Dominican Republic - Transport

Airports

The International Airport is at Puerto Plata.

Taxis

Taxis are often the cheapest and safest method of transport and are often the same price as hiring a car.  There are many all around the country.

Cruisers recommend using a taxi first if you are thinking about hiring a car.   This will give you an idea of the defensive driving needed in a country where there are many motorbikes, no helmets, no traffic police to speak off, wandering livestock on road in rural areas at night as well as potholes and unpainted speed bumps!

The quickest and most flexible public transportation around town is a "motorconcho" (motorbike - you sit on the back), which will take you from place to place very inexpensively.

Or there are "guah-guahs" (shared mini-vans) with prices posted inside the van. Taxis (cars) will also operate at guah-guah prices, However, you must make it clear with the driver that you are not going “solo”. As many as seven people can be crammed into a taxi when operating as a guah-guah.

Buses

Buses are safe, reliable and inexpensive and cover the entire country. There are also upmarket inter-city coach lines at really good rates.

Car Rental

Car and motorbike rental is possible in most towns, however, driving can be rather challenging in the DR with erratic local drivers, motorbikes everywhere, unpainted speed bumps and livestock on the roads in rural areas at night.

If you want to drive in the DR, then remember your overseas drivers licence is only good for 30 days upon arrival as per your tourist visa. If you extend your visa online via Santo Domingo for another 60 days then you can continue to drive on your license. However if you pay the “fine” on checkout for immigration overstay, you cannot use your license over 30 days.

The only way to extend it thereafter is to apply for residency/cedula.  See the following link.

https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/faq-items/is-my-drivers-license-valid-in-the-dominican-republic/

Also remember that if you drive in the DR you must get insurance in case you are involved in an accident (even if it’s not your fault) and heaven forbid if somebody is killed in the accident!

This is why many hire a taxi service (see top).

Find out more at https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/travel-to-dr/