Punta Cana Airport ( PUJ ) Taxi Rates

[PJT]

The following is taxi rate information from Punta Cana Airport that
PJT has acquired in response to the many inquiries about surface
transportation and costs. Rates are in US Dollars.

Siutratural
Taxi Service 24 Hours from Punta Cana Airport (PUJ)

Destination **One Way

Uvero Alto US $ 50.00
Macao 35.00
Breezes 26.00
Grand Paradise 26.00
Bahía Príncipe 24.00
Hoteles Riu 24.00
Hoteles Iberostar 24.00
LTI Punta Cana 24.00
Punta Cana Princess 24.00
Caribe Club Princesa 22.00
Hotel Paradisus Punta Cana 22.00
Bavaro Princesa 22.00
Plaza Bavaro 22.00
Hotel Flamenco Bavaro 22.00
Hoteles Fiesta 22.00
Hotel Cayacoa 22.00
Manati Park 18.00
Hotel Cortecito Inn and/or Capitan Cook 22.00
Hotel Carabela 22.00
Hotel Ocean Bavaro 22.00
Los Corales 22.00
Hotel Melia Caribe Tropical 22.00
Hotel Villas Bavaro, Bavaro Village 18.00
Bavaro Beach Resort 18.00
Natura Park Resort 22.00
Allegro Resort and Sunscape Grand 22.00
Hotel Catalonia 22.00
Hospiten Bavaro 10.00
Club Med and/or Corales Punta Cana 9.00
Punta Cana Beach Resort and/or Marina P.C. 10.00
Sueno Caribe 10.00
Juanillo 22.00

Long Distance Trips

Destination **One-Way; **Two-Way

Otra Banda US $ 30.00; US $ 45.00
Higuey 45.00; 55.00
El Seibo 80.00; 90.00
Hato Mayor 95.00; 110.00
Miches 110.00; 120.00
Sabana de la Mar 120.00; 150.00
Club Dominicus 80.00; 90.00
La Romana 80.00; 90.00
San Pedro de Macorís 90.00; 100.00
Juan Dolio 95.00; 110.00
Boca Chica 100.00; 115.00
Aeropuerto Las Americas 110.00; 120.00
Santo Domingo 120.00; 150.00
Santiago 210.00; 240.00
Puerto Plata(Sosua) Aerop. 265.00; 300.00
Samana 300.00; 325.00
Las Terrenas 300.00; 325.00
Barahona 300.00; 325.00
Lago Enriquillo 325.00; 360.00

These Prices are From One to Five Person Over Time _ Hora Extra $10.00
Prices Are Inspected And Authorized Be Secretary Of Tourism Of The
Dominican Republic

**Disclaimer: These locations and prices were those presented to me, (PJT),
on November 9, 2004. These may or may not be the actual tariffs. This
posting is for reference information only. The actual tariff is subject to change
at any time. Clients may be able to negotiate lower rates with taxi operators.


Regards,
PJT

[FireGuy]

negotiating with the Punta Cana Taxi Cartel.

The pink shirt "mafia" has it their way in PUJ.

Gregg

[Bartolomeo67]

Last July, after reading a couple of PJTs posts about transport in the East, I decided to phone Beron Taxi (tel. 552-1013) the day before arriving at PUJ instead of using the Siutratural ones waiting at the airport. I booked a transfer to Higuey for 700 R$ (less than half the price).
Here is what happened:
The Siutratural guys had already asked me a couple of times if I needed a taxi, then when the Beron taxi showed up and I wanted to get in, they immediately blocked his car with 3 of their taxis. POLITUR got involved because by now there were like 8 taxi guys insulting and threatening the Beron guy saying that they had the monopoly there. The Politur cop asked me to prove to the guys that I had the Beron phone number which I did. Then he explained to the upset Siutratural guys that Beron Taxi is allowed to pick up people if they have been asked to do so, but that Beron cannot park their cars and just wait for people to come out of the airport like Siutratural does.
So they all had to move their cars and with a 15 minute delay I left for Higuey in the Beron taxi.

