Airport taxis in the Dominican Republic charge a fixed fare per vehicle by zone, quoted in US dollars, with no meter. From Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) to Bávaro that is around US$30 to US$55 in 2026; from Las Américas (SDQ) to central Santo Domingo, around US$30 to US$45; from Puerto Plata (POP) to Sosúa, around US$25 to US$35. The rest of this guide gives the fare ranges we found for each airport, how the system works and when another option is better value.
The short answer: Airport taxis are legal, easy to find and priced by zone, per car, in US dollars. They are fair value for a couple or a family going a short distance (PUJ to Bávaro or Cap Cana, POP to Sosúa). For longer trips, groups or late arrivals, a pre-booked private transfer is usually equal or cheaper and removes the haggling. Always confirm the fare from the posted board or with the dispatcher before you get in.
How airport taxi pricing works in the DR
Every major Dominican airport has an authorized taxi operation working the arrivals curb. The details differ by airport, but the rules are the same:
- Fixed fares, not meters. Fares are set per destination or zone. At PUJ they are posted on printed boards at the taxi stand and in many resort lobbies.
- Per vehicle, not per person. Four people in one car pay the same as one. A driver who quotes “per person” for a standard car is not following the system; walk back to the dispatcher.
- Vehicle size changes the price. A standard car or minivan takes about four to six people with luggage. Bigger vans for groups cost more.
- US dollars are the default. Pesos are accepted at a rate the driver chooses, which rarely favors you. Cards are hit or miss.
- Tolls. On short resort runs there are no tolls. On long routes (PUJ to Santo Domingo, SDQ to Punta Cana) the fare should include them, but ask.
We could not find an official, current fare table published online by any airport operator or by INTRANT (the national transit authority). The ranges below come from posted boards reported in 2025 and 2026 travel guides, traveler reports and booking sites. Treat them as a guide to what is normal, not a guarantee.
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
PUJ handles most of the country’s tourists, and its taxi stand sits just outside arrivals, past the hotel reps and tour company desks. Fares reported for 2025 and 2026, one way, per vehicle:
| From PUJ to | Taxi (approx. 2026) | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Cap Cana | US$25 to US$35 | 15 to 20 min |
| Punta Cana Village / Los Corales | US$25 to US$40 | 10 to 20 min |
| Bávaro, Arena Gorda, Cabeza de Toro | US$30 to US$55 | 20 to 40 min |
| Uvero Alto, Macao | US$60 to US$90 | 40 to 55 min |
| Bayahíbe / La Romana | US$80 to US$145 | 1 h 15 to 1 h 45 |
| Santo Domingo | US$200 and up | 2 h 30 to 3 h |
The spread within Bávaro is wide because “Bávaro” covers everything from Los Corales to the far end of Arena Gorda. Resorts toward Arena Gorda sit at the top of the range. Compare with a pre-booked car on our PUJ to Bávaro and PUJ to Uvero Alto pages, or see all routes from the Punta Cana Airport page.
Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), Santo Domingo
SDQ is about 30 km east of the Zona Colonial along the Autopista Las Américas, a straight coastal highway with one toll plaza near the airport. Airport taxis line up outside arrivals. Travel guides and booking sites put the run into the city at around US$25 to US$45 in 2025 and 2026, with the Zona Colonial at the lower end and Piantini or Naco a little higher.
| From SDQ to | Taxi (approx. 2026) | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Boca Chica | US$20 to US$30 | 10 to 15 min |
| Zona Colonial | US$30 to US$45 | 30 to 45 min |
| Piantini, Naco, Bella Vista | US$35 to US$50 | 35 to 60 min |
| Juan Dolio | US$35 to US$50 | 25 to 35 min |
| Punta Cana / Bávaro | US$180 to US$250 | 2 h 30 to 3 h |
Rush hour on the Avenida 27 de Febrero and the Malecón can double the time to Piantini. Since mid 2025, Uber has a designated pickup zone at SDQ, which often makes it the cheaper choice for the city (see our Uber at Dominican airports guide). For details on the drive and pre-booked prices, see SDQ to Zona Colonial and SDQ to Boca Chica.
Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP), Puerto Plata
POP is on the north coast between Puerto Plata and Sosúa. Taxis wait outside arrivals and fares are fixed by destination, though several guides note that drivers here quote higher than you might expect and that the price is best agreed at the stand.
| From POP to | Taxi (approx. 2026) | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Sosúa | US$25 to US$35 | 10 to 15 min |
| Playa Dorada / Puerto Plata | US$30 to US$40 | 20 to 30 min |
| Cabarete | US$35 to US$50 | 25 to 35 min |
| Cofresí | around US$45 | 30 to 40 min |
| Río San Juan | US$80 to US$110 | 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 |
One recurring complaint from Sosúa is drivers quoting “US$25 per person”. The fare is per car. Compare with POP to Sosúa and POP to Cabarete.
