Intercity buses in the Dominican Republic are cheap: around RD$450 (about US$7) from Santo Domingo to Santiago and RD$650 (about US$10) to Puerto Plata or Sosúa with Caribe Tours in 2026, on air-conditioned coaches with reclining seats. The two big lines are Caribe Tours and Metro, each with its own terminal in Santo Domingo, and Punta Cana is served by Expreso Bávaro.
The short version: For the north (Santiago, Puerto Plata, Sosúa, Jarabacoa) and Samaná, Caribe Tours is the most practical: many departures, its own terminal and low fares. Metro is a good alternative on the Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata corridor. For Punta Cana, Expreso Bávaro. Buy at the terminal, carry pesos and avoid long weekends.
The Main Lines
Caribe Tours
The largest network in the country. It covers the Cibao (Santiago, La Vega, Jarabacoa, Constanza, San Francisco de Macorís), the north coast (Puerto Plata, Sosúa), Samaná, the south (Barahona) and the border (Dajabón, Montecristi). Its website features Puerto Plata, Samaná, Dajabón and Barahona among its destinations and advertises reclining seats, free wifi, charging ports, screens and special seats for passengers with disabilities.
- Main Santo Domingo terminal: Avenida 27 de Febrero at the corner of Leopoldo Navarro, near Naco and Ensanche La Fe.
- Tickets: at the terminal. The website has a route and timetable search, though fares do not always load.
- Parcels: they ship suitcases and packages, handy if you are moving or carrying a lot.
Metro
Metro has operated for more than 50 years and focuses on the northern corridor: Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata and Sosúa. It has fewer departures than Caribe Tours, but many travelers like it for being a bit calmer.
- Santo Domingo terminal: its website lists Avenida Winston Churchill at the corner of Heriberto Núñez. It also mentions timetable information at a Luperón terminal; call to confirm where your bus leaves from.
- Santiago: Avenida Juan Pablo Duarte at the corner of Maimón.
- Puerto Plata: Calle Beller at the corner of 16 de Agosto.
- Sosúa: Carretera Puerto Plata, El Batey (beside a fuel station).
Expreso Bávaro
Connects Santo Domingo with Bávaro (Punta Cana), leaving from Calle Juan Sánchez Ramírez and Parque Enriquillo. Covered in detail in the Santo Domingo to Punta Cana bus.
Fares and Times by Route (2026)
| Route | Line | Approx. fare | Approx. duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santo Domingo to Santiago | Caribe Tours, Metro | RD$450 (about US$7) | 2 h 30 to 3 h |
| Santo Domingo to La Vega | Caribe Tours | RD$400 | 1 h 45 to 2 h 15 |
| Santo Domingo to Jarabacoa | Caribe Tours | RD$550 | 2 h 30 to 3 h |
| Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata | Caribe Tours, Metro | RD$650 (about US$10) | 3 h 30 to 4 h 15 |
| Santo Domingo to Sosúa | Caribe Tours, Metro | RD$650 | 4 h to 4 h 45 |
| Santo Domingo to Samaná | Caribe Tours | Around RD$500 to RD$650 | 2 h 30 to 3 h |
| Santo Domingo to Barahona | Caribe Tours | Around RD$450 to RD$600 | 3 h to 3 h 30 |
| Santo Domingo to Montecristi or Dajabón | Caribe Tours | RD$600 | 4 h 30 to 5 h 30 |
| Santo Domingo to Bávaro | Expreso Bávaro | RD$400 to RD$500 | About 3 h |
The Santiago, La Vega, Jarabacoa, Puerto Plata, Sosúa and border fares are what Caribe Tours charged after a RD$50 increase in May 2026, as reported by the Dominican press. We could not confirm Samaná and Barahona with a 2026 source, so those are estimates. Metro’s fares are usually close to Caribe Tours’ on the same routes, but we did not find its 2026 table either. Use the table to budget and confirm at the window.
For each trip in detail, including car and private transfer options: Santo Domingo to Santiago, Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas.
Routes That Do Not Start in Santo Domingo
Santiago to Puerto Plata. Caribe Tours and Metro both run between the two cities in about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Local route guaguas also do the trip with more stops. More on the Santiago to Puerto Plata route.
