From Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) it is about 20 to 30 minutes to Bávaro, 10 to 15 minutes to Cap Cana and 45 to 60 minutes to Uvero Alto. In 2026 the airport taxi charged around US$30 to US$40 per car to most Bávaro hotels and around US$70 to Uvero Alto, based on the zone fares local guides publish from the drivers' rate list.
PUJ is a privately run airport, operated by Grupo Puntacana, and it handles more international flights than any other airport in the country, with daily service from the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America. That volume has a practical side: at the midday and afternoon peaks the immigration line can take longer than the drive to your hotel. This page covers what happens after you land, what each transport option costs and where each one waits for you.
Routes from PUJ
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Private car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cap Cana | 12 km | 10 to 20 min | US$25 to US$45 |
| Cabeza de Toro | 14 km | 15 to 25 min | US$25 to US$40 |
| Bávaro | 22 km | 20 to 35 min | US$25 to US$45 |
| Macao | 30 km | 30 to 40 min | US$40 to US$55 |
| Uvero Alto | 45 km | 40 to 55 min | US$50 to US$70 |
| Bayahíbe | 70 km | 50 min to 1 h 10 min | US$80 to US$120 |
| La Romana | 80 km | 55 min to 1 h 20 min | US$90 to US$130 |
| Miches | 105 km | 1 h 25 min to 1 h 55 min | US$120 to US$170 |
| Santo Domingo | 195 km | 2 h 30 min to 3 h 20 min | US$150 to US$200 |
One-way prices, approximate, based on posted fares and 2025 and 2026 quotes. Confirm the final price before you book.
After landing
Before you fly you need to fill in the free E-Ticket for immigration and customs on the official government portal; keep the QR code on your phone. The tourist card is already included in most passengers' airfare, so there is nothing to buy on arrival.
After you leave the plane you clear immigration, collect your bags and pass customs, where luggage is usually scanned. You then walk along a corridor lined with tour operator and transfer company desks: this is where package holiday reps meet guests and send them to the right coach or minivan. Past that area, at the exit, private transfer drivers wait with signs showing your name or their company. Taxi drivers also wait at the exit under taxi signs, and they usually approach arriving passengers.
Porters at the exit offer to carry bags to your vehicle and expect a tip. If you don't want help, say so politely from the start.
Taxis
Airport taxis belong to the local drivers' association and have no meters: they charge a fixed price per car (not per person) by destination zone. The one-way fares local guides published for 2025 and 2026 were around US$10 to Punta Cana Village, US$20 to the Westin Puntacana and Club Med, US$30 to Cap Cana, Cabeza de Toro and the Barceló, Meliá and Lopesan hotels in Bávaro, US$35 to Los Corales and El Cortecito, US$40 to Arena Gorda (RIU, Bahía Príncipe, Iberostar, Majestic), US$50 to Hard Rock and Moon Palace, US$60 to Macao and US$70 to most of Uvero Alto.
We have not seen this table published by the airport itself, so confirm the price with the driver or dispatcher before you get in. Payment is in cash, US dollars or pesos; carry small bills because change is not always available. For Bayahíbe or La Romana the fare runs around US$90 to US$115, and a pre-booked private transfer at a fixed price is usually the better deal.
Uber and ride apps
Uber was suspended near airports in 2020 after clashes with local taxi drivers, and for years it was not a reliable option at PUJ. Travel guides updated in 2025 and January 2026 now describe an Uber pickup zone at the airport, with an airport surcharge built into the app price. The same sources give an example of about US$16 by UberX to a Bávaro hotel, against US$30 by taxi. Uber Select, the category where tourist taxis appear inside the app, costs more.
There are still reports of cancellations and of staff steering travelers toward taxis, so don't rely on Uber as your only plan, especially at night or with a lot of luggage. Connect to the airport wifi, request the ride once you have your bags and follow the app's directions to the pickup point. Some drivers turn down trips longer than an hour. We have no verified information on inDrive at the airport.
Terminals
International flights use two main terminals, A and B, with traditional palm-thatched roofs and much of the walk in the open air. Each terminal has its own immigration hall, customs, baggage belts and exit, so your driver or hotel rep needs to know which one you land at. There are also small terminals for private and domestic flights. Your boarding pass or airline app shows the terminal; if it doesn't, the arrivals board on the airport website shows it on the day.
The two terminals are a short outdoor walk apart, but the arrival exits are separate. If someone is waiting at the wrong terminal, it is easier for them to walk over than for you to do it with bags.
Practical details
Money: US dollars are accepted for taxis, transfers and tips, so you don't need pesos to leave the airport. Bring US$1, US$5 and US$10 bills for tips and porters. We could not confirm which ATMs currently work in each terminal; if you need pesos, a bank ATM in Bávaro or at your hotel is the safer bet.
Phone: sources disagree on whether Claro or Altice kiosks operate inside the airport. The practical move is to set up an eSIM or a roaming plan before you fly. Both carriers have official stores in the Bávaro area, for example at BlueMall. The airport has free wifi, enough to message your driver or request an Uber.
Late arrivals: the airport runs day and night, and taxis wait for the last flights. If you land after 10 p.m., a booked transfer that tracks your flight saves you negotiating at the exit when fewer cars are around.
Tips
- Fill in the E-Ticket before you leave for your departure airport and keep the QR code offline.
- Ask the taxi price per car and in US dollars before you get in; the fare is by zone, not per person.
- Send your driver the flight number and terminal (A or B) so they wait at the right exit.
- If your hotel is in Uvero Alto, compare the roughly US$70 taxi with a pre-booked private transfer: they often cost about the same.
- Politely decline porters if you don't want help; if you accept, US$1 to US$2 per bag is the norm.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Punta Cana Airport to Bávaro?
Around US$30 to US$40 per car in 2026, depending on the hotel. Barceló, Meliá and Lopesan were in the US$30 zone and the Arena Gorda resorts (RIU, Bahía Príncipe, Iberostar) in the US$40 zone. It is a fixed fare with no meter, so confirm it before you get in.
Can I get an Uber at Punta Cana Airport?
Guides updated in 2025 and 2026 describe an Uber pickup zone at PUJ, with an airport surcharge included. There are reports of cancellations and changing enforcement, so have a backup: the taxi line or a booked transfer.
Where will my transfer driver wait?
After customs, at the exit of your terminal (A or B), holding a sign with your name or the company's. Package holiday reps are earlier, at the tour operator desks along the arrivals corridor.
Do I need Dominican pesos when I arrive?
No. Taxis, transfers and tips are paid in US dollars without issue. Bring small bills. If you want pesos, use a bank ATM in Bávaro later.
How long does it take to get out of the airport?
It depends on the time. With few flights landing, 20 to 40 minutes for immigration, bags and customs. At midday and afternoon peaks in high season it can run past an hour. If you book a transfer, the driver should track your flight and plan for that wait.