The ultimate Dominican Republic itinerary for road trips – 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks and more | Punta Cana Travel Blog

When you are traveling to the Dominican Republic, there is much more to explore than just beaches and all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana. If you want to explore the authentic regions of the Dominican Republic for 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks or any other duration of your holiday, the following itinerary will be the perfect option. As I have already planned hundreds of itineraries for road trips in the Dominican Republic, I am happy to share with you some of the best sample 7-day, 10-day, and 2-week itineraries to explore the Dominican Republic by rental car, with detailed daily plans, driving distances, scenic stops, accommodation recommendations, and insider travel tips for each route. And if you are not sure if a Dominican Republic trip outside of the omnipresent resorts is the right thing for you, this article about the best Dominican Republic itinerary will also help you with further information. This article gives

For a shorter road-trip starting from/to Punta Cana, you can check out this 7-day Punta Cana itinerary.
If you are particularly interested in the area around Las Terrenas and Las Galeras, you can have a look at this 3-day Samaná itinerary.
For further super helpful information about exploring the country with a rental car, you can also read our general road-trip guide for the Dominican Republic.
Questions about your Punta Cana car rental – continue reading here!

Completely UPDATED by your Dominican Republic expert Ewa: January 2026
(general overhaul of the blogpost, updated accommodation recommendations, double-checked all details, added itinerary overview, added new photos, new practical tips, and more)

At a glance: what to expect from this itinerary

I’ve lived in the Dominican Republic for more than 7 years and have explored over 45 resorts, 70 beaches, and 40 waterfalls + I have visited all the provinces in the country. That’s why I am happy to share some of my experiences and the best hidden gems with you. This itinerary will show you how to fully immerse yourself in the culture of the Dominican Republic and how to experience all these hidden gems and natural wonders the country has to offer. It is a year-round itinerary and opposed to what the all-inclusive world of Punta Cana sometimes suggests, it’s completely safe to explore the country like this. Here is what to expect from this hand-crafted itinerary starting and ending in Santo Domingo or Punta Cana, exploring the entire country:

• Duration: 15 days / 14 nights (can be shortened or extended – 1-week itinerary or 10 days possible without problems, see below for details)
• Route: (Punta Cana) → Santo Domingo → (optional: Southwest region) → Jarabacoa/Constanza → Punta Rucia → North Coast (Cabarete/Puerto Plata) → Samaná Peninsula → Santo Domingo → (optional: back to Punta Cana)
• Driving times: Between 2 and 3.5 hours per day, multiple days with only local drives to reach attractions
• Highlights: Impressive historic vibes in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, waterfalls and mountains around Jarabacoa & Constanza, best snorkeling in Punta Rucia, outdoor adventures along the North Coast, pristine beaches on the Samaná Peninsula
• Best for: Adventurous travelers who want to explore the entire country
• Travel style: Best with a rental car, but can be done with a private driver or public transport as well
• Accommodation: all styles of accommodation possible, from backpacker hostels to mid-range accommodation or boutique and luxury hotels (see suggestions below)

Overview: 2-Week Dominican Republic Road Trip Itinerary (print it out)

Here is the whole road-trip itinerary at a glance. If you like, you can take a screenshot and print it out. Like this, you always have the entire trip available for a quick reference. All the days are described below in detail, including attractions, accommodation suggestions, safety tips and driving recommendations.

Map of this hand-crafted 2-week itinerary

Preamble: renting a car for your Dominican Republic itinerary

 Usually, the first question I receive when talking about traveling for one week in the Dominican Republic with a rental car (or any other duration) is whether it is safe to do so in the country. The clear answer to this is yes! There are particular things you have to take care of, but most of the security recommendations apply to all Latin American countries. Don’t flash any jewelry, avoid visiting obscure places in cities at night, be careful when approached by strangers and – particularly important when traveling the Dominican Republic with a rental car – don’t leave any valuables in the car, particularly not visible from outside.

One issue might be driving in the Dominican Republic, which is particularly crazy sometimes, especially in the city. If you have never rented a vehicle abroad, you might be better off with a private driver, but otherwise, you shall be fine. Just remind yourself to drive defensively and always watch what’s happening around you, so that you are not going to overlook any motorcycles, dogs or villagers that always might pop up to the left, right or in front of your car.

My expert tip: if you have never rented a car outside of your home country, you should consider this itinerary here with a private driver. Driving in the Dominican Republic is straightforward once you get used to the different interpretation of traffic rules, but for newbies it can be overwhelming. If you have plenty of experience driving in other countries, especially in Asian, African or Latin American countries, you will be absolutely fine driving in the Dominican Republic.

