The airport for Las Terrenas is El Catey (AZS), 25 minutes away on a brand-new highway — not Punta Cana, 4 hours away. Seasonal direct flights link Canada to El Catey in just over 4 hours; from other markets, you generally fly into Santo Domingo (a 2 to 2.5-hour drive). We make this trip several times a year — here is everything you need to know.
Which airport should you choose for Las Terrenas?
Five international airports can serve as your gateway, but they are far from equal. El Catey (AZS), on the Samaná peninsula, is the right choice whenever a flight goes there: 25 minutes by road to Las Terrenas. Santo Domingo (SDQ) is the serious alternative. Puerto Plata, La Romana and Punta Cana mean long drives — worth it only for unbeatable fares.
| Airport | Drive to Las Terrenas | 1-5 people | 6-8 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZS — El Catey (Samaná) | 25 minutes | $85 | $115 |
| SDQ — Las Américas (Santo Domingo) | 2 to 2.5 hours | $190 | $240 |
| POP — Puerto Plata | about 3 hours | $245 | $305 |
| LRM — La Romana | about 4 hours | $235 | $295 |
| PUJ — Punta Cana | about 4 hours | $270 | $330 |
Are there direct flights to El Catey?
Yes. From Canada, seasonal direct flights reach El Catey in about 4 h to 4 h 20 — we take them ourselves on every stay. Departure cities and airlines change from season to season: check what is flying when you book; the schedule grows every year.
From Europe — where a large share of Las Terrenas visitors come from — you generally land in Santo Domingo (SDQ), then drive 2 to 2.5 hours: Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt and Rome all have nonstop links (about a 9-hour flight). From the United States, New York, Miami and several East Coast cities serve SDQ nonstop.
What is the drive from El Catey like?
It is the pleasant surprise of the arrival: a brand-new highway in excellent condition, lit at night — a real 25 minutes, timed on every one of our trips. The road climbs through the mountains and opens onto genuine viewpoints over the sea and the coast.
If you land in daylight, two stops are worth it: the lookout points high above the coast, with the beach below, and the Cueva Boulevard del Atlántico, a stalactite-lined cave right by the road. Your holiday starts on the drive.
Private transfer or taxi: how to choose?
Our most important advice, learned the hard way: book a referred transfer company rather than a taxi found on the spot. On our first stay, a non-referred driver did the trip at a speed that frightened the whole family. Since then we only work with HugXander Transport, which we recommend to our own guests: calm driving, air-conditioned vehicle, punctual and warm drivers.
The logistics follow: five passengers and about ten bags all fitted without difficulty — the team matches the vehicle to the group. Book before your flight, and book the return at the same time.
| Airport | 1-5 one way | 1-5 round trip | 6-8 one way | 6-8 round trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZS — El Catey | $85 | $150 | $115 | $210 |
| SDQ — Santo Domingo | $190 | $360 | $240 | $460 |
| POP — Puerto Plata | $245 | $470 | $305 | $590 |
| LRM — La Romana | $235 | $450 | $295 | $570 |
| PUJ — Punta Cana | $270 | $520 | $330 | $640 |
Should you rent a car at the airport?
It is not compulsory, and it is not our formula. We prefer to arrive by transfer, then rent in the village — a quad for the day or a car depending on the outings planned. That way you avoid driving at night on unfamiliar roads on arrival day, and you only pay for a vehicle on the days you use it.
For daily life from Cosón, a vehicle remains recommended: the grocery store and the centre are a five-minute drive. Our guide Where to stay in Las Terrenas details what can be done on foot in each area.
El Catey airport in practice
El Catey is a small airport, and that is a luxury: few flights, so no crowds. On both of our departures to Canada, check-in and security took under 30 minutes. Arrivals are just as quick — the contrast with the big tourist airports is striking.
The flip side: with few flights, you don't really choose your arrival time. Ours have always been in the late afternoon, which leaves time to settle in before dark.
Our arrival tips
To stay connected, an eSIM works very well: we used Airalo on each of our stays, activated before take-off — no queue at a counter, connected on landing.
Book the transfer before you leave, outbound and return together: your driver waits at the exit, and the departure is as smooth as the arrival.
Landing in daylight? Ask your driver to stop at the lookouts along the road — the view over the coast is the finest prologue a holiday can have.