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Transfers and Transportation in the DR
The bus
There are good bus companies in the Dominican Republic, some with luxury coaches, such as Caribe Tours. These buses are air-conditioned (often heavily!) and will often show a movie. Caribe Tours offers punctual and efficient service with air conditioning and sometimes a movie. Another option is Metro bus which does much the same on a different schedule. The travel time from Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo, for example, is about 3.5 hours and costs about $10 or 300 pesos. The Bavaro Express goes daily between Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.
En route from one location to another in the country, there are several stops where you can get out to explore, such as Santiago de los Caballeros, La Vega, San Pedro de Macoris, La Romana, and Higuey to name only a few. They also provide stops for food and washroom visits. These bus services provide an excellent chance to see a beautiful island and to meet many people.
The gua gua
Another mode, the gua gua, is usually a bus/taxi with fixed route and price, usually less than a dollar. These buses, sometimes as small as a large van depending on location, are crammed as full as possible. It could happen that you will be in the back seat with 8 people and some animals - maybe not comfortable but a unique, exciting and inexpensive national experience!
The motoconcho
The most common mode of transport is the motoconcho: a moped or motorcycle taxi for which you (and your chicken) can pay a few pesos to get somewhere. While very suitable for short distances, it comes with inherent dangers. There is the motoconcho 'tattoo' received as a burn scar on the leg and there are few traffic rules followed as motoconcho driver or other vehicle on the road. If you see a motoconcho and want a ride, just raise your hand in the air and he will come to you. Negotiate your price in advance to avoid misunderstandings.
The taxi
You can also take a standard taxi to get you to your destination. It is more expensive than the other modes of transportation, but will be safe and will be a personal transfer for only you. Negotiate your price in advance to avoid misunderstandings, since the cabs will often not use a meter. In the city you will find públicos, which are taxis running fixed routes and will pick up other people as well. It is cheaper than a private cab, but like the gua gua may fill up quickly.
The plane
There are domestic flights offered daily by small but good airlines like AeroDomca. There are flights between Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Las Terrrenas. Ask about the possibilities with your tour guide or at the airport.
The rental car 
If you want to control where and when you go, you can rent a car or motorcycle. PLEASE NOTE that in the Dominican Republic reckless driving is extremely common and there is often little attention paid to other cars in traffic. Whether it is given or not, the bigger vehicles have the power on the road. Making matters worse, people walk on the highway with narrow or non-existent shoulders, animals can dart out into traffic, cars pass when the conditions aren't particular safe for it and vehicles turn when you least expect it. In case of an accident, an involved tourist is usually made to take the blame and in some cases the police can imprison you while undertaking further investigation of the incident.
In a listing of deaths from traffic accidents, the statistics are:
If you want to rent a car, always choose the most comprehensive insurance to avoid high costs in the event of a collision. Make sure that you give the vehicle a thorough inspection before removing it from the lot in order to avoid incurring repair costs for damage you didn't cause but for which you are held responsible.
Seeing the sites
If you want to leave your hotel or the area in which your hotel is situated, you can book many exciting, relaxing and interesting excursions which will ensure your safety as well as guaranteeing that you leave little impact on the area that you are visiting as well. See the "Excursions" tab for more ideas on having a safe and adventurous vacation.