If you’d like some further information about how it is to drive in the Dominican Republic, you can check out the article about renting a car in Punta Cana. Most of the advice and tips mentioned in this article are also valid for the entire Dominican Republic.

Talking about renting a car it is important to rent your car with a trustworthy company to avoid any surprises when taking over the vehicle. Particularly important is to book the rental car in the Dominican Republic with all insurances included, as otherwise, the rental car companies are trying to sell you a lot of additional policies.

Therefore, my recommendation is to use price comparison websites such as Discover Cars* or Sunny Cars*, which are mainly listing reputable international providers. When using the filter options provided, you can search for rental cars in the Dominican Republic where all insurances (liability insurance, third-party insurance, passenger insurance, CDW with 0 USD deductible, etc.) are included.

 While Discover Cars* features amazing prices, Sunny Cars* is kind of a premium rental car broker, that only offers the best rental car companies with full insurance included.

 In case you’d like to pick my brain for the Dominican Republic itinerary according to your preferences – it doesn’t matter if you travel for 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks or more – you can also use my travel coaching services. The best is always to start with a phone call so that we can see if it makes more sense that I create a hand-crafted travel itinerary for your Dominican Republic holiday or if I connect you with a local tour operator with a long track record of road trips and tailor-made vacations in the Dominican Republic.

If this Dominican Republic itinerary doesn’t fit your needs, you can also check out the following trip planning proposals:

Categories for accommodation recommendations

As I have traveled the entire country, I am also happy to include specific accommodation recommendations for this Dominican Republic travel itinerary. I have stayed or visited most of these places, hence I am happy to share those places where I made positive experiences.

I have divided the recommendations into five different categories so that you can find the best option according to your budget and preferences.

Dominican Republic 2-week itinerary

 Let’s start straight with the Dominican Republic 2-week itinerary. Note that 2 weeks aren’t a fixed duration. Throughout this road-trip itinerary, you will find plenty of options mentioned to shorten or extend this trip to the Dominican Republic, hence you can use this as a draft as well for your vacation lasting 10 days, 3 weeks or even if you just have 1 week in the Dominican Republic. If the following suggestion doesn’t suit you, you can also have a look at this 1-week itinerary from/to Punta Cana.

Day 1: Arrival in the Dominican Republic

 This day marks the start of your Dominican Republic vacation. Especially when you are not interested in the plenty of all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, you can fly straight into Santo Domingo as this is the best starting point to explore the Dominican Republic on your own. There are plenty of direct flights from the United States (including New York, Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas, Boston, Philadelphia, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Washington and Newark) and other countries, such as Canada, Colombia, Spain, France, Mexico and Panama.

 Once you have arrived in Santo Domingo, it is a quick 30-minutes ride to the center – check out the recommended Santo Domingo Airport Transfers here.

 Alternatively, if you have already booked your flight to Punta Cana or if flight connections from your departure airport are significantly better to Punta Cana, this is also not a problem, as Punta Cana is only 2.5 hours away from Punta Cana. If you arrive there, just take a shuttle to Santo Domingo, either from your hotel or directly from Punta Cana International Airport.

 It doesn’t matter if you arrive at Punta Cana Airport or Santo Domingo Las Américas International Airport, I would not recommend picking up your rental car right after your flight. First of all, you might be overwhelmed arriving in a new country and driving your own car immediately, and second, you absolutely won’t need a rental car in Santo Domingo (due to the gridlocked traffic), hence it is better to pick it up when you leave the city.

 In case you have already spent a few days before in Punta Cana, you can check out the Punta Cana itinerary here for further ideas. There is also a post about the best day trips in Punta Cana and the most exciting things to do in Punta Cana.

 When booking your hotel in Santo Domingo, I’d highly recommend a hotel in the Colonial Zone* as this is where most of the things are happening in the city. You will spend at least 90% of your time in the Zona Colonial, hence with booking accommodation right in this area, you save yourself a lot of time and money by avoiding taxis, Ubers and the notorious traffic jams of the city. Check my Santo Domingo accommodation recommendations for every budget below.

Total distance: 17 miles / 30 kilometers (add 100 miles / 165 kilometers if arriving in Punta Cana)
Driving time: approx. 30 minutes (add 2 hours if arriving in Punta Cana)
Accommodation Recommendations:
BACKPACKER ($) – Island Life Backpackers*
VALUE ($$) – Honky Tonk Colonial*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Hotel Villa Colonial*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Billini Hotel*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – Casas de XVI*
Not the right accommodation among those proposals? Check out the 27 best Airbnbs in Santo Domingo for other unique places to stay.
Further information on Punta Cana Travel Blog:
– 10 reasons why you should visit the Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo
– 23 exciting things-to-do in Santo Domingo (and 5 NOT to do)

Day 2) Exploring Santo Domingo: the Colonial Zone

 This day in this ultimate Dominican Republic itinerary is completely reserved for Santo Domingo, the bustling and multi-cultural capital of the Dominican Republic.

