Local Tip
Draw pesos from a bank cash machine, which the tourism ministry says gives the best rate of the day. Tourist-area shops often take dollars but convert at a worse rate than banks, so ask for the peso price and pay in pesos.
Where to change money in Punta Cana
According to the tourism ministry, banks and authorised exchange offices change US dollars and euros without fuss, and some offices will also take British pounds. The Central Bank keeps the list of agents licensed by the Monetary Board. Rates move between days and counters, so compare two before handing over notes. Branches shut at 5pm on weekdays; mall branches often trade until 7pm or 8pm.
- Authorised exchange agents (agentes de cambio), Bávaro and Cap Cana - Look the business up on the Central Bank's published list and ask whether it takes sterling. No single office in the resorts could be confirmed, so none is named.
- Cash machines, Punta Cana International Airport, Terminal A - Shown in Terminal A arrivals, by the car park, and in departures. No operator or fee is given, and none is listed for Terminal B.
Changing money at the airport
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) lists cash machines in Terminal A but no currency exchange desk in either terminal. The tourism ministry says changing money at an airport only makes sense to cover your taxi and first purchases, and MoneySavingExpert's worked example puts unordered airport cash as the dearest of six options.
The airport names three authorised taxi groups, SIUTRATURAL, Beron Taxi and ASOTATUPAL; its linked rate sheet is undated, so no fares are quoted here. Agree the price and currency before setting off. Tour-operator transfer desks wait at the end of customs in both terminals, and the Uber pick-up area is still marked as to be decided.
ATMs and cards in Punta Cana
The tourism ministry says machines run by established banks, among them Scotiabank and Banco Popular, are widely available, safe for drawing pesos and give the best rates. What a UK card pays is not published: Banco Popular's current price list covers only its own customers. Read the screen before accepting and check your own bank's overseas charges. Which? warns that your UK bank will usually charge twice on a foreign withdrawal, and that standalone machines cost more than those attached to a bank.
Most prices are in pesos, and 18 per cent ITBIS sales tax applies to most purchases. If a card terminal asks whether to bill in pounds or pesos, choose pesos: Which? explains that a sterling bill leaves the exchange rate to the shop, and it is rarely a good one.
Paying for transport in Punta Cana
Taxis are the main way around. The tourism ministry says 24-hour dispatch firms mostly charge a fixed fare of about US$5 one way within a town, a figure for short hops rather than the airport run. Uber works here too: Dominican Today reported in March 2024 that visitors from the US, Canada and the UK were among its main users in Punta Cana, though in August 2023 it reported taxi crews and Uber drivers still clashing over tourists at hotels and the airport in Bávaro, so expect friction at pick-up points.
The airport links to the APTRA bus service but gives no routes or fares, so a pre-booked transfer or an authorised taxi is the practical choice from PUJ. Taxi drivers are not normally tipped.
Good to know
- A 10 per cent service charge is compulsory on anything eaten or drunk at a restaurant, hotel, cafe or bar (Labour Code article 228), but not on takeaways, the Supreme Court has ruled. Leaving another 10 per cent for your server is customary, says the ministry.
- The US$10 tourist card is built into airline tickets issued outside the Dominican Republic, says the tax office (DGII), and the US$20 departure tax is also part of the fare, so neither is paid in cash.
- UK visitors need no visa for a 30-day holiday (the FCDO notes this could change once 2026 ends). Complete the free online entry and exit form before you fly in and again before you leave; it opens 7 days ahead and gives a QR code.
- Declare anything prohibited or dutiable (FCDO); Diario Libre reports that cash over US$10,000 or its equivalent must be declared when entering or leaving.
- Notes in circulation are RD$50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000; coins are RD$1, 5, 10 and 25 (Central Bank).
Key Areas in Punta Cana
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Punta Cana travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Punta Cana?
A bank cash machine, which the tourism ministry says gives the best daily rate. For notes, use a bank or a licensed agent from the Central Bank's list, and ask first whether it takes pounds.
Do I have to pay the 10% service charge in Punta Cana restaurants?
Yes: the law adds it to food and drink consumed on the premises, so it should already be on the bill. Anything extra for the server is your choice.
Do I pay for the tourist card in cash at Punta Cana airport?
Not if you fly in: the DGII says the US$10 card has been part of airline tickets bought outside the country since April 2018.
Checked October 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Banco Central de la República Dominicana · Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII) · Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism (godominicanrepublic.com) · Punta Cana International Airport · Banco Popular Dominicano · Which?
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