Arena Gorda beach, Riu complex
SDQ airport transfer to Riu Palace Bávaro
Short answer
A private transfer from Las Américas airport (SDQ) to Riu Palace Bávaro costs $250 Standard or $510 VIP per vehicle, for 1 to 6 passengers, and takes 3 h – 3 h 30 min (about 215 km). It includes the name-sign meet, flight tracking, tolls and child seats. No prepay: you pay the driver.
Standard
$250
1–6 passengers
VIP SUV
$510
VIP meet
Drive time
3 h – 3 h 30 min
215 km
About Riu Palace Bávaro
One of five Riu hotels standing side by side on Arena Gorda beach, all behind a single controlled entrance with a shared internal road. Guests who book only 'Riu' regularly get dropped at the wrong reception, so we always carry the full hotel name.
Address our drivers use: Playa Arena Gorda, Riu complex, Punta Cana
The approach road
Three to three and a half hours from SDQ: Las Américas highway, San Pedro, La Romana, Coral highway, then the Arena Gorda road past the Riu entrance arch. Inside, the internal road passes several receptions before the Palace.
From the SDQ exit to your door
- 1Name-sign meet in SDQ arrivals, with the flight tracked from take-off.
- 2About three hours east on the highways, tolls included in the fare.
- 3Riu complex entrance arch at Arena Gorda; security checks the hotel name.
- 4Drop-off at the Palace Bávaro reception, not at the neighbouring Riu lobbies.
Where the car stops
The Palace Bávaro reception inside the complex. For departures the driver parks in the reception bay and waits in the lobby with a name sign; guests never need to walk out to the main arch.
Departure: when to leave the hotel
Leaving for SDQ means roughly four and a half to five hours before departure because the drive alone is three. For a 09:00 flight we suggest 04:00 from the lobby, and we message the night before to confirm.
What is around it
Arena Gorda beach is directly in front, the Riu shopping and entertainment plaza is inside the complex, Macao beach is fifteen minutes north, and Bávaro's Cortecito strip is about twenty minutes south.
Dispatch notes
- · Always say 'Riu Palace Bávaro' — five Riu hotels share the entrance.
- · This is one of our longest SDQ runs; a van is worth it for more than four passengers.
- · Round-trip booking is cheaper than two separate legs and holds the same driver.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the transfer from SDQ airport to Riu Palace Bávaro?
$250 in a Standard vehicle and $510 in a VIP SUV, per vehicle and per direction, for 1 to 6 passengers. That is the Arena Gorda / Macao zone price and it includes tolls, waiting time and child seats.
How long does SDQ to Riu Palace Bávaro take?
3 h – 3 h 30 min, about 215 km from the Las Américas terminal, depending on traffic and time of day.
Where does the driver meet me?
Just outside customs at SDQ, holding a sign with your name. We track the flight, so a delay costs you nothing.
Do I have to prepay?
No. You pay the driver on arrival, in cash (USD or pesos) or by transfer. The booking is confirmed in writing on WhatsApp.
What about the return pickup from Riu Palace Bávaro?
We collect at the property and recommend leaving Leave 5 h 45 min before an international departure from SDQ. before an international flight. The Palace Bávaro reception inside the complex. For departures the driver parks in the reception bay and waits in the lobby with a name sign; guests never need to walk out to the main arch.
How early should we leave Arena Gorda for an SDQ flight?
Four and a half to five hours before departure. The drive is three hours, and that margin absorbs the toll plazas and morning traffic near Santo Domingo.
Do you also drive between the Riu hotels and Punta Cana airport?
Yes, but that hop is only about 30 minutes. Most guests book us because their flight uses SDQ, which is the long run.
Book for Riu Palace Bávaro
Send date, flight number and passengers. We confirm in writing the same day.
Book on WhatsApp