After breakfast in your hotel or one of the multi-faceted coffee shops in the Colonial Zone, you can explore the unique history and colonial vibe of the area. The Zona Colonial or simply “La Zona”, as Dominicans call it, can be explored entirely on foot, as its size is less than a square mile.

 If you’d like to know more about the history, you can also explore the area with a guide. They are usually available on spot in the pedestrian zone El Conde, even though if you are looking for a guide with proper English, it might be recommendable to book a tour respectively a guide in advance.

 In the afternoon, you can continue exploring the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo at your own pace. Visit the most famous attractions such as Alcázar de Colón, Basilica Cathedral of Santa María la Menor, Calle Las Damas, Fortaleza Ozama or Plaza de España, and soak in the vibe of the Caribbean’s most important historic center. You can find more information on why you definitely should spend an entire day of your Dominican Republic trip in Santo Domingo here.

 Alternatively, if you’d like to venture out and explore some other attractions in other parts of the city, check out the most amazing things to do in Santo Domingo.

 In the evening, make sure to explore the plenty of restaurants and vibrant nightlife. You can either chill at one of the bars with a local drink and watch the Dominicans enjoying their life or dance the night away at one of the several local dance bars. As long as you don’t get too drunk, nightlife in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo is absolutely safe.

Accommodation Recommendations:
BACKPACKER ($) – Island Life Backpackers*
VALUE ($$) – Honky Tonk Colonial*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Hotel Villa Colonial*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Billini Hotel*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – Casas de XVI*
Not the right accommodation among those proposals? Check out the 27 best Airbnbs in Santo Domingo for other unique places to stay.
Further information on Punta Cana Travel Blog:
– 10 reasons why you should visit the Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo
– 23 exciting things-to-do in Santo Domingo (and 5 NOT to do)

Day 3) Start your Dominican Republic road trip

Today we are getting serious about your Dominican Republic itinerary for the next 2 weeks. Pick up your rental car according to your booking. It is highly recommendable to book your car with a pick-up in the city center of Santo Domingo*. Like this, you only have a 10- to 20-minute Uber ride from the Colonial Zone and prevent backtracking to the airport.

 Once leaving the city, you head towards the Cordillera Central, the central mountain range of the Dominican Republic. Peaks here reach up to 10000 feet, which results in a majestic natural backdrop and amazing sceneries.

 You have the choice between Constanza and Jarabacoa, which are the main towns in this area. While Jarabacoa is famous for its outdoor activities, such as rafting, paragliding or ATV adventures, Constanza is the highest city in the Dominican Republic and features a mild climate, much fresher than the tropical heat at the Dominican Republics’ beaches and coastal towns.

 In case you decide on the Dominican Republic 10-day itinerary, you can pass the Cordillera Central and head straight to Punta Rucia (as described on day 5). From Santo Domingo to Punta Rucia it is a 4.5-hour drive, covering a distance of 160 miles.

 On the way to Jarabacoa or Constanza (and also on the way to Punta Rucia), you can make a stop at Saltos de la Jima, one of the many waterfalls in the Dominican Republic. It is located pretty close to the highway (the Autopista Duarte), hence it marks a good stop on your way north.

Total distance: 90 miles / 145 kilometers (both destinations, Jarabacoa and Constanza)
Driving time: approx. 3 hours in total
Accommodation Recommendations for Constanza:
BACKPACKER ($) – n/a
VALUE ($$) – Rancho Constanza*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Hotel Alto Cerro*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Nubes de Chulavista*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – n/a

Accommodation Recommendations for Jarabacoa:
BACKPACKER ($) – Ananda*
VALUE ($$) – Mi Hogar Jarabacoa*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Hotel Gran Jimenoa*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – The Grand Forest Jarabacoa*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – n/a

Optional: Southwest of the Dominican Republic

Instead of heading straight north, you can also start your vacation with a road trip to the Southwest. This area is one of the most undeveloped areas in the country and therefore has its particular charm, especially as it features many top natural attractions of the Dominican Republic, such as Bahía de las Águilas, Laguna Oviedo, Bahoruco Cloud Forest, Los Patos, Arroyo Salado, Trudillé and Cabo Rojo.

