Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
The DR is a fairly small country, so in theory at least it's easy to drive or take public transportation from one
side of the country to the other. In practice, however, the inadequate road network will behoove some with
limited time and a sufficient budget to consider flying.
Air
If making flight connections in Santo Domingo, keep in mind that it's an hour drive between Aeropuerto In-
ternacional Las Américas and La Isabela. Aerolineas MAS also has flights from Punta Cana to La Isabela and
Sanitago. The main domestic carriers and air-taxi companies include the following:
AeroDomca
( 809-826-4141;
www.aerodomca.com
)
Scheduled daily flights between Punta Cana and Ar-
royo Barril (one-way US$300); charter flights can also be booked elsewhere.
Air Century
( 809-826-4222;
www.aircentury.com
) Flights from La Isabela to Punta Cana, Puerto Plata,
La Romana, Santiago and Samaná.
Dominican Shuttles
(formerly Take Off; 809-931-4073;
www.dominicanshuttles.com
) Regularly sched-
uled flights from SDQ to Punta Cana (one-way/round trip US$120/230); Punta Cana to Arroyo Barril (one-
way/round trip US$160/ 300) charters and Arroyo Barril near Las Terrenas; also between Punta Cana and Ar-
royo Barril.
Bicycle
The DR's highways are not well suited for cycling, and Dominican drivers are not exactly accommodating to
people on bikes; the situation is hectic to say the least. However, mountain biking on the DR's back roads and
lesser-used highways can be rewarding, and a number of recommended tour companies operate in Jarabacoa
and Cabarete. If you're planning a multiday ride, definitely consider bringing your own bike. If you're joining
a bike tour, most tour operators will provide you with one.
Boat
The only regularly scheduled domestic passenger boat route in the DR is the ferry service between Samaná
and Sabana de la Mar, on opposite sides of the Bahía de Samaná in the northeastern part of the country. The
journey is subject to weather and departures are frequently canceled. There is no car ferry service here, so un-
fortunately, if you arrive in Sabana de la Mar with a rental vehicle, you'll have to leave it behind and return
by the same route you arrived.
