Getting to Santo Domingo

By Air

Santo Domingo [1] is served by the Aeropuerto Internacional Las Américas (tel. 809/549-0328), which is 22 kilometers east of the metropolitan area.

Major carriers are: Air Canada (Av. Winston Churchill 63, tel. 809/541-5151), Air France (Av. Máximo Gómez 15, tel. 809/686-8432), American Airlines (El Conde, tel. 809/542-5151, airport tel. 809/549-0043), Continental Airlines (airport tel. 809/549-0757), Iberia (Av. Lope de Vega, tel. 809/686-9191, airport tel. 809/549-0205), Jet Blue (airport tel. 809/549-1793), Lufthansa (Av. George Washington, tel. 809/689-9625), and US Airways (Av. Gustavo Mejía Ricart 54, tel. 809/540-0505, airport tel. 809/549-0165).

By Ferry

Only one connection exists: to and from Mayagúez, Puerto Rico [2], three times a week, run by Ferries del Caribe (tel. 809/688-4400, Mayagúez tel. 787/832-4400, www.ferriesdelcaribe.com [3], in Spanish). The ticket office and boarding port in Santo Domingo are at Avenida del Puerto, which is across from the Fortaleza Ozama [4]. It is a 12-hour journey to Puerto Rico that you can do in an airplane-type seat (US$182) or in a private cabin with a window (US$295).

From Santo Domingo, scheduled trips depart on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 8 p.m. and arrive in Mayagúez the next morning. From Mayagúez, ferries depart Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 p.m. and arrive in Santo Domingo [1] the next morning.

By Bus

Caribe Tours (Av. 27 de Febrero at Av. Leopoldo Navarro, tel. 809/221-4422, www.caribetours.com.do [5], in Spanish) offers the most departure times and covers a wider area of the country than the Metro bus company (Av. Winston Churchill and Calle Francisco Prats Ramírez, behind Plaza Central, tel. 809/227-0101, www.metroserviciosturisticos.com [6]) does. But both offer satisfactory service with big comfortable buses.

Most destinations in the Dominican Republic [7] are within a four-hour ride. Ticket prices can fluctuate with the ever-changing economy but are usually quite low (under US$8). It is best to call or ask for a brochure and schedule at the station.

The express bus to Bávaro/Punta Cana (Juan Sánchez Ruiz at Máximo Gómez, US$10) is a direct service departing at 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. daily for a four-hour trip.

Although there is no official bus terminal, at the Parque Enriquillo near the Ciudad Colonial [8] you can catch buses that aren’t as nice as the luxury options from Caribe Tours and Metro (don’t expect air-conditioning). They branch out all over the nation to places like Baní [9], Boca Chica [10], Higüey [11], Juan Dolio [12], La Romana [13], Puerto Plata [14], San Cristóbal [15], San Pedro de Macorís [16], Santiago [17], and Sosúa [18]. These buses are not direct and make many stops in between. Expect prices for these to be under US$6. Read the signs in the front windows. You’ll pay more for express buses, which only means they will stop less often.

By Car

Renting a car is easy at the airport. Many major companies have booths after you clear customs. Some companies are: Avis (airport tel. 809/549-0468; Av. Independencia at Socorro Sánchez, tel. 809/685-5095), Budget (airport tel. 809/549-0351; Av. John F. Kennedy at Av. Lope de Vega, tel. 809/566-6666), Dollar (airport tel. 809/549-0738; Av. Independencia 366, tel. 809/221-7368), Hertz (airport tel. 809/549-0454, Av. José Ma Heredia 1, tel. 809/221-5333). Shopping around on the Internet is always best for seasonal deals and special promotions.