Getting around Dominican Republic: transport and apps

Between cities

• Caribe Tours and Metro run proper long-distance coaches, air conditioned, cheap and reliable. Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata is a few hundred pesos and about 4 hours.
• Book ahead for weekends and holidays, when Dominicans travel in force.
• Domestic flights barely exist and are not worth the cost for a country this size. The coach is the sensible option.

Within cities

• Santo Domingo has a metro, two lines, clean, cheap and useful for the modern city though not for the Zona Colonial.
• Guaguas are the backbone of local transport. They stop anywhere, cost very little, and leave when full. There is no timetable and no route map you can rely on; ask, and someone will tell you.
• Carros públicos are shared cars running fixed routes, cramming in far more people than seems possible.
• Motoconchos are the fastest way across a town and the most dangerous. No helmets are offered. If you use one, accept that you are taking a real risk.

Driving

• Road deaths here are among the highest in the Americas, and motorcycles account for most of them.
• Assume nothing is signalled. Overtaking on blind bends, vehicles without lights at night and livestock on the road are all normal.
• Do not drive at night outside the cities. Lighting is poor to absent and the hazards are worse.
• Police checkpoints are routine. Have your licence and rental papers, be polite, and note that requests for informal payments do happen.
• Fuel is sold by the gallon and attendants pump it for you. A small tip is customary.

Apps

• Uber works in Santo Domingo, Santiago and to a degree in Punta Cana. It is cheaper and less stressful than negotiating a taxi.
• Indrive is widely used and lets you propose your own fare.
• Google Maps is reliable for driving and useless for guaguas.
• WhatsApp is how the whole country communicates, including hotels, drivers and tour operators. Have it working before you arrive.