Barahona is the gateway for this area and it isn’t too complicated to get from Santo Domingo or Punta Cana to Barahona.

If you are a nature lover, you definitely won’t regret traveling to the Southwest of the Dominican Republic, but it is only recommendable if you can add at least 4 extra days to your itinerary from Santo Domingo. I might publish a separate itinerary for the Southwest in the future. Until then, you can check out the following recommendation options in this region. For this area, it is sufficient if you base yourself in 1 or 2 spots and explore all the things to do from there.

Accommodation Recommendations for the Southwest of the Dominican Republic:
Best Barahona budget hotel (VALUE – $$) – Loro Tuerto*
Best hotel location to explore the entire Southwest (MID-RANGE – $$$) – Ecolodge Vistamar*
Beautiful glamping at the beach (MID-RANGE – $$$) – Cueva de las Aguilas*
Best hotel in Pedernales (MID-RANGE – $$$) – Vista de Aguilas*
Best adventure hotel (SPLURGE – $$$$) – Platon Ecolodge*

Day 4) Exploring the Cordillera Central

Today you have the full selection of different activities in the Cordillera Central. If you decide for Constanza I’d recommend the following things to see, of which most are easily reachable with your rental car:
– statue Diviño Niño right next to Constanza with a spectacular view of the city’
– Cascada Aguas Blancas, an impressive waterfall in the Cordillera Central (the road is pretty bad, an SUV is recommendable)
– several fruit and vegetable plantations – make sure to try the Caribbean strawberries (you even can pick strawberries on your own at the Ranchito Fresas Ariyama)
– the bar and restaurant “La Esquina” with its mountain chalet vibe

In case you prefer Jarabacoa, you can particularly splurge on adventure excursions, such as paragliding, river rafting, mountain biking or ATV tours.

 For further information about both places, you can check out the 1-week Punta Cana itinerary, as they are included in this Dominican Republic trip suggestion as well.

Accommodation Recommendations for Constanza:
BACKPACKER ($) – n/a
VALUE ($$) – Rancho Constanza*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Hotel Alto Cerro*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Nubes de Chulavista*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – n/a

Accommodation Recommendations for Jarabacoa:
BACKPACKER ($) – Ananda*
VALUE ($$) – Mi Hogar Jarabacoa*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Hotel Gran Jimenoa*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – The Grand Forest Jarabacoa*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – n/a

Day 5) Cordillera Central – Punta Rucia

Until now this Dominican Republic itinerary had a lack of beaches, but this will change today (and for the upcoming days as well) as you will approach the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. Actually, Punta Rucia is one of my favorite beach towns in the entire Dominican Republic, particularly if you are looking for peace, relaxation and a Caribbean vibe like 20 years ago. There are no resorts in Punta Rucia, just a lot of guesthouses and a premium resort with around a dozen rooms*.

On the way to Punta Rucia, you can either stop at the 27 Charcos of Damajagua, a pretty cool family activity consisting of hiking, canyoning and water sliding down a canyon, or you head to San José de las Matas, a region completely off-the-beaten-path and usually only known to local tourists. When visiting this area, you can stop at the thermal springs of Aguas Calientes Parque de Agua, the waterfall Salto de Anacaona and the famous D’Leonora Empanadas, a food stall with local delicacies made out of yucca.

Total distance: 95 miles / 155 kilometers (from Jarabacoa); 135 miles / 215 kilometers (from Constanza)
Driving time: approx. 3-4 hours in total
Accommodation Recommendations for Punta Rucia:
BACKPACKER ($) – n/a*
VALUE ($$) – Corales Guesthouse*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Paradise Island Beach Resort*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Punta Rucia Lodge*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – n/a

Day 6) Cayo Arena: the best snorkeling in the Dominican Republic

Punta Rucia is not only a nice beach town, but it is also particularly worth visiting because it features the best snorkeling in the Dominican Republic, called Cayo Arena.

 To reach Cayo Arena, you simply take a boat from Punta Rucia to this beautiful sandbar. It not only has a fantastic reef, but it also offers amazing views especially when going there very early in the morning. The boat can be organized by your accommodation in Punta Rucia. Alternatively, you can head to the harbor and just negotiate with a fisherman to bring you there. The whole excursion, including snorkeling time and visiting the mangroves on the way back, usually takes around 2-3 hours.

In the afternoon, you can either relax at the beach or visit the Parque Natural Santuario de Mamíferos Marinos de Estero Hondo, a sanctuary for huge sea mammals, which you can observe there with a bit of luck. It is super close to Punta Rucia, with your rental car you are there in less than 10 minutes.

