The Ultimate Guide: How to get to Cabarete and the eXtreme Hotel
By Emily Reilly
There are multiple ways to get to eXtreme Hotel depending on which airport you are coming from and how much time and money you want to budget in. Here’s our ultimate guide to getting to and from Cabarete with public transport options.
Flying into different airports can be more or less expensive but you will also need to assess how much extra you are paying in travel from the airport to Cabarete. You can fly into Puerto Plata, Santiago, Santo Domingo, or Punta Cana International Airports.
Rental Car
Cost: About US$70 (with gasoline)
Travel Time: 5 – 6 hours
Driving in this country is considered very aggressive and you will have to make sure you are very aware of not just cars, but moto drivers (many without helmets). This is the kind of stress you are trying to avoid on vacation! But… if you really prefer to drive while you are here, there are car rental companies located at each international airport. The car can be rented directly from the airport and driven to Cabarete. Daily rental ranges from US$40-$80 (including insurance that you want to have). Note that these companies may advertise a rate much lower than that but then oblige you to take their insurance which can often be more expensive than the rental
Puerto Plata International Airport (POP)
Taxi
Cost: 35 USD
Time: 25 Min
If you are flying into Puerto Plata Airport your simplest bet is to get a taxi. Rates for all destinations are posted on a board on the right hand side of the Arrivals Terminal as you exit the building. You can either let the eXtreme hotel receptionist know your flight number and when you are arriving and we can make you a reservation with a taxi service. You can also get a taxi once you get out of customs. There is usually a line of taxis waiting out front. Just ask them to take you to eXtreme Hotel on Kite Beach. If they are still unsure of where we are located, let them know we are “antes Cabarete.” Make sure to confirm the cost of the trip and be carrying the correct about of dollars or pesos as the taxis often do not carry change.
Public Transport
Feeling adventurous, traveling light (1 bag) and comfortable with your Spanish language skills? You can walk about 1km to the main road, cross the street and catch one of the two types of public transport. There are no timetables for these vehicles so depending on the time of day or night, it can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 15 minutes before one arrives. Again, make sure you confirm the rate before getting into the vehicle. It’s also best to have the correct amount of RD Pesos to pay each leg of the journey. If you do pay in US dollars, do not expect exchange or change. These vehicles may not be familiar with each hotel’s location so make sure you have a good description of your location from your hotel manager so you can tell your driver what to look for.
Guagua
Cost: RD$40-RD$50 + luggage fee (might be another RD50)
Travel Time: 20—45 minutes
Guaguas do not run after dark to Cabarete. They are large mini-vans with their end destinations painted on the front windshield. They make many short stops, for this reason your trip may be very quick, or give you a much longer time to enjoy the scenery.
Carrito Publico
Cost: RD$60 (plus luggage fee)
Travel Time: 25-30 minutes
Carrito Publico’s “public little car” are usually four door sedan style cars and have signs on top of their roofs. If you take a Carrito Publico, you will have to switch vehicles at the Sosua stop (a town towards Cabarete, just five minutes from the airport).
Santiago International Airport (STI)
Taxi
Cost: US$100
Travel Time: 90 Minutes
Taxi is the quickest and most comfortable form of transport and the rates are negotiable up to a point. Many of the local taxi’s advertise on facebook and instagram. Check with the hotel front desk to see if they have a personal reference.
Public Transport (+Taxi)
Cost: about US$45
Travel Time: 3 hours
This is the least expensive, transportation option, but it will require a bit more leg and internet work on your part to figure out how the bus and air schedules work out. You DO NOT want to miss your bus. First you will have to take a taxi from the Airport to the Caribe Tours or Metro Tours Bus Stations located in downtown Santiago. The cost of the taxi is about US$20 and takes about 15-20 minutes. Please check the bus schedule for departure times. The bus ride from Santiago takes up to 2 hours and costs about US$10. The buses are air-conditioned so bring a sweater or light jacket for the ride. Once you get to the bus terminal in Sosua, you will need to take another taxi, guagua, or Carrito Publico to Cabarete.
Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International (SDQ)
Taxi
Cost: US$200
Travel Time: 4 hours
There will be many taxis outside the airport and finding one that will go to Cabarete is not a problem or you can check with the front desk and on social media for recommendations. Making the journey at night will add extra cost. If you are traveling during the day, and in a hurry, ask your driver to take the faster Pay-toll road #7. It can avoid a lot of daytime traffic and will make the trip much faster. The toll road costs about 500 pesos (US$10). Your negotiations can include the offer to pay this extra charge if you just want to get to Cabarete as quickly as possible. The alternative route takes about 45 minutes longer (depending the congestion through Santo Domingo).
Bus Transport
Cost: About US$40
Travel Time: Up to 7 hours
This is the least expensive transportation option but it can be quite a long journey after hours of flight travel. It can take anywhere from 1 – 2 hours after arriving, to pick up your luggage, go through Customs & Immigration, and then travel by taxi to the Bus Station so make sure you know the bus time tables and options. First you will have to take a taxi from the Santo Domingo Airport to one of two bus station, which are located in downtown Santo Domingo: Caribe Tours or Metro Tours Bus Stations. The cost of the taxi is about US$20 to US$30 and if traffic is smooth, the ride is about 30 minutes. The bus ride from Santo Domingo can take about 5 hours. The buses are “highly” air-conditioned so bring a sweater or light jacket for the ride.
If you plan on taking this form of transportation, make sure you consider your time table to ensure you will meet the bus schedule. If you aren’t able to reach the last bus, there are many hotels in Santo Domingo. Make sure you stay in the Zona Colonial or Colonial City. Relax and take in the sights of the capital city and then arrange to take the bus the following day.
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
Taxi
Cost: US$400
Travel Time: 5-6 hours
Taxi from Punta Cana can take a long time, but it is faster than public transport, more comfortable and a private form of transport. The rates are negotiable up to a point. Many of the local taxi’s advertise on Facebook and Instagram. Check with the hotel front desk to see if they have a personal reference.
Public Transport
Cost: US$30 and upwards
Travel Time: about 9 hours
Public transport is an immediate adventure full of taxis and busses. This will mean changing vehicles several times. Consider the challenge thoroughly before you leave the airport! The quickest route: Airport – Vérona – Santo Domingo, and then check out the Santo Domingo to Cabarete section above.
First: Taxi from the Airport to Verón. A few minutes / 13km by taxi. About USD 20 for the taxi. Pay in USD or Pesos.
Taxi rates should be written on a board at the airport. In Verón you can stay overnight in a small, relatively inexpensive hotel.
Second: Verón to Santo Domingo. About 3 hours with a big, comfortable bus. 400 pesos per person (about USD 10), paid in Pesos.
In Verón you will take the Expreso Bávaro Bus as early as you can (first bus leaves at 7am). We recommend getting tickets the day before or even online or by phone a few days earlier (if that is possible) just to make sure you get seats. You should get to the final Santo Domingo bus station (Terminal) at about 10am.
Third: Santo Domingo to Cabarete – see above
Air Transport:
At this time there is no scheduled air transport.
Uber and Shared Shuttles
There are options to use these forms of transportation in the larger cities such as Santiago and Santo Domingo, but not in Cabarete. If you have the app and are looking for an adventure give them a try.
Note that the rates and means of transport vary from time to time. This means that the rates shown here may be different from what they actually are.
