Uber in Punta Cana – safety tips, where NOT to go and how to master it (+ price examples & map)

Uber in Punta Cana works a bit differently than in your hometown. Therefore, it’s important to know all the special rules & regulations and understand how Uber in Punta Cana really works. Exactly that’s what I am explaining to you in this article here, as I have already taken hundreds of Uber rides in Punta Cana. I show you a map of where Uber is available, tell you where you should NOT go with Uber and give you price examples for important journeys. Of course, I am also talking about the option of taking an Uber from Punta Cana Airport and there is a section with some special Uber tips and hacks just for Punta Cana – all in this comprehensive blog post.

If you’re looking for an airport transfer, it is better to check out the article about Punta Canas’ airport transfers before using Uber.
If you’re interested in local options, you can also check out the public transport system in Punta Cana.

Completely UPDATED by your Punta Cana expert Chris: January 2026
(complete overhaul of the blogpost, updated current Uber situation, added new experiences and reviews, added Uber map and comparison of Uber prices, added photos, more suggestions and recommendations, and more)

At a glance: where Uber works – and where not

Uber in Punta Cana is different from what you might be used at home. Ubers are not allowed everywhere, there are surcharges and there is an Uber Select option, which is not more than the traditional taxis with their pretty high prices. I explain all of this to you in detail below in the blogpost, but here is a quick overview of where Uber in Punta Cana works and where not:

Uber for pick-up at Punta Cana Airport: yes (fares include an airport surcharge), occasionally cancellations might occur
Uber for drop-off at Punta Cana Airport: yes, no problem
Uber for pick-up at the resort: depending on the resort, sometimes only Uber Select (=expensive taxis) available
Uber for drop-off at any resort: yes, no problem
Uber with pick-up in Bavaro, Corales, El Cortecito, Veron, Punta Cana, Arena Gorda and Higuey: yes, no problem
Uber with pick-up in Uvero Alto, Macao Beach, Cap Cana or Bayahibe: usually no availability for cheap UberX (only if an UberX has dropped a passenger and is still around), only availability for expensive Uber Select
Uber for long-distance rides: can always be ordered, but if distance is more than 50 miles or 1 hour, be prepared for negotiations or cancellations (don’t rely on Uber for long distance rides)

Uber X vs. Uber Select

As you can see from the overview above, there is a difference between UberX and Uber Select in Punta Cana. Uber Select is a separate option besides the usual and globally known UberX and adds the traditional tourist taxis to the app of Uber. Uber Select represents the local taxis and comes with different pricing which is usually around 2.5 times more expensive than the regular Uber fare and a little bit cheaper than the traditional taxi fares.

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In short:
UberX: typical (private) Uber drivers, cheap fares, allowed to pick you up from the airport, not allowed to pick you up from resort, limited coverage (usually not available in Bayahibe, Uvero Alto, Macao Beach, Cap Cana or Miches)
Uber Select: traditional taxis (integrated into the Uber app), expensive fares, allowed to pick you up everywhere, full coverage in all regions

Uber Map: where in Punta Cana is Uber available

To make it easier for you to detect if Uber is available in the area you are staying, I have created a map with the Uber operation areas.
Important: you can basically order an Uber with a destination anywhere you’d like to go, but pick-ups are restricted to the blue areas in the map. You might be lucky and get an UberX in one of the yellow areas if an UberX driver just dropped a passenger in the surroundings, but I would definitely not count on it. Therefore, in the yellow areas, you most likely only can order a more expensive Uber Select.

How it works: Uber from Punta Cana Airport

Considering those circumstances, you see that Uber in Punta Cana is not working the same way as in your hometown. The great news is: for pick-ups from Punta Cana Airport it works pretty good at the moment, after it has been a struggle for some years during Uber’s beginnings.

Ordering an Uber from Punta Cana Airport is pretty straightforward: you connect to the airport WiFi (which is usually working), open the Uber App, enter your destination (most likely your resort) and accept the price for UberX. Just follow the further instructions and all should be set. Some drivers might try to charge more from you by either discussing in the app, asking for cash payment or trying to make you cancel the ride, but those are more the exceptions than the norm. Please see my Uber tips below for further guidance.

When choosing an Uber from Punta Cana Airport, you also have the choice between UberX and Uber Select. There is not really a reason to pick an Uber Select, which are just the traditional airport taxis in Punta Cana with their high prices. UberX is always cheaper.

