 200 DOP. For longer distances, it's advisable to inquire about the fare with the taxi driver beforehand.
The Santo Domingo Metro is a convenient mode of transportation within the country's capital. The metro route includes key landmarks such as Santo Domingo City Hall and various government offices. A metro card is priced at 30 DOP and can be loaded with 20 DOP, which covers the cost of a single ride.
Buses are widely regarded as one of the most comfortable means of transportation in the Dominican Republic. Several private transportation companies operate modern buses that provide comfort to passengers. Both Metro Buses and Caribe Tours offer trips for less than 10 USD, covering distances of up to 225 kilometers.
Bávaro Express operates multiple daily departures, primarily serving the eastern region, including Bávaro, Punta Cana, and nearby areas. It's advisable to bring a light jacket, as these buses often have strong air conditioning.
Terra Bus offers transportation services by bus between the cities of Santo Domingo and Puerto Príncipe.
Large OMSA buses run between Santo Domingo and Santiago from 07:00 to 21:00. Ticket prices range from 5 to 10 DOP depending on the availability of air conditioning. There are other small buses called gua guas (shuttle buses) or voladoras (express buses). These vehicles follow a set route that includes the main streets and avenues, and they stop when requested by passengers. Longer rides cost no more than 25 DOP.
Carros publicos are very similar to guaguas, running on a specific route and stopping when requested by passengers for an average cost of 15 DOP. They can be found in the capital and in other towns and villages. If you take a carrera, the price can be negotiated. In these cars, it is customary to put two passengers in the front seat and four, and sometimes more, in the back seat.
Motoconcho, or motorcycles, are a commonly used mode of transportation in the Dominican Republic, and are suitable for trips of short distances. The price should be negotiated in advance and should not exceed 100 DOP per ride. This mode of transportation can be safely called the most extreme, as most motorcycles do not have not only mirrors, but also a taillight. Instead of a headlight, a small bulb or fluorescent LED light is often adapted. The use of helmets is not common among motorcycle conchistas.
The Dominican Republic has local airlines with scheduled flights between Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Samana. Air Century offers two flights a day to and from Punta Cana from Santo Domingo's La Isabela International Airport (AILI). Aerodomca offers daily flights from AILI to Portillo on Samana. Takeoff offers flights from AILI to Punta Cana (PUJ), as well as from this region to Puerto Plata (POP) and from Punta Cana to Samana - Arroyo Barril (ABA).
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Aerodomca offers daily flights from AILI to Portillo on Samana. Takeoff offers flights from AILI to Punta Cana (PUJ), as well as from this region to Puerto Plata (POP) and from Punta Cana to Samana - Arroyo Barril (ABA).
There are railroads in the Dominican Republic, but they are not very popular. The Romana Central Railroad was opened in 1911 in the sugar cane fields, with a total length of 757 kilometers. There is also the Dominican Republic state railroad, which is a 142 km narrow gauge railroad. However, buses are much more convenient and faster for transportation, and railroads primarily serve an economic role rather than a tourist one.
