Getting to Punta Cana: Flights, the E-Ticket and Transfers

Punta Cana is among the easiest places in the Caribbean to reach. Its airport is the busiest in the Dominican Republic and one of the busiest in the region, with flights from North America, Europe and South America. Getting to Punta Cana is usually simple; the details that matter are the e-ticket, your transfer and how far your villa is from the terminal.

Getting to Punta Cana by air

Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is owned and operated by Grupo Puntacana and is described as the first privately owned international airport in the world. The airport has two terminals, A and B; your airline determines which one you use, and the airport’s own pages carry the terminal maps and the services in each. The airport connects to around 90 airports in more than 20 countries, so nonstop options are common, especially in high season.

What the airport publishes about itself

The airport is owned by Corporación Aeroportuaria del Este and operated by Puntacana Resort & Club, part of Grupo Puntacana, whose history page dates the opening to 1983. Its site, read in September 2026, claims more than 7.6 million international arriving passengers a year and service from 26 countries, 64 cities and 90 airports, making it the busiest airport in the country and second busiest in the Caribbean. Terminals A and B each handle arrivals and departures, with migration e-gates for passengers aged 12 and over, priority lines for families with children under three and paid VIP FastTrack lounges; separate general aviation, VIP and FBO terminals handle private aircraft.

Before you fly: the e-ticket

Foreign passengers on commercial flights must complete the Dominican Republic’s free e-ticket form, which covers both arrival and departure, at eticket.migracion.gob.do. The official tourism site says it can be completed as soon as you have your flight details. It also lists passport validity rules and notes that a standard tourist stay is up to 30 days, with a fee for longer stays. Check the current requirements for your nationality before you travel.

Entry details as published in September 2026

The tourism board’s entry page, read on 17 September 2026, adds detail the e-ticket paragraph above does not. The form is for commercial flights; arrivals by private aircraft, non-commercial vessels, ferries and cruise ships are exempt. Migración says it is free, open 24 hours and takes about five minutes. Passports normally need six months’ validity, but until 31 December 2026 nationals of the EU, the UK, Canada, the United States, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador may enter on a passport that is simply valid; check whether that concession is extended for 2027. Stays beyond 30 days incur a fee on departure on a sliding scale.

Transfers and drive times

The airport sits close to the main villa communities, so transfers are short by Caribbean standards. Puntacana Resort & Club is next to the airport, and Cap Cana is a short drive south. Bávaro takes longer, and Uvero Alto, farther north, longer still. Traffic and community gate checks can add time, so leave a margin before any dinner reservation on arrival day.

Published distances and road advice

Few official transfer times exist, but those that do are short. Cap Cana states 10 minutes from the airport; Puntacana Village is a two-minute drive; BlueMall Puntacana is 2 kilometres from the terminal. The tourism board puts La Romana under an hour away on the Oscar de la Renta Highway, useful for adding Casa de Campo, covered in getting to Casa de Campo, and Santo Domingo about two and a half hours; the airport lists a public bus to the capital at 7, 9 and 11 a.m. and 1, 3 and 4 p.m., taking around three hours. Avis, Hertz, Budget, Dollar and Europcar have airport desks. The tourism board advises against driving at night even on main highways, so a late arrival is a case for a pre-booked driver rather than a hire car.

Getting around

• Pre-booked private transfers and drivers are the easiest option for villa stays.
• Taxis operate from the airport and resorts; agree the fare before setting off.
• Rental cars are available and driving is on the right, but many guests inside gated communities rely on golf carts.
• Some villas include a golf cart; confirm this before you arrive.

Arriving privately

The airport handles private aviation, and marinas in the area serve private boats. Contact the relevant operator well ahead of arrival for current requirements.

Practical tips

• Share flight numbers with your villa team so drivers can track delays.
• Keep your e-ticket confirmation handy at check-in and on arrival.
• Expect busy terminals at weekends and in peak holiday weeks.
• Carry some small US dollar notes for tips on arrival.

Getting to Punta Cana is easy once your transfer is arranged. To choose your base, read where to stay in Punta Cana.