If you have booked a stay at Punta Cana’s most famous party resort and are wondering how to get from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica, here is your extensive guide with a lot of insider information and recommendations from someone who lives in Punta Cana and who have visited Riu Republica multiple times. As there is no official Riu Republica Airport Shuttle provided by the hotel, you need to organize your transportation option from the airport, as long as you haven’t booked a holiday package that includes shared transfers. Check out the article below with all the information you need to know before your vacation in Punta Cana.
- At a Glimpse: Riu Republica Airport Shuttle Options
- Why do you need a Riu Republica Airport Shuttle?
- The best Riu Republica Airport Shuttles
- Transportation to Riu Republica by Airport Taxi
- Uber from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica
- Public Transportation to Riu Republica
- Not arriving in Punta Cana? From Santo Domingo Airport to Riu Republica
This is an article specifically aimed at airport transfers to Riu Republica.
If you are going to another accommodation in Punta Cana, have a look at our general Punta Cana Airport Transfer Guide with all the information you need to know.
If you are looking for an extensive article about the hotel, check out our Riu Republica review.
At a Glimpse: Riu Republica Airport Shuttle Options
Are you looking for a Riu Republica Airport Shuttle? If you don’t want to read the entire article with our helpful tips, here are our top recommendations for your trip:
| Kind of transfer to RIU República | Duration | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Transfer (regular) | 30 minutes | 25-30 USD per vehicle |  |
| Private Transfer (best reviews) | 30 minutes | 40 USD per vehicle | |
| Shared Shuttle | 45-75 minutes | 8-12 USD per person | |
| Airport Taxi | 30 minutes | 40 USD per vehicle | |
| Uber | 40 minutes | 40 USD per vehicle | |
| Public Transport | 3 hours | 5 USD per person |
Why do you need a Riu Republica Airport Shuttle?
There are a couple of reasons why it is worth reading about the best options for transportation from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica.
First of all, there is no official Riu Republica Airport Shuttle provided by the hotel. This means, that as long as you have not booked a package with shared transfers included, you need to organize your way of transport from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica.
Second, you shouldn’t just arrive at Punta Cana Airport and think that someone will bring you easily to your hotel. While Uber in Punta Cana and Punta Cana airport taxis are available, both are not working as flawlessly as you might expect. Find more information about both options below in the text.
For further information about the hotel and our in-depth experience, check out our Riu Republica review.
The best Riu Republica Airport Shuttles
If you’re just looking for a quick link to the best Riu República Airport Shuttle, check out the first table of this article.
In the following sections, you find more information as well as the advantages and disadvantages of certain options for transportation from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica, including the difference between private transfers and shared shuttles.
Private transfers to Riu Republica
If you’re looking for the smoothest and easiest arrival into Punta Cana and at your hotel, the best option is a private transfer to Riu Republica. You will get greeted directly by your driver or a representative of the company in the arrival hall, either through a sign showing your name or a counter of the company you have booked with. Without further waiting time, you’re on your way to your resort and will arrive at Riu Republica in approx. 25 minutes – ready to get the party started as quickly as possible. The 17-mile ride follows a well-maintained highway most of the time, hence it is a super easy and smooth ride. Expect to pay around 30 USD one-way for a trip like this – for your entire group. Parties of 5 or 6 people or more usually pay a higher rate, as larger vehicles are needed.
Here are the best transportation options from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica:
– Cheapest private transfer to Riu Republica: check details here* (one-way/return)
– Best reviewed private airport transfer to Riu Republica: check details here* (one-way)
– Best reviewed private airport transfer to Riu Republica: check details here* (return)
– SUV/Luxury private airport transfer to Riu Republica: check details here* (one-way/return)
Cheap & Shared Riu Republica Airport Shuttle
Riu Republica Hotel is one of the more affordable resorts in Punta Cana, hence I can understand if you also want to save a bit on your airport transfers in Punta Cana to stay on a reasonable budget.
Shared airport shuttles to Riu Republica are available and usually cost around 8-12 USD per way. Considering that private airport transportation to Riu Republica is around 25-30 USD per way, a shared shuttle only makes sense if you are traveling alone (or as a couple if you want to squeeze out every dollar of the transfer costs).
