HOW TO GO TO SAMANÁ FROM PUNTA CANA?

Once and for all, we have summarized the different options you would have to go to SAMANÁ from PUNTA CANA.

TAKING A TAXI FROM PUNTA CANA TO SAMANÁ

Journey Duration: 5.5-9 hours

Journey cost: between RD$21,500 and RD$24,000

Those who prefer the maximum level of comfort while traveling can enjoy a direct private transfer from Punta Cana to Samaná for an estimate of USD$390 - USD$420; being this the most expensive option of all.

Ordering an UBER is also possible and rates would be slightly lower.

TIPS ON UBER IN PUNTA CANA - some UBER drivers will try to charge you an additional fee in cash - which is NOT mandatory and could be considered a scam. For this reason, whenever ordering an UBER always reconfirm with the driver that the rate to pay at the end of the ride will be the one shown in the platform.

If you are staying at Sweet Home Punta Cana and are interested in booking a direct transfer with us, contact us here to offer you our even lower preferential rates!

DRIVING FROM PUNTA CANA TO SAMANÁ

Journey Duration: 5.5-9.5 hours

Journey cost: between RD$5,500 and RD$13,000

This option is for the more independent travelers, who prefer to be in control of their whole trip but who also seek comfort above all, being therefore this option, the second most expensive one to go to Samaná from Punta Cana.

This trip would be similar to the one of Santo Domingo, except we would be taking a right before arriving to the capital in direction to the north side of the island.

As far as EXPENSES are concerned, find below the costs to consider:

- Daily cost of vehicle rental (between about RD$2,700 and RD$8,500)

- Fuel or GAS (between about RD$2,000– RD$3,500)

Total cost of tolls of RD$626 – RD$841; summarized as follows:
+ RD$100 in Coral 2 toll

+ RD$60 in Coral 1 toll

+ RD$100 in La Romana toll

+ RD$199 in Naranjal toll

+ RD$167 in Guaraguao toll

+ RD$215 IN Catey toll (if going to Las Terrenas)

As far as SIGNALING is concerned, if you plan to be driving without WIFI, you would need to follow the following route taking the Punta Cana highway of El Coral:

- Punta Cana to Bayahibe

- Bayahibe to La Romana

- La Romana to San Pedro

- San Pedro to Monte Plata

- Monte Plata to Duarte

- Duarte to Samaná

If your vehicle has GPS or your phone has WIFI, simply help yourself with any app such as Google Maps, WAZE, etc!

Is there another way to go driving from Punta Cana to Samaná?

We know what you are thinking... but unfortunately it is not possible to drive from Punta Cana to Miches and take the car in a ferry from the port to Samaná - if you are being dropped off at the port, you can there go to Samaná on a boat, but that option is describe below!

If you are staying at Sweet Home Punta Cana and need to rent a vehicle, contact us here to get our preferential rates, even lower!

TAKING A BUS FROM PUNTA CANA TO SAMANÁ

Journey Duration: 9-10 hours

Journey cost: between RD$850 and RD$1000

The cheapest option to go to Samaná from Punta Cana will be taking a couple of buses, the first one in direction to Santo Domingo (with EXPRESO BÁVARO or APTRA) and the second one in direction to Samaná (with CARIBE TOURS or with ASOTRAPUSA)

FIRST, LET’S GO IN DIRECTION TO SANTO DOMINGO!

1- You will need to depart from the APTRA or EXPRESO BÁVARO bus station of your convenience:

- from El Cruce de Friusa bus station

- or from Plaza Sitrabapu in El Cruce de Verón bus station

Tickets cost between RD$400 and RD$450 per person - we always recommend our guests to arrive at least one hour in advance to avoid make sure tickets are available, since they cannot be purchased ONLINE nor prior to departure day.

The departure times of Expreso Bávaro & APTRA from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo go as follows:

- 5:00 a.m.

- 7:00 am

- 9:00 am

- 11:00 am

- 1:00 pm

- 3:00 pm - if catching this last bus to Santo Domingo you will not be able to catch a bus to Samaná until the next day

- 4:00 p.m

It is important to know you will have two options to go to Samaná from Santo Domingo, and you will need to choose your preferred one according to your exact final destination (the town in Samaná you will be visiting) or your estimated departure time from Santo Domingo.

It is important to take into account that it will be YOUR responsibility to identify and inform the bus assistant if you will prefer to be dropped off at CARIBE TOURS - bus station to Samaná or near ASOTRAPUSA - bus station to Samaná near Parque Enriquillo. If you have any doubts, make sure to reconfirm these details with the bus assistant before departing!

IF YOU ARE STAYING AT SWEET HOME PUNTA CANA...

Below, find out how to get to the Expreso Bávaro or APTRA bus station from Sweet Home Punta Cana:

- You can ask us for a private transfer for USD$15 (RD$800)

- You can request an UBER for USD$10 – USD$15 (RD$500 – RD$800)

- You can take a moto-taxi for USD$10 – USD$15 (RD$500 – RD$800); these are located right outside our residential complex, in front of the super-market.

- You can take a 25 minute BUS RIDE in direction to Friusa for USD$1 – USD$1.5 (RD$50 – RD$75). Public buses can be taken right outside our residential complex (they pass every 20-30 minutes). Get off the bus at FRIUSA and once there, cross the street to the bus station of EXPRESO BAVARO - APTRA - SITRABAPU.

