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La Altagracia

Getting to Bávaro

25 to 35 minutes from Punta Cana Airport: where to land, how to get around and which part of Bávaro is closest

Bávaro

Bávaro is about 22 km from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), 25 to 35 minutes by car depending on the time of day and the hotel. It is the country's biggest resort strip, running from Cabeza de Toro in the south to Arena Gorda in the north, with El Cortecito and Los Corales in the middle.

Almost everyone heading to Bávaro lands at PUJ. La Romana (LRM) and Santo Domingo (SDQ) only make sense if the fare is much cheaper or you are combining Bávaro with another part of the country.

Nearby airports

AirportsDistanceDrive time
PUJ · Punta Cana Airport 22 km 25 to 35 min The natural airport for Bávaro. Official taxis at the exit, private and shared transfers, and Uber with restrictions.
LRM · La Romana Airport 85 km 1 h 10 min to 1 h 30 min Few international flights. Only useful if your flight lands here; it adds more than an hour on the Autovía del Coral.
SDQ · Las Américas Airport 190 km 2 h 30 min to 3 h Far more flights from South America and Europe, but it is about 2.5 to 3 hours by toll highway.

Which airport to fly into

Fly into Punta Cana (PUJ) whenever you can. It has more direct flights from the US, Canada and Europe than any other airport in the country, and Bávaro is half an hour north on the road that skirts the airport. Hotels in Cabeza de Toro and Los Corales are the closest; Arena Gorda, at the northern end, adds about 10 minutes.

Santo Domingo (SDQ) can be cheaper, especially from South America, but the transfer on the Autopista Las Américas and the Autovía del Coral takes 2.5 to 3 hours and crosses several toll plazas. A February 2026 report put round-trip tolls between the capital and the east at around RD$800 to RD$1,000 (about US$13 to US$16), and a private transfer on that route costs far more than one from PUJ. La Romana (LRM) gets few scheduled flights; if your airline lands there, allow about 70 to 90 minutes to Bávaro.

Transfer routes to Bávaro

Areas and transfer times

Cabeza de Toro, in the south, is the part of Bávaro closest to PUJ: about 20 to 25 minutes. Los Corales and El Cortecito are the most walkable center (restaurants, bars, shops), 25 to 35 minutes from the airport. Playa Bávaro and Arena Blanca hold the big all-inclusive resorts between Los Corales and the Cortecito junction. Arena Gorda, to the north, has large, more isolated resorts 35 to 45 minutes from PUJ, and just beyond it Macao begins, which counts as the road to Uvero Alto.

If you plan to eat out several nights, Los Corales or El Cortecito save you taxi fares. If you will not leave the resort, the difference between zones is 10 to 15 minutes of transfer time, nothing more.

Hotels in Bávaro

Pick your hotel to get a transfer quote from the airport.

Bávaro

Arena Gorda

Los Corales

Cabeza de Toro

Getting around

Uber works in Bávaro and is the cheapest way to make short trips between hotels, plazas and restaurants. There are two versions: UberX (private cars, cheaper) and Uber Select, which in Punta Cana are traditional taxis inside the app and cost noticeably more. Guides updated in January 2026 say UberX drivers are not officially allowed to pick up at resort lobbies, so often only Uber Select shows up at the door, or you move the pickup pin to the resort's main gate. inDrive also has drivers in the area, with fewer cars.

Hotel taxis and the stands at the plazas (Palma Real, Los Corales, El Cortecito) charge fixed fares, usually higher than Uber; agree the price before you get in. Guaguas (public minibuses) run along the main road between Bávaro, Friusa and Verón for around RD$25 to RD$50 for a short ride, handy for supermarkets or central Bávaro but not with luggage. Motoconchos (motorbike taxis) are everywhere; with car options this easy to find, there is no need to use them.

Walking works on the beach: the sand links many resorts between Los Corales, El Cortecito and Arena Blanca. Along the road there are few sidewalks and a lot of heat.

Tips

  • Book your hotel transfer with your flight number so the driver tracks delays and you pay no waiting fee.
  • For Uber, move the pin to the resort's main gate if only Uber Select appears.
  • Carry pesos for guaguas and tips; taxis take dollars, but the exchange rate usually favors them.
  • If you land at night, book ahead: there are fewer free taxis at that hour and Uber cancels more often.

Frequently asked questions

Which airport is closest to Bávaro?

Punta Cana (PUJ), about 22 km and 25 to 35 minutes away. La Romana is about 70 to 90 minutes away and Santo Domingo 2.5 to 3 hours.

Does Uber work in Bávaro?

Yes. UberX is the cheap option for short trips, though officially it does not pick up at resort lobbies; Uber Select (taxis in the app) does, at a higher price. Check the app at the time, because coverage changes with the hour.

Can you walk between resorts in Bávaro?

Along the beach, yes, for much of the stretch between Los Corales, El Cortecito and Arena Blanca. Along the road it is not pleasant: few sidewalks, traffic and heat.

Is it worth flying into Santo Domingo for Bávaro?

Only if the flight savings cover a 2.5 to 3 hour transfer with tolls, or if you are spending days in the capital. Otherwise, PUJ puts you half an hour from your hotel.