Switching hotels within Bávaro costs around US$5 to US$12 by Uber or US$15 to US$30 in a hotel taxi in 2026, and takes 10 to 25 minutes. Between regions the price climbs quickly: Bávaro to Bayahíbe or La Romana by private transfer is around US$90 to US$150, and Bávaro to Santo Domingo around US$150 to US$220 per vehicle.
The short version: For short hops within Punta Cana or Santo Domingo, Uber is cheapest if you travel light. With luggage, kids or more than four people, book a minivan. To change regions (Punta Cana to Bayahíbe, Santo Domingo to Samaná, Puerto Plata to Las Terrenas), a private transfer booked ahead usually beats the hotel taxi. Always agree the price before you get in.
Why Changing Hotels Is Not Like an Airport Run
Hotel-to-hotel trips differ from airport transfers in two ways. First, there is no official taxi desk with a posted fare table, so the price depends on who drives you. Second, check-out at the first hotel (usually noon) and check-in at the second (usually 3pm) leave a gap. Most travelers fill it with a late check-out, luggage storage or a lunch stop on the way.
The Four Ways to Move
Uber
For: short trips with light luggage in Bávaro, Cabeza de Toro, Cap Cana and Santo Domingo.
Uber shows the fare upfront and there is no haggling. It works well along the Bávaro to Cap Cana corridor and across most of Santo Domingo. In Uvero Alto, Bayahíbe, Las Terrenas and on the north coast, drivers are few or absent. It does not pick up at Punta Cana airport; see Uber at Dominican airports.
Some resorts do not let app cars drive up to the lobby, so the driver waits at the gate. Ask at reception before you request.
Hotel Taxi
For: when you need to leave now and no Uber is around, or you prefer to charge it to the room.
Every large resort has a taxi stand with fixed fares by destination, often on a sheet at reception. These are local union taxis and cost more than Uber, roughly double on short trips. The upside: the car is there and the hotel knows who drove you.
Booked Private Transfer
For: long trips, groups, families with car seats and any change of region.
You book a day or more ahead, the price is per vehicle and luggage is almost always included. It is the best value once the trip is longer than about 30 minutes.
Shared Shuttle
Shared shuttles mostly run between the airport and hotels. Between hotels they are rare, apart from some excursion routes. Do not count on one.
Approximate Prices: Punta Cana
| Trip | Uber | Hotel taxi | Private (1 to 3 people) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Within Bávaro | US$5 to US$12 | US$15 to US$30 | US$25 to US$40 | 10 to 25 min |
| Bávaro to Cap Cana | US$15 to US$25 | US$40 to US$60 | US$40 to US$60 | 20 to 30 min |
| Bávaro to Uvero Alto | Limited | US$40 to US$60 | US$45 to US$70 | 20 to 35 min |
| Bávaro to Miches | No | US$130 to US$180 | US$120 to US$170 | 1 h 15 to 1 h 45 |
| Bávaro to Bayahíbe | No | US$110 to US$160 | US$90 to US$150 | 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 |
| Bávaro to La Romana | No | US$110 to US$150 | US$90 to US$140 | 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 |
| Bávaro to Santo Domingo | Possible, pricey | US$180 to US$250 | US$150 to US$220 | 2 h 30 to 3 h |
2026 prices, one way, daytime. Uber fares move with demand. Taxi and private figures are ranges we have seen published; each company and taxi union sets its own.
More on each zone in Bávaro, Cap Cana and the Punta Cana to La Romana route.
Approximate Prices: Santo Domingo and the South Coast
In the capital, Uber and similar apps are the normal way to move between the Colonial Zone, Gazcue and Piantini; a hotel-to-hotel ride is around US$4 to US$10. Leaving the city:
| Trip | Private (1 to 3 people) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Colonial Zone to Boca Chica | US$35 to US$55 | 35 to 50 min |
| Colonial Zone to Juan Dolio | US$50 to US$80 | 50 to 70 min |
| Santo Domingo to La Romana | US$100 to US$150 | 1 h 30 to 2 h |
| Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas | US$170 to US$240 | 2 h to 2 h 30 |
See the Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas route and the Juan Dolio destination page.
Approximate Prices: North Coast and Samaná
Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Cabarete have Uber in some areas, but most hotel-to-hotel trips are done by local association taxis or drivers the hotel recommends.
| Trip | Taxi or private | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Dorada to Sosúa | US$25 to US$40 | 20 to 30 min |
| Playa Dorada to Cabarete | US$35 to US$55 | 30 to 40 min |
| Sosúa to Cabarete | US$20 to US$30 | 15 to 20 min |
| Las Terrenas to Las Galeras | US$80 to US$120 | 1 h to 1 h 15 |
| Puerto Plata to Las Terrenas | US$180 to US$260 | 3 h to 3 h 30 |
The full route is in Puerto Plata to Las Terrenas, and if you are pairing Punta Cana with Samaná, in Punta Cana to Samaná.
How to Choose
- Couple with two suitcases, Bávaro to Bávaro: Uber, or the hotel taxi if no cars are nearby.
- Family of five with car seats: booked private minivan, even for a short trip.
- Change of region (two hotels in one trip): private transfer booked the day before with an agreed pickup time.
- Group of 8 or more: a van; see group van transfers.
- Tight budget between cities: the bus. Santo Domingo to Punta Cana is covered in the Santo Domingo to Punta Cana bus.
Tips That Save Money and Time
- Ask for a late check-out at the first hotel, or whether you can use the facilities after check-out. Then leave mid-afternoon and arrive at check-in time.
- Confirm whether the price is per vehicle or per person. Hotel taxis are almost always per vehicle; some excursion shuttles charge per person.
- Ask about tolls. On long runs along the Coral Highway or the Autovía del Este, some drivers add them on top.
- Pay in dollars or pesos, but settle it first. Carry small bills, because change is not always available.
- Save a good driver’s WhatsApp. If you move again or need the airport later, you already have someone.
- Tip for good service. Typical amounts are in tipping drivers.
Before You Book
Have the exact names of both hotels (Bávaro has several with near-identical names), the pickup time, headcount, number of bags and whether you need car seats. With that you can request a quote and compare it with what the hotel offers.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi between hotels in Bávaro?
Within Bávaro, a hotel taxi is usually around US$15 to US$30 in 2026, depending on distance. Uber, where available, is around US$5 to US$12 for the same trip. From Bávaro to Cap Cana, budget about US$15 to US$25 by Uber and US$40 to US$60 by taxi.
Can I get an Uber from my resort in Punta Cana?
Generally yes: Uber works across the Bávaro, Cabeza de Toro and Cap Cana hotel zones. Some resorts ask drivers to wait at the gatehouse rather than the lobby, and in places like Uvero Alto availability is thinner. With a lot of luggage, a booked minivan is more comfortable.
What does a transfer from a Punta Cana hotel to Bayahíbe or La Romana cost?
A private transfer from Bávaro to Bayahíbe or La Romana is usually quoted around US$90 to US$150 per vehicle in 2026 for 1 to 3 people. The drive takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes on the Coral Highway.
Should I book through the hotel or separately?
The hotel is convenient and accountable if something goes wrong, but usually costs more. A private transfer company booked in advance normally charges less for the same trip. Compare at least two prices and confirm luggage and tolls are included.