Punta Cana International Airport is the Dominican Republic's busiest airport, located in the heart of the east coast resort zone, one of the Caribbean's major tourist gateways.
The terminal, with its characteristic open-air tropical-style architecture, is itself part of the arrival experience.
How to get to Punta Cana International Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to PUJ
Parking near Punta Cana International Airport
The airport operates an official parking area directly in front of the terminal.
It is not staffed by dedicated personnel but is video monitored; short-term parking 3 USD/hour, capped at 15 USD/day; long-term parking from 12 USD/day up to 55 USD/week.
How to get to Punta Cana from PUJ
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Airport transfers you can book in advance
Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.
Punta Cana: 1-way Private Transfer
Punta Cana PUJ Airport Private Transfer to/from Bavaro|Veron
Punta Cana: Private Airport Transfers, One-Way or Round Trip
Punta Cana: Private Transfer to or from Punta Cana Airport
Car rental at Punta Cana International Airport
Major international car rental companies have desks in the arrivals area, useful for those wanting to explore beyond the resort.
A driver's license, passport, and credit card are required, along with an International Driving Permit in most cases.
Hotels near Punta Cana International Airport
Puntacana Resort & Club
The airport is part of the same property (Grupo Puntacana): the Four Points is a few minutes' shuttle from the terminal, the Westin about 3 km, roughly 5-10 minutes by car.
Best for: Travelers who want the shortest possible transfer and stay within the same private area as the airport.
- Shortest transfer in the whole Punta Cana area, useful for evening flights or short layovers
- Resort's own golf course and private beach, with no need to go elsewhere
- Few independent restaurants nearby: you almost always eat inside the resort
- This isn't Bávaro beach: those looking for beach clubs and a crowded beach scene must travel elsewhere
Recommended hotels
- The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club Inside the same resort that shares ownership with the airport, about 3 km from the terminal; private beach and golf course designed by P.B. Dye. View availability
- Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana About 1.6 miles (5 minutes) from the terminal with a free airport shuttle, in the part of the resort called Punta Cana Village. View availability
Verón - Downtown Punta Cana
12-15 minutes by car from the terminal along the highway toward Higüey; several hotels offer their own shuttle.
Best for: Business stays or layovers that require real shops and supermarkets, not the resort.
- San Juan shopping center and everyday services (banks, supermarkets, pharmacies) absent in the tourist areas
- Lower prices than the resorts of Bávaro or Cap Cana, while staying just minutes from the airport
- No beach within walking distance: a transfer is needed to reach the sea
- Area designed for those who live and work in Punta Cana, not for the all-inclusive holiday atmosphere
Recommended hotels
- AC Hotel by Marriott Punta Cana In the San Juan Shopping Center in Verón, about 15 minutes and 5 miles from the airport: useful for those who need to stay close to offices and services rather than the beach. View availability
- DoubleTree by Hilton Punta Cana Downtown In the Downtown Punta Cana project, about 12 minutes from the terminal; near the Plaza San Juan Shopping Center. View availability
Bávaro, Los Corales and Cabeza de Toro
25-35 minutes by car to the core of Bávaro and Playa Bávaro; Cabeza de Toro, closer, is about 15 minutes. The large resorts arrange the transfer, the independent hotels of Los Corales require a taxi or private shuttle.
Best for: Travelers who want Punta Cana's busiest beach: all-inclusive resorts to the north, a pedestrian waterfront with independent restaurants in Los Corales.
- Los Corales has a pedestrian waterfront with independent restaurants and bars, rare in the rest of Punta Cana, which is dominated by all-inclusives
- Bávaro beach, among the widest in the country, with water sports and organized excursions on every corner
- The Bahia Principe complex has several near-identically named properties: it's worth double-checking the exact name when booking
- At peak hours, traffic on the highway toward Bávaro can lengthen the transfer from the airport
Recommended hotels
- Bahia Principe Explore Punta Cana Part of the large Bahia Principe complex on Playa Bávaro beach, about 25-30 minutes from the airport; since November 2024 the Grand Punta Cana and the Grand Bavaro have been merged into a single property. View availability
- Royal Beach Hotel Punta Cana, A JdV by Hyatt Boutique hotel on the beach of El Cortecito/Los Corales, an area with independent restaurants and shops; building from 2012 renovated in 2025, about 25 minutes from the airport. View availability
- Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana - Adults Only In Cabeza de Toro, between the airport and Bávaro: about 15 minutes from the terminal, closer than most resorts in the area; white-sand beach with the Bávaro lagoon behind it. View availability
Cap Cana
15-25 minutes by car depending on the spot in the gated community; the entrance is controlled and tolled.
Best for: Private luxury, marina and golf, for those who don't want the buzz of the big Bávaro resorts.
- Marina with restaurants and sailboats just steps from the hotels, plus the Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada golf course
- Beaches quieter than Bávaro's, with access filtered by the gated community's entrance toll
- Entrance toll and internal distances that make a car or private transfer almost mandatory
- Few restaurants outside the hotels and the marina, with high prices on almost everything
Recommended hotels
- The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort Private beach on the Cap Cana coast, about 15-25 minutes from the airport; recently opened, with the butler service typical of the St. Regis brand. View availability
- 2BR Cap Cana Luxurious Marina Condo Two-bedroom apartment in the Cap Cana marina, just steps from restaurants and sailboats; a condo alternative to the resort prices of the area. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal, with open-air tropical-style architecture, is spread across multiple connected buildings. From check-in to gate takes about 10-15 minutes.
Customs and security checks may take longer than expected during peak tourist times: for international flights it's recommended to arrive at least 3 hours in advance.
Map of Punta Cana International Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is the paper tourist card still needed for the Dominican Republic?
No, it has been replaced by the mandatory E-Ticket, to be filled in online for free both before arrival and before departure, at eticket.migracion.gob.do.
Q. Do you need a visa for the Dominican Republic?
No, for EU, UK, US and Canadian citizens: you can stay up to 30 days, extendable to 60.
Q. Is the airport-to-resort transfer included in all-inclusive packages?
Often yes: check with your tour operator before arranging a taxi on your own.
Q. What to buy at Punta Cana's duty free?
Dominican rum (Brugal, Barceló) and Dominican cigars, among the finest in the world.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights