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Still, if you don’t like the uncertainty if you’re getting a good Uber driver or if he/she will discuss with you about the price, you can prebook your private airport transfer in Punta Cana, for example with this highly-rated company with excellent reviews*. This gives you peace of mind that somebody will wait for you with a sign showing your name, and you also don’t have to go through the massive number of pushy taxi drivers who are waiting for travelers without an organized transfer.

The widget below shows some further airport transfer options in case you decide to prebook your journey. Both options (Uber and prebooked private airport transfer) are fine, pick the one with which you feel more comfortable.

Uber prices from Punta Cana Airport

Talking about prices, let’s have a look at how the prices with Uber from Punta Cana Airport compared with other transfer options. I am just picking a few example resorts here so you get an idea of what to expect:

All these prices are currently valid as of January 2026. Please note that they can change without further notice, especially the Uber prices can increase or decrease depending on the demand.

How to order an Uber from any all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana

A special rule applies when ordering Uber in Punta Cana from all-inclusive resorts. Officially, UberX drivers are not allowed to pick up passengers at the hotel lobby. To enforce this, the expensive Uber Select will be the only option you can order right from your resort in Punta Cana, even though some exceptions apply.

My expert tip: if Uber X is not available in your hotel in Punta Cana but you still want to take adventage of the cheap UberX prices, move the pick-up needle a bit towards the main entrance of the resort. Uber X shall become available once you move closer to a public road.

If you still want to order a cheap Uber X service, you most likely have to get to the main entrance of your all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. While at smaller hotels such as Serenade Punta Cana or Grand Bavaro Princess the main entrance is super close to the lobby, other resorts such as Hard Rock Punta Cana, Lopesan Costa Bavaro or RIU Palace Macao are at least a 10-minute walk away from the main entrance. Just be prepared before deciding which Uber Punta Cana option you’re ordering.

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Of course, when having an Uber ride towards your all-inclusive resort, there is no problem in entering with an UberX vehicle. UberX drivers are just not allowed to pick up passengers at the hotel lobby, even though some resorts are not that strict with this rule.

If your all-inclusive resort is in Cap Cana, Macao or Uvero Alto, you will only have the option of an Uber Select anyway, as Uber X drivers hardly are available in these areas.

Uber from Airbnbs

Much easier is ordering an Uber if you are staying in an Airbnb in Punta Cana. Even though some of them are located in gated residential areas, usually it isn’t a problem for Uber vehicles to enter to pick up and drop off passengers. However, some exceptions apply, so it is recommended that you ask your host about the current rules and regulations.

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Just note that UberX is mainly available in the areas of Bavaro, Cabeza de Toro, Punta Cana (Punta Cana Village), Veron and Arena Gorda. Getting an Uber X in the areas of Cap Cana, Macao and Uvero Alto is difficult and only possible if a driver is dropping off passengers within those areas. If you’d like to order an Uber in Cap Cana, Macao or Uvero Alto, you most likely only have the option of the more expensive Uber Select.

Uber from and to anywhere else

The last section mentioned is also important if you would like to go anywhere else from Punta Cana. Uber in Punta Cana is available in the main areas of Bavaro, Veron, Arena Gorda, Cabeza de Toro and Punta Cana Village. Usually, it is not possible to order an Uber X service in Bayahibe or Uvero Alto, even though the app lets you do so. Uber Select shall usually be available, but only with the more expensive rates mentioned above.

As an example, if you want to go from Bayahibe to Punta Cana, you get the following results:
UberX: approx. 50 USD
Uber Select: approx. 100 USD
But UberX usually doesn’t have availability, hence you’re stuck with the expensive taxi fare.

For the other direction, from Punta Cana to Bayahibe or for example Santo Domingo, you get UberX availability and also confirmed rides through the App. However, be prepared that the driver might cancel your trip or ask for a higher price (paid in cash) as driver usually don’t like doing long-distance rides through the app.

If you’d like to go from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo, La Romana, Samaná, Santiago or anywhere else in the Dominican Republic and avoid the traditional tourist taxis, check out the following prices and services.

