Dominican Republic Transport Options

Transport Options

The International airports for the Dominican Republic are Santo Domingo (SDQ), Puerto Plata International Airport (POP) and Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). The Dominican Republic’s national airline is Air Santo Domingo (EX). This airline operates regular flights between Santo Domingo, Santiago, Samaná, Punta Cana and Puerto Plata. Planes are also available for charter.

Traffic drives on the right on the island and there is a reasonable network of roads running throughout the country. 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for wet weather when travelling on some of the roads and it is recommended to keep doors and windows locked at all times for safety. Driving at night is not advised due to poor lighting and signage on the roads.

Bus services operate from the capital to most major towns and are air-conditioned and quite cheap. Taxis are available for hire however make sure you only use tourist taxis or radio taxis. Never use unmarked taxis as there are often reports of travellers being robbed.

Car hire is available from several companies in Santo Domingo. The minimum age for car hire is 25 and insurance is compulsory. For all car hire a credit card will be required. The speed limit is 60kph in cities and 80-100kph on motorways and seat belts are compulsory. A national or International Driving Permit is required however it is only valid for 90 days.

Care should be taken when driving in old Santo Domingo as the streets are narrow and have many blind corners. Dominicans tend to be aggressive drivers and use their horns rather than their brakes so stay alert at all times as traffic accidents are common.