buses from punta cana airport

[bilgeno]

Are there any buses from punta cana airport, for instance to Las Terrenas or La Romana ? I initially planned to stay close to the airport for a week or so, but almost everything seems to be all inclusive, which I want to avoid.

Thanks.

[europeanguy]

Your busstation is in Higuey, around 40 minutes from the airport. From Higuey there are busses going to Romana, Samana, Santo Domingo etc. You will get in Higuey by taking the minivans on the highway at the airport (US$1-2 to Higuey) or by taxi (around US$40).

[PJT]

bilgeno,

To La Romana: There are local buses, guas-guas, that pass just outside the airport that will bring you to Higüey 30 mi - 45 km, 1 hr for 50-55 Pesos

The gua-gua will let you off at the Sichoprola bus station, near the cathedral, you can take the intercity bus from Higuey to the center of La Romana. It runs every 15 minutes from Higuey, 7 am to 7 pm. The bus fare is about 60-70 Pesos. Travel time from Higuey is about 1 hr.

From PUJ
Taxi to Higüey is about US $45, one to five people
Taxi to La Romana is about US $80, one to five people
Taxi to Santo Domingo is about us $120, one to five people

To Las Terrenas: You need to get to Santo Domingo first.

1.There is an express bus service to Santo Domingo, Expreso Ejectivo Bávaro-Sto Dgo from nearby Bavaro. It is best to take a taxi to the bus station from the PUJ aiport 20 min, cost about US$24. The bus station is located near the new Politur Police Station, The bus ticket office is to the left and behind Banca La China. The ticket price is at this time 210 Pesos. The bus departs at 7:00 - 10:00 am and 2:00 - 4:00 pm daily, arrive no later than ½ hr before departure, seats are first come - first serve. The bus will drop you off at **Parque Enriquillo or Juan Sanchez Ramirez #31 esq Av Maximo Gomez. Transit time is about 4 hours.
OR
Take the gua-gua to Higüey (as above) to the Sichoprola bus station and take the hourly express 7 am - 7pm to Santo Domingo to **Parque Enriquillo.
**Note: The Parque is a rough area, advise not to arrive after dark. Transit time from Higüey is about 3½ hours.

From Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas

Take a taxi to the Metro Bus Station at Av Churchill near the corner of Av 27.
You take the Metro Bus to Sanchez, near Samana. The fare should be around 220 Pesos. You can take a taxi from Sanchez to Las Terrenas for about US $25-30. You may want to ask the people on the bus what is the best way to get to Las Terrenas from Sanchez, the locals know best-cheapest. 5-6 hrs.

Taxi from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas is about US $155. one to five people.

Air Transit PUJ to Samana via Takeoff Destination Services, US $80 pp

Regards,
PJT

[Dubby]

Originally Posted by PJT

bilgeno,

To La Romana: There are local buses, guas-guas, that pass just outside the airport that will bring you to Higüey 30 mi - 45 km, 1 hr for 50-55 Pesos

The gua-gua will let you off at the Sichoprola bus station, near the cathedral, you can take the intercity bus from Higuey to the center of La Romana. It runs every 15 minutes from Higuey, 7 am to 7 pm. The bus fare is about 60-70 Pesos. Travel time from Higuey is about 1 hr.

From PUJ
Taxi to Higüey is about US $45, one to five people
Taxi to La Romana is about US $80, one to five people
Taxi to Santo Domingo is about us $120, one to five people

To Las Terrenas: You need to get to Santo Domingo first.

1.There is an express bus service to Santo Domingo, Expreso Ejectivo Bávaro-Sto Dgo from nearby Bavaro. It is best to take a taxi to the bus station from the PUJ aiport 20 min, cost about US$24. The bus station is located near the new Politur Police Station, The bus ticket office is to the left and behind Banca La China. The ticket price is at this time 210 Pesos. The bus departs at 7:00 - 10:00 am and 2:00 - 4:00 pm daily, arrive no later than ½ hr before departure, seats are first come - first serve. The bus will drop you off at **Parque Enriquillo or Juan Sanchez Ramirez #31 esq Av Maximo Gomez. Transit time is about 4 hours.
OR
Take the gua-gua to Higüey (as above) to the Sichoprola bus station and take the hourly express 7 am - 7pm to Santo Domingo to **Parque Enriquillo.
**Note: The Parque is a rough area, advise not to arrive after dark. Transit time from Higüey is about 3½ hours.

From Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas

Take a taxi to the Metro Bus Station at Av Churchill near the corner of Av 27.
You take the Metro Bus to Sanchez, near Samana. The fare should be around 220 Pesos. You can take a taxi from Sanchez to Las Terrenas for about US $25-30. You may want to ask the people on the bus what is the best way to get to Las Terrenas from Sanchez, the locals know best-cheapest. 5-6 hrs.

Taxi from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas is about US $155. one to five people.

Air Transit PUJ to Samana via Takeoff Destination Services, US $80 pp

Regards,
PJT

When you arrive in Sanchez - not sure where metro drops you off but Caribe station is on the main highway leading into Samana (I can't remember the name) anyhow just beyond it is a texaco station just past it is the road lending into Las Terrenas you can get a gua-gua there that will take you into Las Terrenas the cost is 50 pesos. And the scenery is amazing! the gua-gua are usually pick-up trucks.

[Bartolomeo67]

bilgeno,
if you arrive at PUJ airport no later than noon, you can still get to Las Terrenas before sunset, if you want to rough it a bit, without passing via Santo Domingo, but via Sabana de la Mar. I did it last year in the opposite direction. Three options:
1/ charter a private taxi directly at the airport to take you to Sabana de la Mar (approx. 3 1/2 hrs via Higuey and the small coastal road, approx. 150 U$). At Sabana de la Mar, you take the ferry to cross the bay to Santa Barbara de Samana (approx. 50mins), and there, you take another taxi to Las Terrenas (approx. 45mins). There is a ferry every 2 hours.
2/ as said above, take a guagua to Higuey first and charter a taxi to Sabana de la Mar there. Since in Higuey you are no longer in gringo tourist country, you should be able to negotiate a better deal. Continue on the ferry and taxi to LT.
3/ Get to Higuey, take the express bus to Santo Domingo but get off in La Romana. There are guaguas or buses from Santo Domingo to Sabana de la Mar that stop in La Romana, I don't know how regularly. I know there was one waiting at the ferry in Sabana de la Mar to take people to La Romana and Santo Domingo. Again continue on the ferry and taxi to LT. This is certainly the most economical way. It's also an interesting option if you first decide to stay in La Romana and then want to go to Las Terrenas.
Bartolomeo