Accommodation Recommendations for Punta Rucia:
BACKPACKER ($) – n/a*
VALUE ($$) – Corales Guesthouse*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Paradise Island Beach Resort*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Punta Rucia Lodge*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – n/a

Day 7) Puerto Plata & the North Coast

Today you are going to leave Punta Rucia, your next stop on the Dominican Republic travel itinerary is Puerto Plata. The 6th biggest city in the Dominican Republic (or the 3rd biggest city if you count Santo Domingo as one city) features a couple of activities that should be on your list of the things to do in the Dominican Republic.

First of all, you should visit the Montaña Isabel de Torres, the most prominent mountain of Puerto Plata. You can drive up there with your car rental, but it is even more beautiful if you take the cable car up there (which is currently closed as of January 2026 and probably will be closed for a couple of more months). Views during the ride and from the peak are amazing and with a fee of just 10 USD, it fits nearly every travel budget.

Second, you should visit the historic old town of Puerto Plata, which is the second most beautiful after the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo. Check out the historic streets with their colorful buildings, incl. the market area and the Parque Central.

 For a nice stroll and a beer with an ocean view, I’d recommend the Malecón of Puerto Plata, the oceanfront promenade.

Get your free e-book now – “16 amazing things-to-do for free in Punta Cana”!

 For the upcoming nights, you can either stay in Cabarete or Puerto Plata. For most individual travelers, Cabarete is more recommendable, as it offers more restaurants, bars and other infrastructure for tourists. It has a pretty cool surfer vibe, but you will also enjoy the town if you are not surfing. Together with Las Terrenas and Punta Rucia, Cabarete is my favorite beach town in the Dominican Republic. Particularly the strip of restaurants and bars with its lounge vibe right at the beach is one of the coolest areas in the entire country. Puerto Plata is the better option if you are looking for an all-inclusive resort for a couple of days (check here the difference between Punta Canas’ and Puerto Platas’ resorts) or for one of the few luxury hotels along the north coast.

Total distance: 75 miles / 120 kilometers (to Cabarete)
Driving time: approx. 3 hours in total (45 minutes less to Puerto Plata)
Accommodation Recommendations for Cabarete and Puerto Plata:
BACKPACKER ($) – Laguna Park Hostel*
VALUE ($$) – Surfbreak Cabarete*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Velero Beach Resort*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Ultraviolet Residences*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – Casa Colonial* (in Puerto Plata)
ALL-INCLUSIVE – Iberostar Costa Dorada* (in Puerto Plata)

Day 8 and 9) Explore the ocean and the spectacular North Coast mountain range

 In terms of activities, it hardly is important if you decide to base yourself in Cabarete or Puerto Plata. You can reach all of the following things to do from either place. This area is particularly worth visiting and spending a couple of days at due to its vast array of outdoor activities – unparalleled in the Dominican Republic. Some of these activities include:

• take windsurfing, kitesurfing or (wave) surfing lessons in Cabarete (check here for a beginner offer*)
• have a walk at the miles-long beaches between Puerto Plata and Cabarete
• take part in the most exciting Canyoning Tour in the entire Caribbean (check here for details*)
• rappel down a spectacular and otherwise inaccessible waterfall in the Cordillera Ceptentrional (check here for details*)
• visit Puerto Plata, the rum distillery, the old town and the cable car (in case you haven’t had time the day before) (check here for details*)
• book a mountainbike tour in Cabarete
• go hiking in the Cordillera Septentrional
• rent an SUP and paddle the ocean (check here for details*)
• explore the turquoise rivers and cascades in the mountains, for example, Rio Soñador
• visit a coffee plantation and the Ambar mines
• go ziplining in Puerto Plata (check here for details*)
• cruise with a catamaran along the north shores and enjoy snorkeling (check here for details*)

 As you can see, there are tons of options in this area and you can fill a full week with this Cabarete and Puerto Plata itinerary. Therefore, if you have more time, feel free to book additional nights than the 3 proposed, you can easily spend a week or more here and explore one of the most versatile places in the Dominican Republic.

