Punta Cana Airport
Punta Cana International Airport (airport code PUJ)
[photo source www.weisheim.de]
In 1971 a short, dirt airstrip was cleared for light aircraft that serviced the only hotel in the area – The Punta Cana Club. After 8 years of negotiation with the Dominican government the hotel owners, Grupo PUNTACANA, were permitted to develop their rustic airstrip to accommodate full sized commercial aircraft and in 1984 Punta Cana International Airport was inaugurated. The first international flight that landed was a twin turbo propeller aircraft from San Juan in Puerto Rico. Punta Cana airport was the world’s first privately owned international airport.
Punta Cana airport then and now
Punta Cana airport c. 1984
In 2010 over 4 million passengers passed through Punta Cana airport. It’s the Caribbean’s 3rd busiest after Cancun and San Juan. 2011 should see the completion of a new runway that will accommodate Airbus A380s and plans are in progress for the expansion of the international terminals.
The airport currently has 3 terminals that handle international, domestic and fixed based operation flights as well as a separate VIP terminal.
Passenger services include: bank and money exchange, ATMs, pharmacy, medical services, food courts (incl. Wendy’s and Baskin Robbins), coffee bars, bars & sports bar, casino machines, children’s playground area, Duty Free zone, souvenir shops, jewelry store, telephone services, taxis, tour buses, car rental offices, tourism information desk, free wifi zones, long & short term parking.
There is also a well stocked Supermercado Nacional opposite the airport (See Map 7)
After you’ve stepped out of the plane, and felt the blast of warm, sweet Caribbean air, one of the first things you’ll notice about Punta Cana airport is it’s striking thatched, cana palm roofs. The tall, vaulted roofs and open air architectural design keeps things light and breezy with additional help from the aptly named Big Ass Fans. Most of the airport is open air but there are some air conditioned areas.
Punta Cana airport’s Big Ass Fans and vaulted cana roof
Arriving at the airport:
Plane passengers disembark onto the tarmac via a portable stairway so visitors with special mobility needs will be carried off the plane to an awaiting wheelchair. Sometimes they will be fast tracked through immigration. Travelers disembarking at the VIP terminal will also be fast tracked.
On entering the terminal you’ll be greeted by dancers and musicians in traditional Dominican costumes. There may, or may not, be photographers here asking to take your picture for 10$US – this is not obligatory.
Arrivals and Departure tax: all passengers (including children and infants) arriving in Punta Cana must pay 10$US for a tourist card to enter the Dominican Republic and 20$US departure tax when they leave. Some or all of these fees are often included in your vacation package – check with your travel agent. The fees are payable in $US – cash only. Have the exact money on you to save time as change is often not readily available. Be aware that there are no banking or ATM facilities in the arrivals area where you need to purchase your tourist card.
UK passport holders can buy a tourist card in advance online, from the Dominican Embassy in London (note: they are charging 10 UK pounds so it might be cheaper to buy it with US dollars when you arrive)
www.dominicanembassy.org.uk/Touristcard.html
After purchasing and filling in your tourist card proceed to passport control – you’ll need to show both tourist card and passport. Your passport will be checked and stamped. Next stop is the baggage carousel. There you’ll find trolleys and porters on hand who’ll offer their services, the recommended tip is 1 to 5 $US per bag (just say “no gracias” if you don’t require their help). Once you have your luggage you will pass through the customs area. It’s unusual for customs to stop tourists.
On average it takes 30 to 50 minutes from disembarkation to reach the outer arrivals hall. Here you’ll see a central information desk, tour operator booths and a taxi stand with price board. Just behind the taxi stand are the car rental offices. Next to them is a small bar for refreshments and further along you’ll find restrooms.
Punta Cana airport outer arrivals hall
car rental offices at the airport
the bar next to the car rental offices
All the taxi drivers must stand behind the barrier so you won’t be mobbed.
Link for info on prebooking airport transfers
Link for airport transfer times
Link for long distance taxi prices
Departing from the airport:
Departure tax is 20$US payable in US dollars or Dominican Pesos (cash only) – check with your travel agent in case it’s been included in your ticket or vacation package.
Travelers going to the United States must first pass through the luggage screening system and have security stickers applied to their bags before checking in. This is currently located in the departure terminal up on the ramped section to the left of the entrance roundabout.
Once your baggage is checked in you’ll go through security screening and immigration before entering the departure lounge area. There are two duty free zones. Both, like in all airports, are exorbitantly priced. There isn’t a large selection of rums available either. There are various fast food outlets (again overpriced, expect to pay 8$US for a Wendy’s hamburger). There is a small, air conditioned departure lounge area and free wifi zones.
An air conditioned, non smoking, VIP lounge is located in Terminal 2 after the security check and passport control, the lounge is located on the 2nd floor. Soft drinks and coffee and free, alcoholic drinks and phone use is subject to payment. More info and photos here www.prioritypass.com/lounges
Outside of the lower departure terminal in the middle of a green area, surrounded by trees, there is also an open air snack bar with seating.
Punta Cana Airport Map - click image to enlarge
Punta Cana airport map
Punta Cana International Airport’s website: www.puntacanainternationalairport.com
FYI The airport is constantly patrolled by the DNCD anti drug enforcement officers and sniffer dogs. In recent years the whole island has become a major transit point for the shipment of illegal narcotics mostly from south america. Thankfully the DNCD are doing a good job so, unlike other Caribbean islands, you won’t see the negative effects of drug abuse on the streets of Punta Cana.
Related posts:
I think that the official PUJ website should be included on this page. You can view the site here: http://www.puntacanainternationalairport.com/.
Thanks for the link. It has been added to the post.
I don’t think there is the $20 USD departure tax at the airport that you reference. I guess there must have been in the past since you talk about it, but I have been to Punta Cana three times and to Santo Domingo once in the last year and have not seen anyone collect or pay a departure tax. I have seen every visitor pay the $10 arrival tax.
you might not have noticed as it is often included in the ticket price.
Yes, I will check that out next time.