NOW THAT YOU ARE IN SANTO DOMINGO, LET’S GO TO SAMANÁ!

Before getting off the bus from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo, it is important to know we will have two options to go to Samaná from Santo Domingo, and you will need to choose your preferred one according to your exact final destination (the town in Samaná you will be visiting) or your estimated departure time from Santo Domingo.

Tickets from Santo Domingo to Samaná will cost between RD$400 – RD$600 depending on the selected final destination in Samaná - we always recommend our guests to arrive at least one hour in advance to make sure tickets are available, since they cannot be purchased ONLINE nor prior to departure day.

In order to go to Samaná from Santo Domingo you will need to depart from your preferred location:

CARIBE TOURS bus station
(located near the International Airport of Las Americas)

From this bus station you can depart only directly to Samaná… Below, you can find the departure times of CARIBE TOURS if departing from their bus station:

- 8:30am

- 10:30am

- 3:00pm

- 5:00pm

ASOTRAPUSA bus station
(located in Barahona street near Parque Enriquillo)

From this bus station you can depart directly to Samaná, Las Terrenas, Las Galeras and El Limón… Below, you can find the departure times of ASOTRAPUSA directly to Samaná:

- 6:30 a.m.

- 7:30am

- 8:00am

- 9:00am

- 10:00am

- 10:30am

- 11:30am

- 12:00pm

- 12:40pm

- 1:15pm

- 2:00pm

- 2:30pm

- 3:30pm

- 4:00pm

- 4:30pm

- 5:00pm

- 5:30pm

- 6:30pm

It is important to know that once in the town of Samaná, you can also catch a bus, a moto-taxi or a cab in direction to any other of its towns (Las Terrenas, Las Galeras, El Limón, etc).

For more information about the services offered by EXPRESO BÁVARO, APTRA, CARIBE TOURS and ASOTRAPUSA, you can call them directly or explore their websites:

APTRA:
Telephone: 809-682-9670 / 809-682-5881
https://www.aptpra.com/copia-de-higueey-s-p-macoris

EXPRESO BAVARO
Telephone: 809 552 1678
https://expresobavaro.com/

CARIBE TOURS

Telephones: 809-549-1870 / 809-538-2229

https://caribetours.com.do/

ASOTRAPUSA

Telephone: 809-687-1470 / 849-254-2192

https://transporteasotrapusa.blogspot.com/

https://transporteasotrapusa.blogspot.com/2022/01/horarios-desde-santo-domingo.html

TAKING A BOAT FROM PUNTA CANA TO SAMANÁ

Journey Duration: around 10 hours

Journey cost: pending TBA

This option is similar to talking about Pie Grande.. nobody really knows if you really can take a boat from Punta Cana to Samaná... but don't worry about that... we have done the dirty work for you!

We are here to tell you that you can!

This option would be probably as cheap as using public buses... but even if it looks like a shorter way to make it to the Peninsula of Samaná it will require your full attention and probably as much time.

1- You will first need to take a bus at Plaza Marchiplan in direction to Miches.

These buses depart from Plaza Marchiplan at:

- 7:00 am

- 1:00 pm

- 5:00 pm - if catching this last bus to Miches you will certainly not be able to find a boat to Samaná on the same day

Your bus stop will be the town of Miches - it is important to take into account that it will be YOUR responsibility to identify and inform the bus assistant your where you need to get off. If you have any doubts, make sure to reconfirm these details with the bus assistant before departing!

2- Once in the town of Miches you will need to take another bus in direction to the port of Sabana de la Mar, where you will end up taking the boat to Samaná.

The cost of this ride from Miches to Sabana de la Mar will be of USD$100 - RD$150 per person.

If not able to catch a bus you can also take a moto-taxi or a local taxi - pending cost per person to confirm!

3- Once in the port of Sabana de la Mar, you will need to approach the local villagers and fishermen to hop on board of the next trip to the peninsula of Samaná.

Pending cost per person to confirm!

Unfortunately, there is no contact information to provide for any of the transporters that will take you to Samaná, since they are still pretty informal.

IF YOU ARE STAYING AT SWEET HOME PUNTA CANA...

Below, find out about the different ways you could go to Plaza Marchiplan bus station from Sweet Home Punta Cana.

- You can ask us for a private transfer for USD$20 - USD$25 (RD$1,120 - RD$1,400)

- You can request an UBER for USD$15 – USD$20 (RD$900 - RD$1,120)

- You can take a moto-taxi for USD$15 – USD$20 (RD$900 - RD$1,120); these are located right outside our residential complex, in front of the super-market.

If you would prefer a cheaper option, you can take a couple of buses:

1- First you can take a 25 minute BUS RIDE in direction to Friusa for USD$1 – USD$1.5 (RD$50 – RD$75); these public buses can be taken right outside our residential complex (they pass every 20-30 minutes).

2- Get off the bus at FRIUSA and once in there you will need to take another local bus to Plaza Marchiplán for USD$1 (RD$50 – RD$75). It's important to know that the bus will require a minimum of 5 passengers to go to Plaza Marchiplán... if there aren't 5 passengers you can always:

- cover the cost of the other 4 passengers

- wait for another bus

- or simply take a moto-taxi directly to Plaza Marchiplán for around USD$5 (RD$250)

This option will definitely be a heck of a trip, but hopefully, a memorable experience worth the... adventure!