On Dominican intercity buses one large suitcase per person usually rides in the hold at no cost and a backpack goes on board with you. Surfboards and bikes depend on space and on the driver: nothing is guaranteed. That is why it pays to arrive with a margin, so bulky luggage goes in first.
What goes in the hold and what comes on board
On Caribe Tours, Metro and Expreso Bávaro the coach has a hold under the floor. That is where the big suitcase, the 60 litre backpack and anything that does not fit in the overhead rack goes. With you come the small backpack, the handbag and, in general, whatever fits under the seat or on the rack. One large suitcase per passenger usually travels at no extra cost, though on a full bus the driver decides what gets in. On association guaguas such as Asotrapusa, which runs Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas in a minibus, space is tighter: the suitcase usually goes at the back or on the roof, so a travel backpack fits better than a rigid 30 kilo case.
The hold tag and why you arrive early
When you hand over your suitcase on Caribe Tours or Metro you usually get a numbered stub, paper or sticker, that they check at the other end. Keep it with your passport: without it, getting your bag back at the arrival terminal turns into an argument. On Expreso Bávaro the process is more informal and the driver's helper loads the bag as you board. One good reason to arrive with a margin is exactly this: the hold fills in order of arrival. Turn up 10 minutes before with two suitcases and they may end up standing in the aisle, or you may be sent to the next bus.
Surfboards and kiteboards: Cabarete and Las Terrenas
Plenty of people arrive in Cabarete or Las Terrenas with their own board. Operators have no written policy on boards, and what we have seen is that it comes down to length and to free space in the hold: a shortboard in a bag usually fits on the Caribe Tours coach to Puerto Plata (4 hours from Santo Domingo), a longboard over 2.5 metres is a matter of luck. On the Asotrapusa minibus to Las Terrenas the roof is the only option, and not always. Our advice: padded bag, fins off, and ask at the counter before buying the ticket, not after. If the answer is no, the fallback is usually a taxi or private transfer, which from Punta Cana runs about 125 to 200 USD by our July 2026 estimate, not a quote.
Bicycles: taken apart and bagged
With a bike the unwritten rule is the same as almost everywhere in the Caribbean: taken apart, wheels off and in a bag or box, it usually rides in the hold, sometimes with a small cash surcharge decided by the driver. Assembled and unpacked, it normally does not get on, especially on full weekend buses. On long legs like Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata, 215 km, the hold is opened at intermediate stops, so check that the box has not shifted. Bring zip ties, tape and a chain bag in case something needs adjusting at the terminal. A folding bike in a bag, on the other hand, passes as a large suitcase with any of the operators.
Valuables, and how we handle luggage requests
Passport, money, camera, laptop and medication always travel with you, never in the hold. The air conditioning on the coaches is strong, so a light layer in your hand luggage helps during the 3 or 4 hour ride. When you get off, wait by the hold until you see your suitcase and match the stub. If you request our assisted booking, from 20 USD per person, tell us in the request what bulky items you carry: board, bike, pushchair or more than one suitcase per person. You pay when you book, with a full refund if we cannot get your ticket, and we reply on WhatsApp or email with what the operator tells us for that day, without promising that a specific item will get on.