Destination	Selected all-inclusive resorts / locations	Price Range (one-way)	Private Airport Transfer from Punta Cana (one-way and return)
Miches	Club Med Miches / Costa Esmeralda	125 USD
Bayahibe	Catalonia, Hilton, Iberostar, Be Live, Viva Wyndham, Dreams, whala, Miranda	90-120 USD
La Romana	La Romana City and Cruise Port	100-120 USD
San Pedro / La Romana	Bahía Principe La Romana & Bougainville	120-160 USD
Juan Dolio	Emotions, Hemmingway, Guayacanes and surrounding	140-180 USD
Boca Chica	Be Live Hamaca, Bellevue, whala Boca Chica and surrounding	140-180 USD
Santo Domingo	Santo Domingo City incl. Zona Colonial	150-200 USD
Samaná	Las Galeras, Las Terrenas, El Portillo, Cayo Levantado, Santa Barbara de Samaná	300-400 USD
North Coast	Nagua, Cabrera, Rio San Juan and surrounding villages	290-350 USD
Cabarete & Sosua	Sabaneta de Yasica, Cabarete, Viva Wyndham Tangerine, Encuentro, Perla Marina, Sosua	300-390 USD
Puerto Plata	Playa Dorada, Costa Dorada, Puerto Plata, Cofresi, Amber Cove, Maimón, Imbert	350-450 USD
Santiago	Santiago de los Caballeros and surrounding	280-400 USD
Southwest	Barahona, Pedernales and surrounding	400-550 USD

Why you can trust me & Punta Cana Travel Blog

With my extensive travel history and industry background, I can offer the best advice from the traveler’s perspective and tourism professional perspective.

All articles on Punta Cana Travel Blog are written with love & passion, all from my first-hand experiences and without any AI. Furthermore
– I have been living in the Dominican Republic for approx. 6 years
– I have visited more than 50 all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic
– I designed hundreds of tailor-made itineraries for a tour operator in the Dominican Republic
– I have visited more than 40 waterfalls, all 31 provinces and 70 beaches in the Dominican Republic
– I have a bachelor’s degree in tourism and know all the secrets of the industry
– I have spent a total of 373 nights in accommodation in the Dominican Republic, visiting 155 hotels
– I have worked my entire life in the tourism industry and am a passionate traveler as well
Read more about me here or send me a travel coaching request if want to take advantage of my expert knowledge of Punta Cana’s tourism.

Uber prices in Punta Cana

I have already shared some typical Uber prices from Punta Cana Airport. To give you an even better idea of what to expect, here are some one-way transfer prices with UberX and UberSelect from key points within Bavaro and Punta Cana:

Uber in Punta Cana: tips and hacks

I have already ordered hundreds of Ubers in Punta Cana (and I always avoid the Uber Select option for pricing reasons) over the years, which is why I have compiled a little list of insider tips, recommendations and things you should NOT do when moving around with Uber in Punta Cana:

• Always have your credit card stored in the Uber aop and make credit card payments your priority payment option
• Avoid paying cash to Uber drivers in Punta Cana
• Never agree to the “offer” from some Uber driver to pay in cash and cancel the ride (sometimes they say it’s cheaper without the platform or they can’t accept credit card – that’s all just to get you away from the Uber app, don’t bvelieve it)
• If Uber drivers ask you to cancel the ride, tell them that they shall cancel it. Insist, have patience and order the next ride afterwards.
• Don’t rely on Uber for long-distance rides (more than 50 miles or more than an hour)
• Never share too many private details during your ride (e.g. room number, valuables you’re traveling with, etc.)
• If you want to save when ordering from a resort, move the pickup needle outside onto the main road and leave the resort through the front gate walking
• if the driver is good, get his WhatsApp number for future trips. This can be especially helpful to arrange long-distance trips or pick-ups from your resort as UberX driver can pick you up from the hotel lobby if they’re not coming through the Uber platform.

Summary: Uber in Punta Cana

Uber in Punta Cana works a little bit different. That’s why it is important to know the rules and regulations as described above and the sepcific requirements when ordering an Uber from the airport or from your resort. In general, Uber is a great and absolutely safe way to get around and is highly recommended, especially when you can take advantage of the cheap UberX rides. The Uber Select rides are not really attractive, but still better as most traditional taxi fares.

For the airport transfer, my personal recommendation is to prebook your arrival and departure airport transfers with some of the affordable airport transfers in Punta Cana and otherwise, when leaving your resort, use the Uber services whenever available. There is no reason to pay for overpriced taxi services in Punta Cana.

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CHRIS

Author, Travel Coach & Industry Professional (Bachelor’s degree in tourism)

Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean soul, who has been living in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. I’d love to be your Punta Cana expert, as I have stayed at more than 45 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and the country, visited more than 70 beaches, explored more than 40 waterfalls and have seen basically all the attractions Punta Cana has to offer. I have also studied tourism for 3 years and worked in the tourism industry my entire life, which is why I am not only giving you recommendations and tips as a traveler but also the best secrets and travel hacks as an industry professional.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page, send me a travel coaching request or Contact Me here.

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Melia Punta Cana Beach Resort (adults only) – a comprehensive review for this completely renovated wellness all-inclusive resort

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