About 25–30 minutes up the coast to the Dominican Republic's biggest resort strip. A private transfer is the quick, fixed-price way to your hotel.
Check prices & book →Bávaro sits about 20 km north of Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), roughly 25 to 30 minutes away on the Boulevard Turístico del Este. It's the closest of the big resort areas to the airport, which makes it one of the fastest transfers on this coast — a real bonus when you've just stepped off a long flight.
The drive is straightforward and well-paved. You leave the airport, join the Boulevard, and follow it past the turn-offs for Cap Cana and the Punta Cana resorts before reaching the Bávaro and El Cortecito hotel zones. Outside of peak check-in hours there's little traffic to slow you down.
Distance: ~20 km | Journey time: ~25–30 min | Private from: $30 total | Airport: Punta Cana International (PUJ)
Most travellers say they're going to "Punta Cana," but the resorts are spread across several distinct beach zones — and Bávaro is the largest. Within it you'll find El Cortecito (the lively local town with restaurants and the public beach), Los Corales, Arena Gorda and Cabeza de Toro. Just north is Macao, home to Hard Rock and the big Riu cluster.
This matters because Bávaro is wall-to-wall with all-inclusives — Meliá, Barceló, Riu, Iberostar, Majestic, Grand Palladium, Princess, Lopesan and more — and several of them sit on the same access road with near-identical names. Your driver needs the exact property to drop you at the right lobby.
"Riu," "Barceló" and "Iberostar" each run multiple properties in Bávaro. Enter the full resort name from your reservation — for example "Barceló Bávaro Palace" or "Meliá Caribe Beach" — so there's no confusion at drop-off.
Punta Cana airport doesn't have street-hailed taxis like a city — it has an official taxi desk with fixed zone rates, usually around US$35–40 to Bávaro, paid in cash. That's fine if you don't mind queuing and paying on the spot, but a pre-booked private transfer is usually cheaper, the price is locked in before you fly, and your driver is already waiting with your name as you walk out.
Many all-inclusive packages also include a "shared shuttle," but those wait until the van fills, then loop around several resorts before yours — turning a 30-minute drive into well over an hour. A private transfer goes straight to your door.
Playa Bávaro regularly ranks among the best beaches in the Caribbean — calm, shallow, palm-fringed and protected by an offshore reef. Whichever resort you've booked along this strip, you're on the same long ribbon of white sand. Your transfer simply gets you there fastest.
1–3 passengers, standard luggage. The best value for couples and small families.
1–4 passengers. Extra room for big suitcases, golf clubs or a stroller.
5–8 passengers. The comfortable pick for groups and families — better value than two cars.
Premium vehicle if you'd like to start the holiday in a little more comfort.
Punta Cana airport is famous for its open-air, thatched-roof terminals — you'll feel the Caribbean air the moment you're off the plane. After immigration and baggage, walk out through arrivals and look for your driver holding a sign with your name in the meet-and-greet area. Ignore anyone calling out offers of rides as you exit; your booked driver will be waiting with your name. If you can't spot them, call the number on your confirmation first.
New to Punta Cana airport? Read our complete Punta Cana airport transfer guide — it covers everything from finding your driver to the airport taxi desk. You can also compare all transfer providers side-by-side before booking.
Private vehicle, from
Per vehicle · All taxes included · Free cancellation
Book now, driver confirmed, your resort logged. Nothing to organise when you land.