Should I fly into Punta Cana even if I'm not staying there?

No — fly into the airport closest to your actual destination. The Dominican Republic has several international airports (Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, plus smaller ones near La Romana and Samaná), and choosing the wrong one adds a genuinely long overland transfer.

Do I need a car to get around the Dominican Republic?

Not if you're staying at one resort — transfers are typically pre-arranged. If you're combining regions, a rental car, private driver or domestic flight are all practical options, depending on the distance involved.

Is it far from Punta Cana to Samaná?

Yes — it's a multi-hour drive across the country, not a short regional hop. A domestic flight or a full day dedicated to the drive are both worth planning for rather than assuming it's a quick trip.

Is self-driving safe in the Dominican Republic?

Main highways between major regions are generally well-maintained, but driving style is considerably more assertive than many visitors are used to, and motoconcho traffic weaves unpredictably. Defensive, unhurried driving and avoiding rural roads after dark reduce the realistic risk.

Getting around

Getting Around the Dominican Republic

Most visitors experience the Dominican Republic as a single destination — the resort they flew into — because the country's tourism regions are genuinely spread out along the coastline rather than clustered together, and moving between them takes real planning rather than a casual day trip.

Updated 2026-08-15

Multiple international airports, chosen by destination

Unlike many island destinations with a single gateway airport, the Dominican Republic has several international airports serving different tourism regions directly — Punta Cana for the eastern resort belt, Santo Domingo for the capital and colonial circuit, Puerto Plata for the north coast, and smaller airports serving La Romana and Samaná. Flying into the airport closest to an actual destination, rather than defaulting to the busiest one, saves a genuinely long overland transfer — Punta Cana to Samaná by road, for instance, is a multi-hour drive across the country rather than a short hop.

Resort transfers versus independent travel

Most resort guests arrive on a pre-arranged transfer straight from the airport and never drive themselves, which is by far the simplest option for a pure beach holiday. Independent travellers combining regions — say, Punta Cana with Samaná, or Santo Domingo with Puerto Plata — typically choose between a rental car, a private driver, or a domestic flight for the longer legs, since public bus networks (Caribe Tours, Metro) connect major towns reasonably well but don't reach every resort area directly. Domestic flights between the main airports are a genuinely practical option for combining distant regions without losing a full travel day to driving.

Driving culture and road quality

Main highways connecting Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Santiago and Puerto Plata are generally well-maintained and toll-funded, making self-driving between major regions genuinely practical for confident visitors. Driving style is considerably more assertive than in North America or northern Europe, and motoconcho (motorcycle taxi) traffic weaves unpredictably in and around towns, so defensive, unhurried driving matters more here than familiarity with the actual road rules. Rural and secondary roads vary more in quality and lighting, and are best avoided after dark for visitors unfamiliar with the route.

Treat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.