Official taxis at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) charge fixed fares per car, set by zone and quoted in US dollars: about $30 to Cap Cana, $30 to $40 to Bávaro and about $50 to $70 to Uvero Alto in 2026. You get the price at the taxi desk just past customs, pay the driver in cash, in dollars or pesos, and reach most hotels in 15 to 30 minutes. UberX costs roughly half as much where you can get it, and a pre-booked private transfer to Bávaro costs about the same as a taxi.
No official fare sheet could be loaded online in October 2026, so the prices on this page come from 2026 reports and the guide's own checks. Treat them as a guide and confirm the price at the desk before you load your bags.
Taxi, Uber and transfer prices from PUJ
Prices are one way, per vehicle for up to four people with normal luggage. UberX prices are from January 2026 and include the airport surcharge; they rise with demand. For where each area is and what it is like, see Punta Cana.
| From PUJ to | Drive | Official taxi | UberX | Pre-booked private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puntacana Resort, Westin | 10–15 min | About $20–25 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Cap Cana | 15 min | About $30 | About $15 | About $30 |
| Bávaro, Los Corales, El Cortecito | 20–30 min | About $30–40 | About $16 | About $30–50 |
| Arena Gorda | 30–40 min | About $35–40 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Macao | 30–40 min | About $55–60 | Often only Uber Select | Not reported |
| Uvero Alto | 45 min–1 hr | About $50–70 (reports vary) | About $30 | About $60 |
| Bayahíbe | About 1 hr | About $100 | About $60–65 | About $90–120 |
| La Romana | About 1 hr | About $100 | About $60–65 | About $100–120 |
| Miches | 1 hr 15 min–1 hr 30 min | Ask for a quote | Rarely available | About $125 |
| Santo Domingo | 2 hr 30 min–3 hr | About $120–180 | Unreliable | About $150–200 |
Different from home
There are no meters and no per-mile pricing. The fare is fixed for the zone before you move, it covers the whole car, and haggling at the airport desk rarely gets you anywhere. Groups of five or more may need a van, which costs more.
How the official taxi stand works
Taxis in the Punta Cana area belong to local drivers' unions, and the airport lists authorized taxis on its transportation page, with separate rate sheets for local and long-distance trips. The process is quick once you find the right desk.
- After customs, look for the official taxi desk or booth near the exit doors, before you reach the crowd outside. Ignore anyone who approaches you first.
- Tell the dispatcher your hotel. You get the fare, often on a slip, and are sent to the marked taxi rank outside.
- Before loading bags, confirm the price, that it is per car and which currency you will pay in.
- A standard sedan takes about two large and two small bags. With more luggage, golf bags or car seats, ask for a minivan at the desk.
- Pay at the hotel door, in cash, and keep the slip until you arrive.
There is no official night surcharge, though some travelers report small markups after dark. Normal luggage is included.
Terminals A and B
PUJ has two terminals, each with its own taxi desk, transfer reps and parking lot. In the airport's 2025 airline list, American, Delta, Southwest and Arajet use Terminal B, and Canadian carriers such as Air Canada and Air Transat use Terminal A; check your airline for the rest. Terminal A is older and smaller, and you may walk across the tarmac and climb stairs to the plane. Terminal B has jet bridges.
For pickups, the terminal matters. Tell your transfer company or the friend collecting you which one you land at, and if you rent a car, check which terminal your rental desk is in (see below). Parking costs RD$850 (about $14) per 24 hours.
Uber at Punta Cana airport
Uber works at PUJ and runs around the clock in the Punta Cana area. Connect to the free airport Wi-Fi, request the ride and follow the app to the pickup point; the airport marks Uber pickup areas at both terminals, and they can be a short walk from the doors. In January 2026, UberX cost about $16 to Bávaro, $15 to Cap Cana and $30 to Uvero Alto, against about $26, $22 and $53 for Uber Select, which dispatches union taxis.
- Do not accept rides from people inside the terminal who say they drive for Uber. Uber itself warns against them.
- Check the plate, car and driver's name in the app before you get in.
- Drivers sometimes cancel, especially for far zones and long trips. Have the taxi desk as a backup.
- If a driver asks you to cancel and pay cash, say no and request another car.
- If you reserve ahead in the app, Uber says UberX drivers at PUJ wait up to 45 minutes before late fees apply.
The friction is political. Taxi unions have pushed back against app drivers for years, and rules on terminal pickups have shifted. On the way back to the airport, many resorts do not let UberX cars reach the lobby, so you walk to the main gate or move your pin to the public road; at some big resorts that is a walk of 10 minutes or more. Your phone needs data off Wi-Fi for that; see Staying connected.
Resort shuttles and pre-booked transfers
Many flight-and-hotel packages include a shared shuttle. It costs you nothing extra, but it stops at several resorts, so a ride to the far end of Bávaro or to Uvero Alto can take an hour or more. Check your booking before you buy anything at the airport.
A private transfer booked ahead puts a driver with your name on a sign outside arrivals. To Bávaro it costs about $30 to $50 per vehicle, so for two people or a family it rarely costs more than a taxi, and it is the easy choice for late arrivals, car seats and the far zones. Choose a company with a printed sign and a confirmation you can show. The all-inclusive guide covers what packages include.
