How to Get to Cabarete from Puerto Plata Airport (POP)

Planning your surf trip to Cabarete? One of the first questions we get from guests is: “What’s the best way to get there?” Here’s the quick rundown so you can budget your trip and skip the guesswork.

Flying Into Puerto Plata (POP) — The Closest Option

If you can, book your flight into Puerto Plata’s Gregorio Luperón Airport. It’s only about 25–30 minutes from Cabarete, making it by far the most convenient entry point.

Private taxi: Around $40 USD one way, roughly 30–40 minutes door to door. Easiest and fastest option, especially after a long flight.

There are lots of taxis right outside the airport, and it’s a fixed price based on where you’re going. It’s all good, honestly — they won’t try to rip you off.

Public transportation: The cheapest route, using local minivans (guaguas) or shared cars. It takes a bit longer and involves a switch in Sosúa — not the best option for comfort and efficiency after a flight.

Flying Into Santo Domingo (SDQ) or Punta Cana (PUJ)?

These airports are much farther out, so plan for a longer travel day:

• From Santo Domingo: About 3.5 hours by private taxi (~$125–190, depending on whether you’re alone or splitting it with friends), or take a Caribe Tours bus to Sosúa, then a taxi from there to Cabarete for a cheaper option.
• From Santiago: About 1.5 hours — and often a great option, since a lot of airlines fly here and it’s closer than Santo Domingo. Same idea: Caribe Tours bus to Sosúa, then a taxi to Cabarete.
• From Punta Cana: Roughly 6.5 hours away. Private taxi runs about $400 USD, or you can piece together buses for a fraction of the cost if you don’t mind the extra hours.

Getting Around Once You’re Here

Once you’ve landed in Cabarete, taxis are the easiest way to get around town (about $12 USD locally).

For a more local experience — and a lot of fun — hop on a motoconcho (motorbike taxi) for just a few dollars.

⚠️ Watch how you get on and off — people sometimes get a “Dominican tattoo” from burning their leg on the hot engine when hopping off the wrong side!

Public guaguas are the most budget-friendly option, if you’re comfortable getting up close and personal with your fellow passengers 😝

When planning your surf lesson, let us know if you need a cab to get you from your hotel — we can arrange that for you.