Title: Transfer times from Cibao Airport (STI) by destination (2026)
Locale: en
Canonical HTML URL: https://stivip.com/en/guides/transfer-times-from-sti
Updated: August 2026
Author: STI dispatch desk, Santiago de los Caballeros
Operator: STI VIP — A&M Caribbean Group SRL

# Transfer times from Cibao Airport (STI) by destination

Reference table · drive times and rates from our price list

## Direct answer

Drive time from STI is 10 to 20 minutes to Licey/Tamboril, 15 to 25 to Santiago city, 30 to 45 to La Vega, 60 to 80 to Jarabacoa or Puerto Plata, 85 to 105 to Cabarete, and 2.25 to 2.75 hours to Santo Domingo via the Autopista Duarte. STI itself clears quickly — one small terminal, rarely more than 30 to 45 minutes from landing to curb — so most of your travel time is the road, not the airport.

Prices are one-way, per vehicle, taxes included, 1–6 passengers. 7–14 passengers move to a van: VIP +40 on local zones. Private only — no shared seats, no night surcharge, no prepayment to hold. Rate list updated August 2026.

## The short runs: Licey/Tamboril, Santiago, Gurabo

Licey/Tamboril, right along the airport road, is 10 to 20 minutes. Santiago de los Caballeros — the Monumento a los Héroes, Centro León, the Gurabo hotel district — is 15 to 25 minutes. Gurabo/Cerros de Gurabo is 20 to 30. These are flat, direct routes with none of the mountain-pass driving further out.

## Autopista Duarte: Moca, La Vega, Santo Domingo

Heading south-east on the Autopista Duarte, Moca is 30 to 40 minutes and La Vega — the Carnival city and Santo Cerro — is 30 to 45. Continuing the same highway to Santo Domingo (city or SDQ airport) runs 2.25 to 2.75 hours; it is a straightforward highway drive rather than a mountain crossing, which is why it is faster than the shorter-looking Cabarete run.

## The mountain road to Jarabacoa, and the Cordillera to the coast

Jarabacoa is 60 to 80 minutes on a winding mountain road that climbs into the Cordillera Central — allow extra time after heavy rain. Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada, at 60 to 80 minutes, and Sosúa (75–95) and Cabarete (85–105) run north over the Cordillera Septentrional on the Gregorio Luperón highway, a genuine mountain pass rather than a coastal road for most of the drive.

Further destinations: San Francisco de Macorís 75–95 minutes, Constanza and Monte Cristi/Dajabón around 2 to 2.5 hours, Río San Juan/Cabrera 2 to 2.5 hours, and Las Terrenas/Samaná 2.75 to 3.5 hours.

## Departure buffers we use

For the return trip, schedule pickup on a buffer from your departure time, not the drive time alone: 2 hours before wheels-up from Santiago or Licey/Tamboril, 2.5 hours from La Vega or Moca, 3 hours from Jarabacoa or Puerto Plata, 3.5 hours from Cabarete or Sosúa. STI itself is quick to check in through, so the buffer mostly protects against traffic on the pass, not the terminal.

## Drive time by destination

| Zone | Drive time | VIP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Santiago de los Caballeros | 15–25 min | $59 |
| Licey / Tamboril | 10–20 min | $59 |
| La Vega | 30–45 min | $89 |
| Jarabacoa | 60–80 min | $149 |
| Puerto Plata / Playa Dorada | 60–80 min | $145 |
| Sosúa | 75–95 min | $159 |
| Cabarete | 85–105 min | $169 |
| Santo Domingo (city or SDQ) | 2.25–2.75 h | $269 |

Full price list: https://stivip.com/en/prices

VIP is one-way, per vehicle, one to six passengers, taxes included.

## FAQ

### How long is the drive from STI to Puerto Plata?

60 to 80 minutes over the Cordillera Septentrional on the Gregorio Luperón highway. Allow more after heavy rain on the pass.

### How long does it take to reach Jarabacoa from STI?

60 to 80 minutes on a mountain road climbing into the Cordillera Central toward the Pico Duarte trailheads.

### Is Santo Domingo far from STI?

2.25 to 2.75 hours via the Autopista Duarte, a direct highway drive through La Vega rather than a mountain crossing.

### How early should I leave for my flight home from Cabarete?

We use a 3.5-hour pickup buffer from Cabarete and Sosúa given the mountain pass back to STI, versus 2 hours from Santiago itself.

## Related pages

- [Full price list](https://stivip.com/en/prices)
- [How pickup works](https://stivip.com/en/how-it-works)
- [FAQ](https://stivip.com/en/faq)
- [Uber at STI airport](https://stivip.com/en/guides/uber-at-sti-airport)
- [Taxi vs private transfer](https://stivip.com/en/guides/taxi-vs-private-transfer)
- [Shared shuttle vs private](https://stivip.com/en/guides/shared-shuttle-vs-private)
- [How much does it cost?](https://stivip.com/en/guides/how-much-is-a-sti-airport-transfer)

## Contact

WhatsApp +1 849 377 5889 · info@cana.tours · STI VIP (A&M Caribbean Group SRL), Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.