If you don't want to be ripped off, call Beron Taxi, you might get some trouble with the others but eventually they have to let you go.

[FireGuy]

That's just way more hassle and drama than the average tourist needs to start off his vacation. Also way beyond the average gringo's Spanish ability, I'm sure.

Gregg

[El Maestro 23]

Originally Posted by FireGuy

That's just way more hassle and drama than the average tourist needs to start off his vacation. Also way beyond the average gringo's Spanish ability, I'm sure.

Gregg

True this may be more of a hassle to the average turist but if you don't want to get ripped off that is a good option. Although not everyone will have access to this post or this page but the ones who do have the TELEPHONE NUMBER now. And if they care enough about their money they should call ahead. But if anyone wants to go to DR and be a "gringo" and get charged triple for everything then good luck.

Anytime you go to another country you are subject of being ripped off in the sense that you pay more than the locals only cause you are a tourist or because you dont know the diff options you may have but everyone should do a little research before hand when traveling.

EM23

[PJT]

Putting things in perspective.

Yes, Siutratural has a monopoly at the airport and yes they charge tourist prices. Why? They have the monopoly, tourists have the money, the govt. sees nothing out of order.

Beron taxi is a cheaper option, downside is you have to arrange for them to meet you at the airport and you wait and you can expect Siutratural to hassel them as happened to Bartolomeo67.

Rates in perspective: ( A unscientific PJT survey )

Siutratural rate PUJ to Plaza Bavaro US $22 at 24 km = $.91/km.
Unpublished rate Halifax AP YHZ to center Halifax US $34 at 35 km = $ .97/km
Published rate *Boston BOS to Salem US $50 at 23 km = $ 2.17/km
*Boston taxi's have the monopoly to pool at the airport. Outside Boston origin taxi services are by call for pick-up only.


Regards,
PJT

[FireGuy]

I paid $34.50CDN YHZ to my home in Dartmouth on my return from PUJ.

My point (and dont forget the use of in my post as I was not complaining about the rates) was that there is no real negotiating. I actually thought the rate of $24US to the Riu complex was reasonable for the distance and on the return to the airport the driver was pleased to stop at a supermercado as we requested. I just didn't want there to be misunderstandings that there would be any real meaningful negotiating with the Siutratural taxi drivers.

Most tourists are spending several thousand dollars to vacation in PUJ and if saving $10US on a taxi fare makes a real difference - they should examine why they ever left home. It's way too much hassle when the purpose is usually relaxation, IMHO.

Bartolomeo67, as far as whether a tourist 'wants to go to DR and be a "gringo" and get charged triple for everything' well most of us are "gringos" and few know that they are being overcharged. Of those of us that do know, few care to impact their vacations with stressing over the "small stuff". And the few (very, very few I am sure) who don't mind the cost of the long distance call to pre-arrange the Beron taxi (is it actually Véron?), wait the extra time until it arrives, put up with the Siutratural taxi hassle and delay - all to save $10US (+ or -); well they can have it, IMHO. Of course I am speaking soley as lowly "gringo" (LOL).

Gregg

[bakerlad1983]

what is the best way to tracel round the island?

[Bartolomeo67]

Originally Posted by FireGuy

That's just way more hassle and drama than the average tourist needs to start off his vacation. Also way beyond the average gringo's Spanish ability, I'm sure.

Gregg

Gregg,
I completely agree that the average AI tourist doesn't want this and is not bothered to pay double. I posted it because it was such a hilarious situation, at least if you understand spanish. I just wanted to point out for the advanced DR traveller that there is another option than to get ripped off by the monopolizing taxi company at PUJ.
In my case, I had no business at all in the Punta Cana area and needed to get to Santo Domingo. I didn't fly into SDQ because from Europe, charter flights to PUJ or POP are usually much cheaper and more comfortable since they are direct (no need to change planes in Paris, Madrid, NYC or Miami). It's a long enough flight from Europe already.
Bartolomeo

[Samantha18]

how can i easily and cheap get to san pedro from punta cana airport, arriving in the late afternoon?