Las Terrenas. Caribe Tours reaches Samaná town and Nagua. For Las Terrenas there are smaller express lines from Santo Domingo and guaguas from Samaná or Sánchez. We found no verified official 2026 timetables.
Punta Cana to other regions. There is no practical direct bus from Punta Cana to the north or Samaná. You nearly always go to Santo Domingo, change terminals (they are in different neighborhoods) and carry on. Plan a full day.
What the Trip Is Like
- Buy your ticket at the terminal, usually in cash. Carry pesos.
- Arrive early: 30 to 60 minutes before on normal days, more on holidays.
- Luggage: suitcases go in the hold with a tag; keep the stub. Keep valuables with you.
- On board: strong air conditioning, loud movies and, on the larger coaches, a toilet. Bring a layer.
- Stops: coaches make few official stops but can let passengers off along the highway on request.
- Arrival: terminals outside the capital are usually in each town’s center. From there, a taxi, Uber where it works, or a motoconcho for very short hops.
When Not to Take the Bus
- Leaving from the airport on a late flight. Departures end in the afternoon or early evening.
- With small children and car seats. Coaches have no anchors for child seats.
- As a group of 4 or more with lots of luggage. Once you add taxis to each terminal, a private transfer can cost only a little more and drops you at the door. Compare in transfer vs rental car.
- During Holy Week and Christmas without a ticket: thousands of people leave the capital for the provinces at once.
Getting to the Terminal in Santo Domingo
The Caribe Tours and Metro terminals are in different parts of the capital, and neither is in the Colonial Zone. From the old city or Gazcue, an Uber to the Caribe Tours terminal on 27 de Febrero is around US$4 to US$8 and takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Early morning and late afternoon traffic on 27 de Febrero and Winston Churchill is heavy, so leave with time to spare.
If you fly into Las Américas (SDQ) and want to carry on north by bus, allow about 40 to 60 minutes by taxi or Uber to the terminal. The Las Américas airport guide explains how to get out of the airport.
When Everything Fills Up
Holy Week, the Christmas and New Year period and long weekends are when the most people leave Santo Domingo for the provinces. On those dates terminals fill from early morning, there are lines to buy tickets and some departures sell out. If you must travel then, buy the day before at the terminal or go first thing, and expect more traffic on the Autopista Duarte.
Bus, Guagua or Carro Público
Line coaches (Caribe Tours, Metro) are what Dominicans call simply “autobús” or “guagua de línea”: a timetable, a terminal and an assigned seat. Route guaguas are minibuses that stop anywhere, cheaper and slower, and carros públicos are shared taxis on fixed city routes. All of that is in guaguas and motoconchos.
Flying Into the North
If you are heading to Santiago or Puerto Plata and have not booked flights yet, it often pays to fly straight into Santiago airport or Puerto Plata airport instead of landing in Santo Domingo and taking the bus. If you are already in the country and want door-to-door, you can request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the bus from Santo Domingo to Santiago or Puerto Plata?
After the May 2026 adjustment, Caribe Tours charged around RD$450 to Santiago (about US$7) and RD$650 to Puerto Plata and Sosúa (about US$10). Transport fares in the country were revised several times in 2026, so confirm at the ticket window.
Which is the best bus company in the Dominican Republic?
Caribe Tours has the widest network, frequent departures and coaches with air conditioning, wifi and charging ports. Metro covers the Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata and Sosúa corridor with fewer departures. For Punta Cana, the route is run by Expreso Bávaro, which is separate from both.
Do I need to book the bus in advance?
On normal days, buying at the terminal 30 minutes to an hour before is enough. During Holy Week, Christmas and long weekends buses fill up; that is when to buy early or show up very early.
Can I bring large suitcases on the bus?
Yes, in the hold. One or two suitcases per person is normal. Very large items, boards or boxes may cost extra or need to go through the company's parcel service.
Is there a bus from Punta Cana to Samaná or Puerto Plata?
There is no convenient direct bus between Punta Cana and the north coast or Samaná; you almost always go through Santo Domingo and change terminals, which turns it into a full day. For those routes, a private transfer or a domestic flight usually makes more sense.