Smaller airports: STI, LRM and AZS
Cibao (STI), Santiago. The airport is about 15 to 25 minutes from central Santiago. Guides put the taxi into the city at around US$25 to US$35 (roughly RD$1,600 to RD$2,200 at RD$63 per US$1). Uber works here and is usually much cheaper for the city. For Jarabacoa or Puerto Plata, see STI to Jarabacoa.
La Romana (LRM), Casa de Campo. Taxis meet most flights and run on fixed rates. Reported fares are around US$15 to US$25 to La Romana town or Casa de Campo, and around US$35 to US$60 to Bayahíbe. Sources disagree here, so confirm before you go. See LRM to Bayahíbe.
El Catey (AZS), Samaná. Flights are few and mostly seasonal. Taxis meet arrivals but supply can be thin, so pre-booking is wise. Expect a three-figure fare per car to Las Terrenas (around 40 minutes); we could not verify a current posted rate. See AZS to Las Terrenas.
Taxi vs pre-booked transfer: which is cheaper?
On the short PUJ runs, a pre-booked private car to Bávaro or Cap Cana usually lands in the same US$30 to US$55 range as the taxi, so the case for pre-booking is less about money and more about certainty: the price is fixed before you fly, the driver tracks your flight and waits, and you skip the line at the stand. Shared shuttles are cheaper per person (around US$10 to US$25 to Bávaro) but make several hotel stops.
On long routes, pre-booking almost always wins. A private car from PUJ to Santo Domingo was quoted at around US$140 to US$200 in 2026 against US$200 and up for the airport taxi. For groups of seven or more, a pre-booked van is far cheaper than two taxis. Our private vs shared transfer guide covers the trade-offs, and you can request a quote for your exact hotel.
Paying and avoiding problems
- Carry small US bills. US$5, US$10 and US$20 notes make life easy. Change for a US$100 note is not guaranteed.
- Confirm the total, the currency and whether tolls are included before the bags go in the trunk.
- Only use the authorized stand. Ignore people inside the terminal offering rides. If someone walks you away from the curb toward an unmarked car, decline.
- Tipping is not expected on a fixed fare, but around 10 percent or a few dollars for help with heavy luggage is common.
- Late at night, fewer taxis wait at smaller airports, and some operators add a surcharge. If you land after 10 p.m., read our late-night and delayed arrivals guide.
What we could not verify
No Dominican airport publishes a full fare list online that we could check, and figures vary between sources by US$10 to US$20 on the same route. The prices above are approximate ranges for 2026, drawn from posted-board reports, guides and booking sites. When you land, the board at the stand is the reference. If a quote is far above these ranges, ask the dispatcher, not the driver.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Punta Cana Airport to Bávaro?
Published reports for 2025 and 2026 put the official taxi from PUJ to the main Bávaro hotels at around US$30 to US$55 per vehicle, one way, depending on the exact hotel and the size of the vehicle. Uvero Alto runs around US$60 to US$90. Check the posted board at the taxi stand before you get in.
Are Dominican airport taxis metered?
No. Taxis at Dominican airports work on fixed fares by zone or destination, not meters. The fare is per vehicle, not per person, and it should be agreed (or read off the posted list) before you leave the curb.
Can I pay an airport taxi in US dollars?
Yes. Airport taxis quote in US dollars and accept cash dollars; most also take Dominican pesos. Card payment is not guaranteed, so carry small US bills. Drivers often have little change for a US$100 note.
How much is a taxi from Santo Domingo airport (SDQ) to the Zona Colonial?
Around US$30 to US$45 per car in 2026, based on travel guides and booking sites, for the 30 km run along the Autopista Las Américas. Piantini and Naco usually cost a little more because they are farther west. Uber now has a designated pickup zone at SDQ and is usually cheaper.
Is a pre-booked private transfer cheaper than a taxi?
Often it is about the same or slightly cheaper, especially from PUJ to Bávaro or Cap Cana, and the price is locked before you fly. For long routes such as PUJ to Santo Domingo or SDQ to Las Terrenas, comparing a few private quotes usually beats the airport taxi rate.
Is there a night surcharge on airport taxis?
Some operators add around US$5 to US$10 for pickups in the middle of the night. It is not applied consistently, so ask before you load your bags.