Transportation from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) to Cabarete

After passing through Customs & Immigration and picking up your luggage, you’ll exit the Arrivals Terminal. It’s here that you’ll be met with warm tropical air and the hustle & bustle of people looking to help you with luggage or taxi service. If you would like luggage assistance, the going rate is RD$17 (US$1) per piece of luggage. If you do not wish for assistance, just firmly say ‘No thank you’, or even better, in Spanish, ‘No gracias’. From here you have four transportation options to reach Cabarete.

Note that the rates and means of transport are updates from time to time. This means that the rates shown here may be different from what they actually are. Last update: Dec 8, 2008.

Taxi
Cost: US$400
Travel Time: 5-6 hours

Finding a taxi outside the airport to drive to Cabarete is not a problem, but it can be a little more expensive to make the journey at night. Traveling by taxi is expensive and can take a long time so it is not highly recommended. One advantage is that it is private, and if you’re traveling during the day, you can see the countryside along the drive.

Public Transport
Cost: US$30 and upwards
Travel Time: from 9 hours to 2 full days

For those who’d like to start an adventure right away, this is the way to go. It’s an adventure because you’ll have to take different types of transport and it can take days because the guaguas, caro publicos and busses all have different routes and schedules. This will mean changing vehicles several times and patience when waiting for the next vehicle. Consider the challenge thoroughly before you leave the airport! The quickest route: Airport – Higuey – Santo Domingo, and then check out our Santo Domingo to Cabarete section.

Travel Tip:
If you are flying from PUJ, plan to leave Cabarete 3 days before your departure and head to Samana/Las Terrenas for a day. The following day you can take the ferry from the city of Samana to Sabana de la Mar and visit the National Park, Los Haitises. From there you can continue your journey down to Higuey. From there you will have easy access to Punta Cana Airport.

Air Transport
Cost: Around US$150
Travel Time: 45 minutes

NOTE: Suspended for the time being!

Shared Shuttle
Cost: Around US$60
Travel Time: 5 to 6 hours

This looks like the best option. Unfortunately, we have not yet heard anyone's comment on this service so we cannot say too much about it. If you have tried it out please let us know... To book this service go to dominicanshuttles.com, select "Shared Shuttle", choose Leaving from: "PUJ - Punta Cana" and Going to: "Puerto Plata (Cabarete)"...

Rental Car
Cost: From around US$90 (with gasoline)
Travel Time: 5 to 6 hours

A long drive after a long flight is not recommended. Driving in this country in the dark on unknown roads can cause a lot of stress – not something you should experience on vacation! But if you prefer to drive, there are car rental companies located at each international airport. The car can be rented directly from the airport and driven to Cabarete. Daily rental ranges from US$40 to $80, depending on the type of car, and insurance is available. Make sure you contact the car rental service a few days before your arrival.

Click here for car rental companies.