Accommodation Recommendations for Cabarete and Puerto Plata:
BACKPACKER ($) – Laguna Park Hostel*
VALUE ($$) – Surfbreak Cabarete*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Velero Beach Resort*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Ultraviolet Residences*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – Casa Colonial* (in Puerto Plata)
ALL-INCLUSIVE – Iberostar Costa Dorada* (in Puerto Plata)

Day 10) Road-trip along the North Coast of the Dominican Republic

Today you can continue your journey through the Dominican Republic and explore the fascinating north coast of the country. The road is one of the best ways to enjoy a road trip in the Dominican Republic, as scenery changes between the ocean on the one side and mountains on the other side. Furthermore, plenty of options to stop along the way are giving you the perfect road-trip feeling. Some of the highlights and things to do on the road from Cabarete to Samaná, your next destination in this 2-week Dominican Republic travel itinerary, are (sorted from west to east):

• Playa Magante and Playa Rogelio, a local’s favorite among the beaches in the Dominican Republic with plenty of local bars and food stalls
• Rio San Juan with its iconic Laguna Gri-Gri (which can be explored by boat)
• Playa Caleton, another locals favorite
• Playa Grande, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic
• Playa Preciosa, the lesser-known neighbor of Playa Grande (reachable walking from the same parking lot)
• Cabo Francés Viejo, a natural monument with short walking trails and stunning views of the coastline
• El Saltadero, a waterfall easily reachable close to Cabrera
• Playa Diamante, a secluded bay with a shipwreck in the water
• Laguna Dudu, a unique lagoon where you can jump from a zipline into the water
• Playa Arroyo Salado, perfect to end this amazing day full of activities and adventures

 Your destination for the day is the Samaná peninsula, one of the most beautiful regions in the Dominican Republic, very popular among individual travelers in the Dominican Republic. You can chosse between three different villages respectively mini cities: Las Terrenas, Las Galeras and El Valle.

Total distance: 95 miles / 155 kilometers (to Las Terrenas)
Driving time: approx. 3 hours in total (to Las Terrenas, add an hour for Las Galeras and El Valle, add 45 minutes if coming from Puerto Plata)
Accommodation Recommendations for Las Terrenas:
BACKPACKER ($) – Hostel 23*
VALUE ($$) – Beach Hotel Casa Nina*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Hotel Playa Colibri*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Leeloo Boutique Hotel*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – Sublime Samana*

Accommodation Recommendations for Las Galeras:
BACKPACKER ($) – Hostel La Ballena Backpacker*
VALUE ($$) – 21 Palms*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Chalet Tropical*

Accommodation Recommendations for El Valle:
SPLURGE ($$$$) – El Valle Lodge*
SPLURGE/ADVENTURE ($$$$) – Dominican Tree House*

Further information on Punta Cana Travel Blog:
– Best beaches on the Samaná peninsula
– Waterfall Salto El Limón
– Los Haitises National Park
– Whalewatching in the Dominican Republic

Day 11-13) Explore the Samaná peninsula

You have reached the last amazing destination of your vacation in the Dominican Republic: Samaná.

You have the choice between staying in Las Terrenas, Las Galeras or El Valle (see accommodation recommendations).

Las Terrenas is the main tourist place in Samaná, but it is by far not as touristy as Punta Cana. It offers the perfect mix between touristic infrastructure (beach bars, restaurants, accommodation, etc.), beautiful beaches and authentic local experiences.

Why you can trust me & Punta Cana Travel Blog

Living in Punta Cana allows me to explore the Dominican Republic year-round and share honest, practical and up-to date travel advice.

Every recommendation I share is based on personal experience, local knowledge and through reasearch to help you plan the best possible vacation in Punta Cana.
Furthermore
– I live in Punta Cana and explore the Dominican Republic throughout the year.
– I regularly visit all-inclusive resorts to provide honest and up-to-date reviews.
– I personally check excursions, beaches, restaurants, and local attractions before recommending them.
– I continuously update articles to reflect the latest travel information and resort changes.
– I share practical travel tips based on real experiences, not sales pitches.
– As a mom, I also provide recommendations for families traveling with children.
– My goal is to help you choose the right resort, excursions, and experiences for your vacation.
Read more about me here. if you have any questions about planning your Punta Cana vacation.

Las Galeras is quieter than Las Terrenas and therefore is perfectly recommendable if you prefer peace and relaxation. Las Terrenas and Las Galeras likewise are the perfect getaway to explore the marvelous beaches of the Samaná peninsula.

 El Valle is the adventure destination on the Samaná peninsula. It just features a few eco-lodges, some at the beach, some in the jungle, including the famous Dominican Tree House Village*. El Valle is a perfect getaway for 1 or 2 nights, but for a longer stay, it lacks local options regarding bars, restaurants or shopping opportunities.

 All three destinations are perfect to explore the several attractions of the Samaná peninsula, such as Los Haitises National Park (by boat), whale watching excursions, the several pristine beaches of Samaná and Salto El Limón, one of the most picturesque waterfalls in the Dominican Republic.

For further details on things to do in Samaná, have a look at the full Samaná itinerary here.

