Dominican Republic · PUJ
Flights to Punta Cana
An open-air airport, and a resort name that covers a lot of coastline
Punta Cana is the busiest destination in the Caribbean, built around a long stretch of beach on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic and a dense concentration of all-inclusive resorts. It is efficient, well organised and largely designed around a week on a beach.
The airport is worth knowing about in advance because it is unlike most: the terminals are open-sided with thatched palm roofs rather than sealed air-conditioned buildings. It is charming on arrival and warm when you are queueing to leave.
Getting to Punta Cana
Airports
Punta Cana International (PUJ) sits close to the resort strip. It is privately operated and handles very high leisure volumes, with several open-air terminal buildings.
Flight time
Roughly 3h 45m non-stop from New York, about 2h 15m from Miami, near 4h from Boston and around 3h from Orlando.
Into the city
Most Bávaro and Punta Cana resorts are 15 to 35 minutes away. Resorts further north at Uvero Alto or Miches can be 45 to 90 minutes, so check where your hotel actually is.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Peak season
December to April
Dry, warm and less humid, and the height of the North American winter escape. Prices are at their highest, particularly over Christmas, New Year and Easter.
Hurricane season
June to November
Hot and humid with the Atlantic hurricane risk peaking around September. Rates are lowest and resorts are quietest, but the disruption risk is real and worth insuring against.
Shoulder
May and early June
Warm and mostly dry, ahead of the heaviest part of the season, with rates well below the winter peak. Often the best combination of weather and price.
Good to know
- Currency
- Dominican peso (DOP); US dollars widely accepted at resorts
- Airport to Bávaro resorts
- 15–35 minutes
- Airport to Uvero Alto
- 45–90 minutes
- Time zone
- Atlantic Standard Time, no daylight saving
- Power
- Type A and B plugs, 110V
- Language
- Spanish; English widely spoken at resorts
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
Check where your resort actually is
The Punta Cana name is applied along a long stretch of coast. Bávaro is close to the airport; Uvero Alto and Miches are considerably further. The difference can be an hour each way, which matters most on departure day.
Arrive early for departures
The airport handles very large simultaneous departure peaks and the open-air terminals are hot. Three hours before an international flight is sensible rather than cautious.
Sargassum is seasonal and variable
Seaweed washes up on Caribbean-facing beaches at times, typically heaviest between spring and late summer, and it varies year to year. Resorts clear their beaches daily, but if it matters to you it is worth checking recent conditions rather than photographs.
Confirm the tourist card and entry form
The Dominican tourist card has sometimes been included in airfares and sometimes payable on arrival, alongside an electronic entry form. Check the current requirement before travelling.
Other destinations
FAQ
Punta Cana — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
How far is Punta Cana airport from the resorts?
Most Bávaro and Punta Cana resorts are fifteen to thirty-five minutes away. Resorts marketed under the same name further up the coast at Uvero Alto or Miches can be forty-five to ninety minutes.
Is Punta Cana airport air-conditioned?
Mostly not. The terminals are deliberately open-sided with thatched roofs. It is pleasant on arrival and warm when queueing for a departure, so allow extra time and dress for it.
When is the cheapest time to visit Punta Cana?
June to November, the hurricane season, has the lowest rates, with September cheapest of all. The low prices reflect genuine weather risk, so insure the trip properly if you travel then.
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