Note that shared airport shuttles are usually not exclusively to Riu Republica, you get grouped with other passengers arriving at the same time and going to a similar resort area (have a look at all the resort areas in Punta Cana on our map), for example to Royalton Punta Cana, Bahia Principe in Punta Cana or Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana, which are all nearby.
This being said, a shared airport shuttle to Riu Republica doesn’t bring you straight to the resort, you might have a few other stops before and you might have to wait a few minutes at the airport as well until your fellow shuttle passengers arrive through immigration and customs. Expect your ride to be around 30-60 minutes longer (incl. waiting time at the airport) compared to a private transfer to Riu Republica.
Transportation to Riu Republica by Airport Taxi
If you haven’t booked anything in advance for your transportation from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica before your arrival, you can take a taxi to the hotel as well. Airport taxis are waiting plentiful in the arrival area and fares are – theoretically – set. However, the local taxis might try to overcharge you. Furthermore, their service is not more than basic as explained more in detail in our full Punta Cana Airport Transportation Guide.
The official airport taxi rate to Riu Republica is 40 USD, more expensive than most of the Riu Republica airport shuttle options mentioned above.
Uber from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica
Another option from the airport to Riu Republica is using Uber in Punta Cana – but unfortunately, the typical Uber doesn’t work from the airport. Even though you have the choice between UberSelect (which are the regular airport taxis) and UberX (which are inflated regular Uber prices), UberX won’t be allowed to pick you up at the airport. They will call you after choosing UberX and tell you that they either have to take more money or you have to cancel their service. I experienced this multiple times at the airports in Punta Cana and Santo Domingo. You can find more information about Uber in Punta Cana here.
This being said, even with Uber in Punta Cana you will end up paying around 40 USD for your airport transfer to Riu Republica. Read more about Uber in Punta Cana here to know why and especially when Uber is a great choice for your vacation in the Dominican Republic.
Public Transportation to Riu Republica
Last but not least, you (theoretically) also could use public transport to get from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica – even though it is not recommended. Even though it is super safe in Punta Cana to use public transport, it will take you forever and is not possible to try if you have large suitcases or any other kind of big bags.
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If you want to know how to get from Punta Cana Airport to Riu Republica by public transport in Punta Cana, here we go:
– Walk out of the airport and take a small local Guagua until Cruce de Veron (approx. 1 USD – 60 DOP; 30 minutes)
– In Cruce de Veron change for a Higuey-bound bus and get out at La Otrabanda (approx. 2 USD – 110 DOP, 45 minutes)
– In La Otrabanda change for an Arena Gorda/Machiplan-bound bus and get out at Riu Republica (approx. 2 USD – 120 DOP, 45 minutes)
You can find an extensive explanation of public transport from the airport in our official Punta Cana Airport Transfer Guide as well as in our Punta Cana Public Transport Guide.
Not arriving in Punta Cana? From Santo Domingo Airport to Riu Republica
Just in case you’re not arriving at Punta Cana Airport for your transfer, you might wonder about the options you have from Santo Domingo’s Las Americas Airport. While you can read the full airport transfer guide for Santo Domingo here, the following options are possible and recommendable:
- Private transfer from Santo Domingo Airport to Riu Republica (check details here*)
- Shared Riu Republica Airport Shuttle from Santo Domingo Airport (check details here*)
- Taxi from Santo Domingo Airport to Riu Republica (read more about it here)
- Public transport from Santo Domingo Airport (read more about it here)
Uber and a rental car are theoretically also possible, but not really feasible due to different logistical problems.
Do you have any questions about your Riu Republica Airport Shuttle. Feel free to let us know in the comments!
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CHRIS
Author, Travel Coach & Punta Cana based digital nomadHey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean Soul. Since 2011 I have been living in the Caribbean, among them 5 years in the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is my home-base here in the country and I’d love to tell you more about how to experience Punta Cana off-the-beaten-track and give you all the advice you want to know for your vacation in Punta Cana.