Accommodation Recommendations for Las Terrenas:
BACKPACKER ($) – Hostel 23*
VALUE ($$) – Beach Hotel Casa Nina*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Hotel Playa Colibri*
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Leeloo Boutique Hotel*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – Sublime Samana*

Accommodation Recommendations for Las Galeras:
BACKPACKER ($) – Hostel La Ballena Backpacker*
VALUE ($$) – 21 Palms*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Chalet Tropical*

Accommodation Recommendations for El Valle:
SPLURGE ($$$$) – El Valle Lodge*
SPLURGE/ADVENTURE ($$$$) – Dominican Tree House*

Further information on Punta Cana Travel Blog:
– Best beaches on the Samaná peninsula
– Waterfall Salto El Limón
– Los Haitises National Park
– Whalewatching in the Dominican Republic

Day 14) Head back to the airport area

This day of your Dominican Republic itinerary is kind of optional as it depends on when your flight is leaving. If your flight departs in the morning or until noon from Santo Domingos Las Américas International Airport (2-3 hours away from Samaná) or if you are flying back home from Punta Cana International Airport (a 4 to 5-hour drive from Samaná), you might want to head to the airport area already today, so that you can return your car without any pressure. Especially flights to the United States sometimes leave pretty early, hence staying the night close to the airport might not be the worst idea. On the other hand, if your flight departs late enough, you can easily extend your stay in Samaná by one night.

On the way from Samaná to Santo Domingo, you have a few more options for stopping along the road. Especially Salto Socoa marks a nice road-trip stopover, as it is a beautiful waterfall with swimming opportunities just 10 minutes away from the highway.

 Once arriving in the airport area, you don’t necessarily need to stay right at the airport, even though this is an option if you have a very early morning flight. Alternatively, you can stay in Boca Chica or Juan Dolio, which are the beach towns closest to Santo Domingo. Boca Chica is closest to Las Américas International Airport, with a great lagoon to swim and to SUP, Juan Dolio has a wider beach and is better if you are looking for a quieter experience.

Total distance: 85 miles / 140 kilometers (to Santo Domingo Airport)
Driving time: approx. 2 hours in total (from Las Terrenas, add an hour if coming from Las Galeras and El Valle, add two hours if going to Punta Cana Airport)
Accommodation Recommendations for Santo Domingo Airport:
BACKPACKER ($) – n/a
VALUE ($$) – Batey Hotel Boutique*
MID-RANGE ($$$) – Hampton by Hilton Inn Santo Domingo* (at Santo Domingo Airport)
SPLURGE ($$$$) – Casa Hemingway*
LUXURY ($$$$$) – n/a*

Day 15) Fly back home

 Today marks the end of your road trip through the Dominican Republic. You can return your rental car at the airport and check in for your flight.

 Of course, this Dominican Republic 2-week itinerary is just a proposal with lots of ideas on where to stay and with things to do. If you need any further help customizing this itinerary, contact me through my travel coaching program and I am super happy to help.

Dominican Republic 10-day itinerary

 If you don’t have time for a full 2-week holiday in the Dominican Republic, you can also shorten this travel program into a Dominican Republic 10-day itinerary.  This is easier as it sounds, as the 2-week travel itinerary described above presents some options to cut a few days.

 First, you can leave out the Cordillera Central (Constanza or Jarabacoa) on days 3 or 4. Even though the central mountain area of the Dominican Republic is gorgeous, it is the least spectacular option of all the places involved in the Dominican Republic trip plan presented above – at least according to my opinion. Of course, if you are a mountain buff and don’t want to snorkel, you can alternatively leave out Punta Rucia.

 Assuming you decide to skip the Cordillera Central, which saves you two days, you can head straight from Santo Domingo to Punta Rucia. The stop proposed on the road – Salto de la Jima on day 3 – would still be possible. Also, the area around San José de las Matas is along the same way, even though it will be a bit tough time-wise, considering that you just pick up your car rental in the morning in Santo Domingo.

 A further reduction of 2 days to get a 10-day itinerary for the Dominican Republic can be achieved by reducing the time you stay in Cabarete and Samaná by one night. Even though this option would mean a pretty short stay in both places, it is still possible. Alternatively, if you don’t want to be that rushed, you can also skip the 2 nights in Punta Rucia and therefore have the number of nights left as initially proposed (3 nights Cabarete and 4 nights Samaná).

7-day itinerary for the Dominican Republic

 If even this 10-day Dominican Republic itinerary is too long for you and you only have 1 week in the Dominican Republic, you can further shorten this travel plan to still experience the country super authentically.

