First time landing at STI — what happens from wheels-down to the car

What the terminal actually looks like

STI is a single, compact terminal serving all arriving flights — there is no choice of terminal building and no long walk between gates. You come off the aircraft, walk in through one arrivals corridor, and the flow is fixed in one direction: immigration first, then baggage claim, then a customs checkpoint, then out into the arrivals hall.

Because it is one small building rather than a sprawling complex, STI clears quickly on an ordinary day. There is no way to double back for a forgotten bag or a bathroom once you have cleared a checkpoint, so use the restroom before immigration if you need to.

Signage is in Spanish and English and easy to follow. Airport staff direct the flow at each pivot point; you rarely need to ask which way to go.

Wheels-down to the arrivals door: the real sequence

First comes taxi and disembark, usually 5 to 10 minutes since STI's apron is close to the terminal. Then immigration: for one to six travelers this typically runs 10 to 20 minutes, and can stretch toward 30 to 35 when two or three flights from JetBlue, American, Delta or United land within the same half hour — common in the afternoon during winter high season.

Baggage claim usually moves faster here than at larger Dominican airports simply because STI handles fewer wide-bodies at once; 10 to 15 minutes is typical. Last is a customs scan, a walk past an officer and an X-ray belt for checked bags. Add it up and 20 to 35 minutes from wheels-down to the arrivals door is normal; a heavy afternoon bank can push toward 45.

None of this is something you can speed up by walking faster. The bottleneck is the booth and the belt, not the corridor.

Where your driver stands, and how you find him

A driver — ours or anyone else's — cannot come past the customs exit. The meet point is the arrivals hall, just beyond where you clear the last checkpoint, and that is where printed name signs are held up in a loose row. If you booked with us, look for your surname; we track your flight number, so if you land an hour late the driver is there an hour later too, not waiting from the original time or gone.

STI's arrivals hall is small, so this search rarely takes more than a minute even on a busy day. Keep walking a few steps past the doors rather than stopping right at the threshold, which is where any crowd is thickest.

This is also the point where people offering rides who are not your driver may approach you — see the companion guide on arrivals-hall pressure tactics if you want to know what that looks like and how to sidestep it without any drama.

Money: what you actually need before you leave the terminal

You do not need Dominican pesos to get to Santiago, Puerto Plata or anywhere else on the Cibao coast. If you have booked a private transfer, the driver is paid in cash — US dollars or Dominican pesos — or by bank transfer, and you settle at the end of the ride, not before you leave the terminal.

If you do want a small amount of local currency for tips or a vending machine, an exchange counter and ATM exist past customs, but rates at the airport are consistently worse than in town. A better plan for most travelers is to change a small amount, or none, and rely on card and the hotel's front desk for anything beyond tips.

Small US bills are useful for porters and tips from the moment you land, so it is worth having a few $1 and $5 notes on you before you fly.

SIM cards and connectivity

A SIM or eSIM counter is past customs in the arrivals hall, and setting one up takes a few minutes with a passport. Most hotels in Santiago, Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Cabarete have working wifi at check-in, so a local SIM is a convenience for the ride, not something you need functioning before you leave the terminal.

If your driver is tracking your flight, you do not need working data to be met — the sign and the flight tracking do that job.

What to actually do first

In order: clear immigration, collect bags, clear customs, look for a name sign, and get in a car. Everything else — currency, a SIM, a bottle of water, a bathroom break — is easier and cheaper once you are moving or already at the hotel.

If you pre-booked a private transfer, the only thing you need to do differently from a normal arrival is send us your flight number before you fly so the driver's arrival time moves with any delay. Nothing else about the terminal changes.

Questions we get on this

Does STI have more than one terminal?

No. Cibao International Airport has a single passenger terminal used for all arriving and departing flights, which is part of why it clears faster than the larger Dominican airports.

How long does immigration take at STI?

10 to 20 minutes on an ordinary day for one to six travelers, occasionally 30 to 35 minutes when several flights land close together in the afternoon during high season.

Where do I meet my driver if I booked a private transfer?

Just outside the customs exit, in the arrivals hall, where drivers hold printed name signs. He cannot come further into the terminal than that.

Do I need to change money at the airport?

No. A private transfer is paid in cash, USD or DOP, or by bank transfer, settled with the driver at the end of the ride. Airport exchange rates are worse than in town if you want pesos for other things.

Should I buy a SIM card before leaving the terminal?

It is convenient but not urgent. The counter is past customs in arrivals. Most hotels have wifi at check-in, so it can wait.

What if my flight is delayed — does my driver still wait?

Yes, if you sent the flight number in advance. We track it and the driver's arrival shifts with the aircraft, with no extra charge for the wait.