From Las Américas to Las Terrenas is about 140 to 155 km depending on the exit route, 2 hours to 2 hours 45 minutes on the Autopista del Nordeste and the Boulevard Turístico del Atlántico. A private transfer costs around US$150 to US$220 per car in 2026, and tolls add about RD$860 (US$14) each way.
Las Terrenas is the liveliest town on the Samaná Peninsula: long beaches such as Punta Popy, Playa Bonita and Coson, a large French and Italian community, and plenty of villas and apartments for rent. The peninsula has its own airport, El Catey (AZS), about 30 to 40 minutes from Las Terrenas, but it gets few flights, mostly seasonal, so most visitors arrive through Santo Domingo.
Reference prices (2026)
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Official airport taxi | US$180 to US$220 |
| Private car (1 to 3 people) | US$150 to US$220 |
| Van (up to about 10 people) | US$200 to US$290 |
Approximate one-way prices in 2026. Sichala's fare table doesn't list Las Terrenas; it shows US$200 to Samaná, so expect something similar. Private transfers per vehicle for 1 to 3 people: 2025 and 2026 listings run about US$150 to US$220. This route has the country's most expensive tolls; ask whether they are included. Round trip is roughly double.
One-way prices, approximate, based on posted fares and 2025 and 2026 quotes. Confirm the final price before you book.
Tolls
Four on the Autopista del Nordeste and the Boulevard Turístico del Atlántico: Marbella (around RD$60), Naranjal (RD$200), Guaraguao (RD$200) and El Catey (RD$400), based on rates published since 2022. In total about RD$860 (around US$14) each way for a car. Depending on how the driver leaves the airport, the Las Américas or Santo Domingo Circunvalación toll may be added, RD$100 each. Most booths take peso cash only.
The drive
This is the only SDQ route that heads north. The driver needs to reach the Autopista del Nordeste (also called Autopista Juan Pablo II), which leaves from the north of the capital. There are two ways: cut through part of Santo Domingo Este on avenues such as Charles de Gaulle, or take the Santo Domingo Circunvalación ring road, a toll road that skirts the city and its traffic. At some hours the difference can be 30 minutes.
Once on the highway the scenery changes quickly: rice paddies, green hills and few towns. The road is good with light traffic, and you pass the Marbella, Naranjal and Guaraguao toll booths. Near El Catey you join the Boulevard Turístico del Atlántico, pay the most expensive toll of the trip, and the road crosses the peninsula over the hills before dropping into Las Terrenas, with bends and views of Samaná Bay.
The mountain stretch is the one that needs care at night and in rain. On Friday afternoons the northbound exit from Santo Domingo jams, and long weekends fill the road with capital residents heading to Samaná.
Which option suits you
For almost everyone, a pre-booked private transfer is the answer: it is the longest ride on this list, with expensive tolls and a mountain stretch. Confirm the price includes tolls, since they are about US$14 each way, and that the driver knows your villa or apartment; many Las Terrenas addresses are landmarks like "behind the colmado" or "on the road to Coson".
The official taxi may cost about the same or more and has no published Las Terrenas fare, so agree the price first. Uber isn't a realistic option for this trip.
For solo travelers on a budget, direct buses run from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas (operators such as Asotrapusa have run the route) for a few hundred pesos, but they leave from terminals in the capital, not the airport. If you are staying a week and want to see El Limón, Las Galeras and the north-coast beaches, a rental car from SDQ makes sense; choose one with good ground clearance and avoid the mountain stretch at night. And check for flights into El Catey (AZS): they save you more than an hour and a half.
Hotels in the area
- Viva V Samaná by Wyndham
- Sublime Samaná Hotel & Residences
- Hotel Alisei
- Xeliter Balcones del Atlántico
- Bahia Principe Explore El Portillo
- Hotel Atlantis
Tips
- Carry about RD$1,000 in small notes if you drive: most booths on this route only take peso cash.
- Send the driver your villa's location on WhatsApp before you set off; Las Terrenas addresses go by landmarks.
- If your flight lands after 6:00 pm, the mountain stretch will be in the dark; consider a night in Santo Domingo.
- Always compare with a flight into El Catey (AZS), 30 to 40 minutes from Las Terrenas.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a transfer from Santo Domingo airport to Las Terrenas?
Around US$150 to US$220 per private car for 1 to 3 people in 2026, and about US$200 to US$290 by van. Ask whether the tolls, about RD$860 each way, are included.
How long does it take from SDQ to Las Terrenas?
From 2 hours to 2 hours 45 minutes, depending on traffic leaving Santo Domingo and the route the driver takes.
How much are the tolls from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas?
About RD$860 (US$14) each way for a car: Marbella, Naranjal, Guaraguao and El Catey, the last being the priciest at RD$400. A RD$100 toll may be added depending on the exit from the airport.
Is it better to fly into El Catey than Santo Domingo?
If there is a direct flight to El Catey (AZS), yes: it is about 30 to 40 minutes from Las Terrenas. But it has few flights, many seasonal, so most visitors come through SDQ.