What is a guagua? Bus types in the Dominican Republic

Guagua: one word for every bus

Guagua is the Dominican word for bus, with no distinction of size. A Dominican calls the air conditioned coach with a luggage hold that covers 215 km from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata a guagua, and also the 15 seat minibus that picks people up on every corner. When someone tells you to take the guagua, the question that matters is which one: the scheduled coach that leaves a terminal at a set time, or the local one you flag down with your hand. We use the word the way locals do, but on our routes we always mean the scheduled intercity coach, the one with a terminal, a fixed fare and room for your suitcase.

The scheduled coach: the one that links cities

The scheduled coach covers long distances with timetabled departures from a terminal or a fixed stop. The main operators are Caribe Tours, Metro and Expreso Bavaro, plus associations such as Asotrapusa in Samana. A typical trip lasts between an hour and a half (Puerto Plata to Santiago, 65 km) and 4 hours (Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata, 215 km). They have air conditioning, often a numbered seat, and a hold for luggage. You buy the ticket at the counter or on board, almost always in cash, and you need to arrive between 30 minutes and 1 hour early depending on the company. It is the option we recommend to anyone landing without knowing the country. We confirm the fare with you before booking, once the seat has been checked with the carrier.

Local guaguas and association guaguas

The local guagua is a minibus or van that runs along a highway or through a neighbourhood, stopping wherever someone asks. There is usually a cobrador hanging from the door calling out the destination. You pay in cash, in pesos, a few dozen pesos for a short hop in town and a bit more between towns, for example from Sosua or Cabarete to Puerto Plata in a bit over half an hour. Association guaguas are the middle ground: fixed routes between cities organised by a drivers association, with a street stop rather than a terminal. Asotrapusa, works this way from Calle Barahona 129, behind Plaza Lama. They ask you to be there 30 minutes early.

Carro publico: the shared taxi on a fixed line

A carro publico is an ordinary car, often an old one, that drives along a fixed avenue and picks up passengers on the way until every seat is taken, sometimes four people in the back. You pay a fixed fare in pesos when you get out, far cheaper than a taxi. It is the everyday urban transport of Santo Domingo and Santiago, and you recognise it because it crawls along the kerb while the driver signals to you with his hand. For a new arrival with a suitcase it is not practical: there is no room for luggage and you need to know the line. It works for a short, light trip across town, with small change in your pocket and a clear address to tell the driver.

Motoconcho, Uber and taxi: the first and last mile

A motoconcho is a motorbike taxi: fast, cheap and for short distances. It is the everyday ride in towns like Las Terrenas, where the beaches are a few minutes from the centre. With a big suitcase it is not an option. To reach the terminal from the airport or your hotel, the comfortable choice is Uber or an official taxi: from Punta Cana airport to the Expreso Bavaro stop it is about 20 minutes, and from Las Americas airport to central Santo Domingo 25 to 35. Depending on the driver and the moment, you may be asked to step outside the grounds for pickup. If you ask us for assisted booking, from 24.95 USD per person and 3 or more days ahead, we tell you on WhatsApp or email how to get to the exact stop.