Help! How to get from Punta to Puerto Plata?

student_traveller · #1 08-15-2007, 08:02 PM

I'm leaving for the Dominican Republic in 3 days. When I arrive I need to get from Punta Cana airport to Puerto Plata. A friend of mine went ahead of me, and he said he had no choice but to charter a plane for $700!!

There's no way I can afford that.

Can anyone recommend a cheaper option?

many thanks

rubio_higuey · #2 08-15-2007, 08:22 PM

The Search button is your friend.

Transportation from Punta Cana to Puerto Plata?

apostropheman · #3 08-15-2007, 08:42 PM

Regular Flights

punta cana to puerto plata daily leaving at 6:30pm and arrivine at 7:35 pm for $149 USD each way.

when i used them, xmas 2005, they were very punctual. i'd recommend getting there early as the planes are fairly small.

Rocky · #4 08-15-2007, 08:47 PM

The plane that Apos recommends is definitely the way to go.
If you do it by public transport, it will be cheaper, but you'll lose the whole day.

apostropheman · #5 08-15-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky

The plane that Apos recommends is definitely the way to go.
If you do it by public transport, it will be cheaper, but you'll lose the whole day.

...and it's fairly complicated and can be intimidating if you are not familiar with the routes.

i did the bus thing from punta cana to puerto plata once...and flew back.

My New Year's Eve PC to Sosua Adventure!

flying is a lot better and at the posted price not that much more. i think it would likely cost about $50, or close enough, to bus it including taxis etc...vs $149. well worth the extra $$$ IMO.

rubio_higuey · #6 08-15-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apostropheman

...and it's fairly complicated and can be intimidating if you are not familiar with the routes.

It's not complicated at all, bus - taxi - bus, what is complicated with that?

Moreover, there are detailed instructions posted. It's fairly easy.

apostropheman · #7 08-15-2007, 09:03 PM

to you perhaps, and me having done it but we do not yet know if this is a seasoned DR traveler or a first time visitor.

and having done it by bus i highly recommend flying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubio_higuey

It's not complicated at all, bus - taxi - bus, what is complicated with that?

Moreover, there are detailed instructions posted. It's fairly easy.

perhaps we'll get a few more details from the OP before we go sacrificing virgins...for the sake of $100

Rocky · #8 08-15-2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubio_higuey

It's not complicated at all, bus - taxi - bus, what is complicated with that?

Moreover, there are detailed instructions posted. It's fairly easy.

It's not exactly easy either, specially if you have a lot of luggage, which you have to keep an eye on all the time when the busses stop, in case someone absconds with your bag, as they are known to do.
When Apos did that trip, everything went right, for a change.
For the most part, things do not go that smoothly or as fast, in our land of SNAFUs.
Did you read his trip report?

Quote:

I had no clear thoughts on a hotel and being a very busy season in a primarily AI town I did not have high hopes for decent, inexpensive accomodation and was prepared, in my mind atleast, to find a little bar, hang out until closing and then wait at the bus station until the first bus at 7:00am. I arrived about 11:00pm and figured that I could easily kill 8 hours if required.

I caught a taxi and asked the driver to recommend a hotel, hopefully near the bus depot. He suggested instead going to Higuey as it is less expensive, the bus leaves at 5:00am instead of 7:00am and it's closer to Santo Domingo.

The taxi to the cortecito area from the airport was to be $25 but for $35 he took me to a nice little hotel, Don Carlos, in Higuey very near the bus stop. The room was basic but clean and secure and 1000 pesos. He made sure I had a room and arranged for a taxi to pick me up there and take me to the bus at 4:30am.

SUCCESS!

I caught the 5:00am bus, which left on time, and was in SD about 8:00AM or so. I managed to get to the Caribe Tours, by taxi costing 100, pesos after trying it on foot but it is way too far and I was not certain where it was. Caught the 9:00am bus and was in Los Charamicos just after 12:40, 10 minutes late but happy! Flagged down a guagua and for 20 pesos was in Sosua minutes later.
You should have seen the look on Marco's face when I strolled in so early

The look on my face was one of astonishment.
He probably set a world record that day.
It may have been largely due to the time of year and not running into traffic jams, specially in Santo Domingo, and despite his good luck on the way here, he still flew on the way back.
One miracle per year is enough.

apostropheman · #9 08-15-2007, 09:29 PM

i did a lot of research, DR1, google, etc...and with all that still ran into things that i did not know of or expect.

e.g. i did not realize that once in santo domingo changing bus terminals was a big deal. i rode from higuey to santo domingo on some regional/no-name bus that dropped me off at a parada in a location i was unfamiliar with. i had no clear idea where caribe tours was relative to where i was dropped off. this happened because i went to higuey instead of staying in punta cana as planned by taking advantage of an opportunity that presented itself.

changing location, PC to higuey, changed the bus i took and the destination in santo domingo where i was left to my own devices. thankfully i had enough spanish to get in a taxi and get to caribe tours in time...enough spanish to get from PC to higuey, get a hotel and get on a 5:00am bus at a poorly marked parada in a place i'd never been before in the first place.

all my plans "went out the window" as they usually do as soon as i set foot on dominican soil

i seriously doubt that most people would want to knowingly take all this on. i thought i understood what i was getting into but was wrong. luckily i love a little adventure...and it all worked out, that time

rubio_higuey · #10 08-15-2007, 10:50 PM

The no-name bus belongs to Sichoprola, it's not "regional", probably the most powerful transport syndicate in the country (why do you think there is no Caribe Tours or Metro service to the east)?

They probably left you under the 27 de Febrero overpass (elevado).

I ahree with you that unfamiliar person may get confused/scared.

But if they take expreso from Bavaro, they get dropped off at the last stop, can take a taxi there to Caribe Tours.

Btw, I am surprised there were no taxis where you got off, because I always see lots of taxis everywhere the busses stop.

So, why not sum this up:

If $150 dollars is OK, fly.
If you cannot affor more than $50, take the bus.