However, in this case, I would recommend skipping the days 4 to 9 completely.

 If you are only planning for a 7-day itinerary in the Dominican Republic, you would take over your rental car as described on day 3, but then head straight to the north coast. My special recommendation would be to stay the night at Playa Magante, a local’s beach with romantic and rustic beach huts right at the ocean*.

 Day 4 in a Dominican Republic travel itinerary for 1 week would be the same as Day 10 in a 2-week road-trip itinerary. Day 5 to 7 would also be the same as days 11 to 13 in the longer travel itinerary above.

 If you indeed only have 7 days available, you would need to head back to the airport area in the afternoon of day 6 or the morning of day 7, depending on when your flight is starting. If you have 1 week in the Dominican Republic, you can enjoy the full amount of time in Samaná and head back to the Santo Domingo area as described in the 2-week itinerary.

 With these changes, you can still experience some of the most amazing things to do in the Dominican Republic within your 7-day itinerary.

Plan a trip to the Dominican Republic professionally?

 I understand that planning a road trip to the Dominican Republic can be overwhelming, even though the travel itineraries presented in his article and my other Dominican Republic itineraries – the Punta Cana 1-week itinerary and the Samaná 3-day itinerary – already give you a lot of help planning your holiday in the Caribbean.

 I have also published a general Dominican Republic road-trip overview, where you can find even more information about planning your trip to the Dominican Republic.

 However, if you still need professional help to avoid any of those travel hiccups which can happen everywhere, no worries.

 Just check my travel coaching offers (usually a 30-minutes call is enough to get you started) so that we can talk about all your doubts and questions you might have. Depending on what you need and how you’d like to plan your Dominican Republic travel itinerary, I can even put you in contact with a local tour operator which is operating self-drive tours in the country for many years, has an excellent track record and offers 24/7 personalized service via WhatsApp and phone, especially during your trip. Depending on your itinerary, I can even negotiate a small discount for you with this tour operator.

 However, the main object of this extensive itinerary for a Dominican Republic holiday is that you can plan your vacation on your own. To start with this right now, you can book your rental car here and continue with the accommodation options.

How do you like this travel itinerary for your Dominican Republic vacation? Could you imagine yourself doing such a tour?

Practical travel info for your Dominican Republic itinerary

Transportation Options

In case you’re doubting which is the easiest way of transportation, here is a quick comparison of all transport options you have:

Road Safety & Driving Tips

• Navigation: Google Maps works fine in the Dominican Republic, distances and travel times are mostly realistic. Still, try to use common sense and double-check in case Google Maps sends you weird ways.
• Driving Conditions: Main roads between Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, and the north coast are in good shape. Expect potholes and slower driving outside of the main highways. Even on the highway, some unforeseen conditions can always occur. The North Coast road between Punta Rucia and Samaná is particularly slow.
• Night Driving: Avoid it. Many roads are poorly lit, and animals or unexpected obstacles can appear. Short distances from the restaurant to the hotel are not a problem at night, but you always should reach your destination before 6pm if possible.
• Gas Stations: Available on all major routes.
• Tolls: Highways between Punta Cana and Santo Domingo and between Samaná and Santo Domingo have tolls (as well as the circumvalation around Santo Domingo and Santiago) — bring cash (RD$).
• Police Checks: the most important tip you need for driving in the Dominican Republic – never pay a ticket right on the road. If the police stops you and asks for money, it’s illegal. Get a ticket and pay it in the city at an official office. Everything else is a scam.

Packing Essentials

• Valid driver’s license (your national license is fine if written in Latin alphabet; otherwise bring an International Driving Permit).
• Cash in small bills for tolls (credit cards are usually accepted at gas stations).
• A power bank and offline maps in case of bad reception in the mountains.
• Light jacket or sweater for Constanza (temperatures can drop below 15°C at night, especially during the winter months).
• Swimsuit, sunscreen, mosquito repellent — because you’ll still spend plenty of time in the water.
• For more helpful packing tips, check my packing list here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Ewa

Travel Blogger & Punta Cana Expert

Hey, I am Ewa. Originally from Poland, I lived in the Netherlands for 15 years before deciding to start a new chapter of my life in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Now I explore Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic full-time with my family, sharing honest resort reviews, excursion recommendations, travel tips, and local insights. Having visited numerous resorts and attractions across the region, I focus on providing practical, first-hand information travelers can actually use. Living here allows me to experience destinations from a local perspective and provide information that goes far beyond what you can find in a typical brochure.
My goal is simple: to help you plan an unforgettable Punta Cana vacation with trustworthy, up-to-date, and experience-based advice.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page or Contact Me here.