Transportation To, From and Around Cabarete
There are several forms of transportation you can take to, from and around Cabarete, and choosing the best one depends on your budget and the amount of time you have to get to your destination. The following is a list of those options, where they travel, and an idea of their costs.
Taxis are definitely one of the most comfortable ways to travel in this country. They tend to be spacious and comfortable, air-conditioned vans. The drivers seem to be more conscious of safety than the drivers of the other forms of transportation. Although few speak a lot of English, they can still provide recommendations and are good travel guides to many of the surrounding areas. Rates for most destinations are posted at the taxi stands. In the tourist areas of the north coast, rates are in US$ but you can pay in DR$ at the day's exchange rate. Here is a list of the most common fares.
Taxi Fares:
Public Transportation
There are four types of public transportation - Guaguas, Caro Publicos, Motoconchos and Buses. They are all quite reasonably priced and choosing the right one depends on your specific transportation needs – speed, comfort, length of travel time and destination.
Public transportation within, and between towns and villages, is for the most part conducted in privately owned mini-vans, called Guaguas. They’re easy to recognize because they’ll push their horn as they approach, and the driver’s assistant, the Cobrador (fare collector), is likely to be hanging out of the side door waving you in. This form of transport is quite cheap but the vehicles tend to be in poor condition - broken windows, doors that don’t close properly, etc. These mini-vans normally hold 12 passengers but occasionally they will carry up to 20 people, a chicken or two, and who knows what else! They stop anywhere and everywhere along the main road to drop off passengers and pick more up. Taking this kind of journey is always an adventure. They tend to try to cheat tourists on the fare so make sure you confirm the rate before you get in.
The fare anywhere on the main road from Cabarete to Sosua is RD$25, and to Puerto Plata is RD$60-70. Try to have the correct amount of Pesos as they (cobradores) are unlikely to have change.
These are multi-passenger public cars (shared taxis) that have signs on the car roof indicating their route (for example, Puerto Plata - Rio San Juan). They will honk as they approach you and you can let them know you’d like transport by waving them over. They will fill their cars over capacity (for example, 4 in the front and 4 in the back), and they charge per person. If you desire to ride more comfortably, you can pay for two persons’ fare and sit beside the driver. Caro Publicos have fixed routes so you check that your destination is on their route before getting in.
Anywhere on the main road from Cabarete to Sosua is RD$30 (RD$50 after sunset). If you are going on to Puerto Plata, you'll have to change corro publicos in Sosua. From Sosua to Puerto Plata it is another RD$35-50. Try to have the correct amount of Pesos as they are unlikely to have change.
A unique form of transport in the Dominican Republic is the Motoconcho. These are rides on the back of privately owned motor bikes. You’ll have no problem recognizing them because they’re likely to recognize you first. If you’re on the side of the road, they’ll hold up their hand and beep their horn as they approach you to give you a ride. These are quite popular for short trips, especially within Cabarete. They will also go long distances but riding on a motor bike can be dangerous and nobody wears helmets here.
Anywhere on the main road within Cabarete is RD$25 (double after sunset). Try to have the correct amount of Pesos as they are unlikely to have change. Prices for public transport – Guaguas, Caro Publicos and particularly Motoconchos, usually double at sunset (starting between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.).
There are 2 major bus companies in the country and they both drive air-conditioned and comfortable 50-seat buses. Their rates are quite reasonable as well. Recently, both had extended their route all the way to Cabarete but these have been suspended because of the taxi and public transportation unions. So, you will have to take a taxi or public transport from their final destination terminal.
Bus Schedules & Rates
Caribe Tours
Info updated on September 12, 2017
From Santo Domingo to Sosua
- Cost: RD $400
- Duration: About 4 hours (Express). 4.5 to 5 hours (Regular)
- From Santiago to Sosua: RD $200
- Route: Santo Domingo - La Vega - Santiago - Puerto Plata - Sosua
- Regular Buses (waste time in Santiago)
- Express Buses (does not go into Santiago)
Departure Times Morning (AM) Afternoon (PM) Caribe Tours Terminal in Santo Domingo 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 Stopover in Santiago 8:30 9:30 10:30 11:30 12:30 13:30 14:30 15:30 16:30 17:30 18:30 19:30 20:30 21:30 Approximate arrival in Sosua 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 0:00
Departure Times Morning (AM) Afternoon (PM) Caribe Tours Terminal in Santo Domingo 10:30am 11:30am 15:30 16:30 17:30 Approximate arrival in Sosua 2:30pm 3:30pm 19:30 20:30 21:30
From Sosua to Santo Domingo
- Cost: RD $400
- Duration: About 4 hours (Express). 4.5 to 5 hours (Regular)
- From Sosua to Santiago: RD $200
- Route: Sosua - Puerto Plata - Santiago - La Vega - Santo Domingo
- Regular Buses (waste time in Santiago)
- Express Buses (does not go into Santiago)
Departure Times Morning (AM) Afternoon (PM) Sosua 5:15 6:20 7:20 8:20 9:20 10:20 11:20 12:20 13:20 14:20 15:20 16:20 17:20 18:20 Stopover in Santiago 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 Approximate arrival in Santo Domingo 10:00 11:20 12:20 13:20 14:20 15:20 16:20 17:20 18:20 19:20 20:20 21:20 22:20 23:20
Departure Times Morning (AM) Afternoon (PM) Sosua 5:20 8:50 12:50 13:50 15:50 Approximate arrival in Santo Domingo 9:30 13:00 17:00 18:00 20:00
Metro
Info updated in 2014
- Cost from Santo Domingo to Sosua: RD$400
- Duration: 4 and 1/2 to 5 hours
- Route: Route: Santo Domingo - Santiago - Puerto Plata - Sosua - Cabarete
- Departure Schedule: 7am, 11am, 4pm.
- Cost from Sosua to Santo Domingo: RD$400
- Duration: 4 and 1/2 to 5 hours
- Route: Cabarete - Sosua - Puerto Plata - Santiago -Santo Domingo
- Departure Schedule: 8am, 1pm, 5:30pm.
Car Rental
Check out OK Motors.
We like their fantastic service and their straightforward pricing. Almost all the other rental companies (including most of the big-name companies) advertise lower rates, and that is all you see until you pick up your car. Once you get there to pick up your car you'll probably be surprised with the "obligatory" insurance fee. This insurance fee is sometimes more than the rental fee, and they will not let you go without paying this insurance fee. Note that they are not incorrect with the fact that you should get full insurance coverage. However, the real cost of this insurance is nowhere close to what they charge.
If you are thinking of renting a vehicle, know that driving in the Dominican Republic is challenging, to say the least. I refer you to this article to get some sense of what driving in the DR is al about: Road Kill
None except for private/chartered fights that are simply super expensive.
