When we recommend leaving La Vega
We recommend leaving La Vega 2.5 hours before your flight. The route runs on the Autopista Duarte for most of the way, which is fast and predictable outside rush hour, but La Vega's Carnival season and market days near Santo Cerro can add slow patches through town before you reach the highway. STI is a compact single-terminal airport, so the buffer covers the road and check-in comfortably rather than a long security process. During Carnival weekends or peak travel dates, we suggest adding 20–30 minutes.