Getting from the airport to your hotel
Two airports serve Puerto Plata. POP, Gregorio Luperon International, sits between Puerto Plata and Sosua and is the closest by far. STI, Cibao International in Santiago, is bigger with more flight routes but is over an hour inland.
From POP airport
POP is 15 to 30 minutes from the main resort zones. A private transfer from POP starts at USD 44 with a driver waiting at arrivals. Approximate drive times: Playa Dorada 15 minutes, Costa Dorada 20 minutes, Sosua 15 minutes, Cabarete 25 minutes.
From Santiago STI airport
If you fly into Santiago, the drive to Puerto Plata is 75 to 90 minutes through the mountains. A private transfer from STI runs about USD 114 per vehicle. It is worth pre booking because street taxis at STI are scarcer than at POP.
Why pre book
- Fixed price: no haggling at the curb after a long flight.
- Meet and greet: driver waits at arrivals with your name.
- Skip the line: no waiting for a street taxi.
- Right vehicle: choose a van if you have a big group or lots of luggage.
Tips
Carry small US dollars or pesos for the tip, around 10 percent. Save your driver contact for the return so you book the same operator. Confirm pickup time 24 hours before departure, allowing 3 hours at POP and a bit more from Santiago.
Land and go straight to the beach
Private airport transfers with meet and greet, fixed price, no taxi line.
Frequently asked questions
A private transfer from POP airport to Playa Dorada or Costa Dorada starts around USD 44. Sosua and Cabarete cost a little more. Metered street taxis can quote higher, so a pre booked fixed price is usually cheaper and clearer.
POP, Gregorio Luperon International, is the closest, 15 to 30 minutes from the resorts. Santiago STI is larger with more flight options but is 75 to 90 minutes away, so factor a USD 114 transfer.
Yes. A pre booked private transfer means a driver waits at arrivals with your name, you skip the taxi queue and the price is fixed in advance with no surprises.