Punta Cana is spread out. The airport, Cap Cana, Bavaro and Uvero Alto are separate areas along the coast, and most restaurants, beach clubs and marinas are a drive away from wherever you are staying. How you get around shapes the whole stay.
Taxis
Taxis in Punta Cana are run by local cooperatives. They wait at the airport, outside hotels and at the main shopping areas, and they are generally reliable. There are no meters: the fare is set by zone, and it is worth agreeing the price before the car leaves. Larger groups often need two vehicles.
Can you use Uber in Punta Cana?
Uber operates in the region, but with an important limitation. Taxi cooperatives control pick-ups at the airport and at most resort entrances, so Uber drivers generally cannot collect passengers there, and often cancel rides that start at the terminal. In practice, Uber works for some trips between public places, and not for the ones that matter most: arriving, leaving and going out from a resort.
Renting a car
Car rental is available at the airport and in Bavaro, and traffic drives on the right. It suits visitors who are comfortable with a different driving culture: frequent motorbikes, uneven signage, speed bumps without warning, and roads that are harder to read at night. For most stays, the freedom a car brings is outweighed by the attention it demands.
A private driver
A driver on call means a vehicle sized for your group, someone who knows where the restaurant entrance actually is, and no parking or navigation to think about. It is the simplest option for evenings out and day trips, and the only one that works the same way at the airport, the marina and the resort gate. How it works is on our page on private transport.
How long do journeys take?
From the airport, by road:
- Cap Cana: about fifteen minutes
- Bavaro: twenty to thirty minutes
- Uvero Alto: close to an hour
- La Romana and Casa de Campo: around an hour
Evening traffic in Bavaro can add time, particularly in high season.
Which to choose
- A couple staying in one resort and rarely leaving it: resort transfers and the occasional taxi
- A family or group in a villa, going out most evenings: a driver on call
- Longer routes such as Samana or Casa de Campo: a private transfer, or a helicopter
Where you stay changes the answer too. Our guide on where to stay in Punta Cana explains how the areas compare.