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Punta Cana to Puerto Plata by public transport

Cocotours also offers private transfers to get from Punta Cana to Puerto Plata.

Punta Cana to Puerto Plata by public transport

Not really practical for folks coming on vacation for just a few days as it takes a whole day to get from Punta Cana to Puerto Plata by public transport.

The public intercity buses are a cheap way to get from Punta Cana to Puerto Plata, but they don't operate round the clock, and they don't interconnect half-way in Santo Domingo, so you'll have to take a cab from one bus station to the other in the capital. Also, if you are not ready to depart Punta Cana by 1:30 pm at the latest, you will not be able to reach Puerto Plata the same day by public transport. (See our updated bus schedule below). 

Public transportation between Punta Cana and Puerto Plata would work as follows: 1. Take a cab to the Expreso Bávaro bus station in Verón (Punta Cana). (You will see from the timetable below that there are only 6 buses a day from Verón to Santo Domingo, there are more buses from Higüey than from Verón so if there is no suitable Expreso Bávaro bus from Verón at the time you need to travel then Cocotours would have to drive you from Punta Cana airport all the way to the Expreso Higüey bus station in the town of Higüey,  a 45-minute drive from Punta Cana airport.
Punta Cana to Puerto Plata by public transport photo

Punta Cana to Puerto Plata by public transport, bus stop photo
2. Ride the Expreso Bávaro bus from Verón to Santo Domingo. The Expreso Bávaro buses tend to be new and clean, their new buses have reclining seat backs, and an on-board toilet, but there is not much legroom, and for most of the ride Hollywood movies are shown on flat screens fixed to the ceiling, with the Spanish soundtrack blaring out of speakers the entire length of the bus. Maybe a good idea to bring earplugs if you don't want to listen to the movie which may feature noisy gunshots, car chases and police sirens etc. The Expreso Bávaro buses also have an on-board ticket collector who will walk up the aisle shortly after departure to collect your ticket, or your fare since it is possible to board the bus without a ticket and pay on-board. The Expreso Bávaro buses arrive at the bus terminus on Juan Sánchez Ramírez street in Santo Domingo. The Expreso Higüey buses terminate at the bus station at Parque Enriquillo in Santo Domingo.

3. Take a cab across Santo Domingo from the Expreso Bávaro bus terminus to the Metro Bus station. An alternative would be to take a Caribe Tours bus from the Caribe Tours bus station in Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata, however generally the Caribe Tours buses make more stops en route. Metro and Caribe Tours buses are air conditioned, and almost always have toilets on-board. A short stop is normally made in Santiago (or la Vega) en route where there are additional toilets and cafeterias where food can be purchased for consumption on-board.

4.Ride the Metro Bus (or Caribe Tours bus) from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata The journey takes about 4 hours.

5. On arrival in Puerto Plata (or Sosúa) take a cab to your final destination in Puerto Plata, Sosúa or Cabarete.

We list the timetable below for information purposes only.
Timetables sometimes change without warning: