The easiest way to make your way from Santo Domingo’s Las Americas international airport (SDQ) to the bustling, cosmopolitan city of Santo Domingo is via a private airport transfer directly from the airport to your hotel, or to the heart of the Colonial Zone. Dominican Shuttles is your best choice tourist transfer company, dedicated to providing safe, friendly and affordable private transportation for tourists and business people alike.
Santo Domingo is the oldest permanent settlement in the New World. Founded in 1498 by Bartholomew Columbus, Christopher’s younger brother, the city boasts the first cathedral, hospital, and university in the New World, located in the Colonial Zone on the banks of the River Ozama. Santo Domingo was deservedly declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1990. While most tourists still flock to the fabulous beaches, people are starting to realize that this vibrant capital has a long list of attractions to offer. So if you enter the country via Las Americas airport (SDQ), the 2nd largest airport after Punta Cana, we strongly recommend you take a day or two to discover the history of the Colonial Zone, the shopping of the modern center, and the vibrant everyday life of the city by taking a quick private transfer from SDQ airport to Santo Domingo before you unpack your bathng suits and head for the beach.
While the Santo Domingo of today is a vibrant sprawling metropolis, its Colonial Zone remains the main point of interest for tourists. Las Americas international airport, opened in 1959, is one of the busiest in the Caribbean for both tourists and business people. Arriving at SDQ airport, Dominican Shuttles provides a safe, quick and affordable private transfer directly to your hotel, airbnb or address anywhere in the city in 30-45 minutes. The traffic can be hectic and a bit ‘loco’, so driving yourself, while possible, is not highly recommended for those not accustomed to the chaos.
Arriving at the old city center from Santo Domingo’s airport by private transfer service, the narrow picturesque streets which define the Colonial Zone, transport you to a very different time in history. The original atmosphere has been maintained, with many old buildings renovated to perfection, displaying their original state, though a few have remained untouched and are thus often crumbling, adding a touch of patina to the authenticity of the ambience. Many of the ancient buildings now host restaurants, bars, boutiques and intimate small hotels, some of which feature quiet courtyards and guest rooms displaying timeless antiques. The Zona, as locals refer to it, covers an area small enough to explore on foot, with countless visual treasures to be discovered at every turn. Take your time, and immerse yourself in the authentic cultural experience that is the Colonial Zone.
Night life in the area is also well worth enjoying, with its lively restaurants, bars and live music venues, many offering a typically authentic Dominican experience, enhanced by the famous and excellent local beer (Presidente) and rum (Brugal and Barcelo). Dominicans are wonderfully animated, love to sing, dance and enjoy life, and are always happy to share their exuberence with foreigners. Shuttle service between your hotel and any night life spot is conveniently offered by Domincan Shuttles, sparing you the stress of facing the traffic which can be pretty insane, especially after enjoying a ‘lubricated’ evening of Dominican fun!
At Dominican Shuttles, we offer private transfers and excursions not only from the Santo Domingo airport, but from any and all airports and tourist centers in the country. We have a reputation for being dependable and family oriented, with friendly professional drivers who are often happy to proudly speak about their homeland.
While the Colonial Zone is certainly the most spectacular area to visit in ‘la capital’, as the locals refer to Santo Domingo, there are many others. East and West Santo Domingo, separated by the Ozama river, are quite different. The eastern part is generally residential, with a mostly middle and lower class population, while the western sector includes the richer areas of town, with opulent villas, impressive high rises featuring mult-million-dollar apartments lining the famous Malecon Boulevard hugging the Caribbean Sea, and the extensive Mirador Sur park. Luxurious malls offering all the international high class brands are found throughout the western part of the city.
Beside the Colonial Zone, some of the other worthwhile experiences on offer include the Presidential Palace, shopping at the countless Malls, and the Columbus Lighthouse, a huge structure dedicated as a mausoleum to Christopher Columbus, housing some of his remains. Inaugurated on 1992, it features 157 beams of light in the form of a cross which shine upward into the night sky with such brightness that they can be seen as far as Puerto Rico … quite an extravaganza as it was built during a period when the electricity supply was often problematic.
While Santo Domingo is a seaside city, the coastline is mostly coral, with no famous sandy beaches. For those, one must venture either north to Samana and the North Coast, or east past the airport to Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, La Romana, Bayahibe, Punta Cana, Uvero Alto, and beyond to most recent, rapidly growing Miches. When you are ready for the beach, Dominican Shuttles Santo Domingo is ready to offer a convenient one way or round trip private transfer to the paradisiacal beaches that wait for you.