Save money
Vendors in the arrivals corridor sell "shared shuttles" at about $40 a person. For a couple that is $80 for a ride a $30 to $40 taxi covers. Price the whole car before you pay per head.
La Romana, Bayahíbe, Miches and Santo Domingo
Beyond the Punta Cana coast, prices jump and booking ahead pays.
- Bayahíbe and La Romana: about an hour on the Autovía del Coral toll road. The taxi rate has been about $100 a car; private transfers run about $90 to $120. UberX has been about $60 to $65, though drivers may decline long trips, and Uber is scarce from Bayahíbe for the return. See La Romana and Bayahíbe.
- Miches: 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Every resort there arranges transfers, about $125 private; get a quote before you land, since Uber is thin. See Miches.
- Santo Domingo: 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours. A taxi runs about $120 to $180 and a private transfer about $150 to $200. The budget option is Expreso Bávaro, about RD$400 (about $7) one way from its stations at Friusa and Verón in Bávaro, not at the airport, so you still need a taxi or Uber to reach it. See Getting around and Santo Domingo.
On long rides, ask whether tolls are included when you get the quote. For day trips once you are settled, see Day trips.
Paying and tipping
Taxis are cash. Drivers take US dollars and Dominican pesos, but they set their own rate when you pay in dollars and give change in pesos, so carry small, clean US bills ($1, $5, $10 and $20). A few drivers carry card terminals; do not count on it. The Money page explains ATMs and exchange.
| Who | Typical tip |
|---|---|
| Airport porters | $1–2 per bag |
| Taxi driver, normal ride | Not expected; round up |
| Taxi driver who handles lots of bags | A few dollars, or about 10% |
| Transfer driver, short run to Bávaro | $3–5 |
| Transfer driver, long run | $5–10 |
| Uber | In the app, about 10% for a good ride |
Scams and touts in the arrivals hall
The walk from customs to the curb is the most sales-heavy few minutes of a Punta Cana trip. A polite no, gracias (no, thanks) and steady walking is normal here.
- Free transfers: a free ride or resort "welcome" that comes with a short presentation is a timeshare or vacation-club pitch that can eat half a day.
- Fake officials: people in uniforms with clipboards at "tourist information" desks may be selling transfers or timeshares. Walk past to the desk or sign of the company you chose.
- Informal drivers: men offering a cheaper ride lead you away from the official rank, where the price you agreed can change.
- Handwritten signs: real transfer companies use printed signs and a passenger list. Ask for your name and booking reference before handing over bags.
- Per-person pricing: taxi fares are per car. If someone quotes per head, walk away.
The Safety page covers other common scams, and Entry requirements walks through immigration and customs before you reach the hall.
The return trip and how early to leave
Ask the front desk to book your taxi or transfer the day before; fares match the trip in. For an early flight, set the pickup the night before, and in high season book 24 hours ahead. Punta Cana airport asks passengers on US flights to arrive at least 3 hours before departure because of extra screening, and winter Saturdays are the busiest.
| Leaving from | Drive to PUJ | Leave the hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Cap Cana, Puntacana Resort | 10–15 min | 3 hr 30 min before departure |
| Bávaro | 20–30 min | 3 hr 30 min–4 hr before |
| Uvero Alto, Macao | 45 min–1 hr | 4 hr–4 hr 30 min before |
| Bayahíbe, La Romana | About 1 hr | 4 hr 30 min before |
| Santo Domingo | 2 hr 30 min–3 hr | 6 hr or more before |
Before you leave, complete the departure e-Ticket. The Flights page covers check-in, the gate bag check and the lounges.
Renting a car at the airport
For a resort week a car sits in the lot, but it pays off if you want Macao, Higüey, Bayahíbe or Miches on your own schedule. Compacts run roughly $40 to $80 a day before insurance and fuel. Rental desks are split between terminals:
- Terminal A: Ameri Rent, Enterprise, Europcar, Nelly.
- Terminal B: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Payless, FOX, National, Sixt.
- Both: Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty.
Your US license is valid for a tourist stay. Fuel is sold by the US gallon in pesos (regular was RD$317.50, about $5.20, in the last week of October 2026, and prices reset every Friday), and toll booths on state highways charge RD$100 (about $1.60). Local driving is aggressive and night driving outside the resort zone is unwise. Read Driving first.
Taxi, Uber or transfer: which to pick
- Couple, Bávaro or Cap Cana, daytime arrival: UberX is cheapest; the taxi desk is the zero-hassle backup.
- Family with car seats or lots of bags: pre-booked private transfer or a minivan from the taxi desk.
- Uvero Alto, Macao, Miches, Bayahíbe: book a transfer ahead.
- Late-night landing: pre-booked transfer or the taxi desk, not a long Uber wait.
Weighing Punta Cana against Mexico? Our Punta Cana vs Cancún comparison covers transfer times, and the Mexico guide has Cancún airport transportation.
Airport taxi questions
Are Punta Cana airport taxis priced per person or per car?
Per car, for up to about four people. A van for a larger group costs more.
Can I pay a Punta Cana taxi with a card?
Rarely. Bring US dollars or pesos in small bills.
Is Uber allowed at Punta Cana airport?
Yes. Request it on airport Wi-Fi and follow the app to the marked pickup area. Prices rise with demand.
Do I need to book an airport taxi in advance?
Not for the trip in; the desk has cars waiting. Book the return through your hotel the day before.
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