Santo Domingo has two airports. For the Malecón, the one to fly into is Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), the city's international airport, about half an hour east of the Malecón by car. A smaller airport, La Isabela (JBQ), handles regional flights from nearby islands and sits about 24 minutes from the Malecón.
This section covers everything between your home airport and your apartment: which airlines fly here, how to get from the airport to the Malecón, and the paperwork the Dominican Republic asks for. The four pages are listed at the end.
Las Américas International Airport (SDQ)
Las Américas, full name Las Américas International Airport José Francisco Peña Gómez, stands at Punta Caucedo, east of the capital. It is run by Aerodom, part of VINCI Airports, and a new terminal is under construction alongside the current one, due for completion in December 2028.
Nonstop flights reach Las Américas from New York JFK, Newark, Boston, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Philadelphia, Atlanta and San Juan, and in the holidays from Houston. From farther away there are flights from Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris-Orly and, from late November 2026, Rome, plus a winter route from Montreal. Latin America is close: Panama City, Bogotá, Medellín, Mexico City, Guatemala City, Lima and Quito all have direct service, along with a ring of Caribbean islands.
The drive from Las Américas to the Malecón is about 33 kilometers on the Autopista Las Américas, a toll road, and takes 32 to 35 minutes in normal traffic. Airport taxis run 24 hours with a published fare of US$35 to Santo Domingo, and Uber picks up at the airport around the clock.
La Isabela International Airport (JBQ)
La Isabela International Airport Doctor Joaquín Balaguer, also known as El Higüero, is the city's second airport. Its connections are mainly within the Caribbean. In October 2026 its scheduled arrivals included Sunrise Airways from Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, and Air Century from Santiago de Cuba and St. Maarten.
The airport is on the La Isabela road, and the Malecón is about 21 kilometers away, roughly 24 minutes by car. Access is by private car or taxi.
Other Dominican airports
The Dominican Republic has eight international airports, and the Ministry of Tourism suggests choosing the one closest to where you will stay. For the Malecón, that is Las Américas. Punta Cana, on the east coast, is about 194 kilometers from the Malecón, a little over two hours by road, so it suits a trip that starts with a few beach days.
Our pool villa in Boca Canasta, Baní, is also best reached through Las Américas: the drive is about 87 kilometers and takes around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Before you fly
Four things matter for almost every visitor. You need a valid passport; through December 31, 2026, citizens of the United States, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom and several South American countries can enter with a passport valid for the length of their stay. You need the free e-Ticket, filled in online at eticket.migracion.gob.do for your flight in and your flight out. You need a return or onward ticket. And the US$10 tourist card is already included in air tickets issued outside the Dominican Republic.
The pages in this section
- Las Américas airport to the Malecón: immigration and customs, money and SIM cards at the airport, taxis, Uber, transfers and rental cars, the route to the Malecón, and the drive to the villa in Baní.
- Flights from the United States: every nonstop route from the US, the airlines that fly them, flying times, seasonal flights and booking tips.
- Flights from Canada, Europe and Latin America: Air Canada from Montreal, the European routes from Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome, and the Latin American and Caribbean network.
- Entry requirements: passports, the e-Ticket, the tourist card, visas by nationality, how long you can stay, customs, and the rules for traveling with children.
Once you are on the ground, our guide to getting around Santo Domingo covers taxis and transport in the city, and the Malecón guide shows what is on your doorstep.
When your flight is booked, choose your apartment on the Malecón.
