Public Transportation in Santiago Dominican Republic

So you are finally here in the Dominican Republic. You are without a car. So how do you get around? Believe it or not there is a public transportation system down here; however it comes in several forms and can be confusing to figure out at times.  I have not used the new metro (subway) system in Santo Domingo. 

Like in other cities around the world, they have bus service here. The latest prices are 10 pesos (about $0.28US). These buses will run a route and will only stop at established bus stops. Just like any other city the number and frequency will vary according to time of day, route and number of passengers. The thing to remember here is that you need to be at the bus stop and wait for the bus to arrive.

Now the name for this one will depend on where you are. For example here in Santiago they are called conchos. In Santo Domingo they are called publicos, short for public taxis. But their function and how they work is the same no matter where you catch them. Let me talk about Santiago as this is where I live and I have used them more here than in the capital, (Santo Domingo).

For the most part a concho is a car that runs a bus type route. They will have a letter or combination of letters on their windshield and side doors so that you know which route they are running. The cost for riding in a concho (in Santiago, DR) is 15 pesos (about $0.42US). The difference between a concho and bus, besides their size and price, is that a concho will stop where you are and drop you off where you want (as long as it is the main route). So you stand on the side of the street and when one approaches you wave him down. If he has room he will pull over and pick you up. When you are ready to exit, you just say driver at the next corner or after you cross the intersection. He will pull over and let you out. There are literally hundreds of these cars running on the same route so there is no problem with missing the ‘bus’ as the next one will be by soon.

Now some interesting aspects of using these cars, everyone enters and exits from the right side of the car. So if you are behind the driver and there are people on your side, they will all exit and let you out and then get back in. The normal seating for these cars, no matter how big the car, is 4 in the back and driver plus 2 in the front. Now you know that many cars now days have a bucket style seats in the front, so yes you are sitting in the center console or on the other person’s lap or maybe a combination of both. The same goes for the 4 in the rear. Oh did I mention that the kids ride free and do not count against the number of passengers in the back? I have been in conchos with 4 adults, 2 kids and shopping bags. You have adults sitting half on and half off someone’s lap and then kids on top. Now one of the nice things about the conchos, if you catch one that is empty or with few passengers you can pay extra for the space. I do not know how many times I have had guys fatter than me sitting on my lap, a pretty girl is a treat, but the guys just hurt my legs. Anyways I thought this was normal, and it is, and no other option. Well one day we were downtown and had been on the run all day. The wife and I were tired, had a hand full of bags and the little one in tow. We caught a concho at his turn around point and the back seat was open. We get in and the wife says pay for 4. What? Why am I going to pay for others? Totally confused I paid for 4. That driver would pickup and exit people from the front seat but would not take any passengers in the back. We had rented the whole back seat for ourselves. That was one of the most comfortable rides home. So I quickly learnt that as long as the driver makes his 4 fares he is happy.

Again the name can be confusing. Here in Santiago they are called motos. In Santo Domingo they are call conchos, short for motoconcho. These are basically motorcycle taxis. They will sit at different street corners. For example here in Gurabo around my place they are located at calle (street) 10, calle 7 and calle 8. When a person exits the car type concho they will catch one of these motos to bring them into the side streets away from the main concho routes. The price will vary by driver and how far you go. You are starting to see the drivers wear a safety type of vest with the name of the stop that they service. If you are walking out and see one you can wave him down and he will bring you out to the main route. These drivers are flexible and some will even run errands for you if you would like.

Just like anywhere else, these are door to door. Most people here will find a driver they like and will either call the base and request him or call him directly through his cell. Once you find your taxi of confidence then it pays to stay with them and build up a relation. They normally respond to their regulars quicker, and there have been times when we have carried a balance with driver. One night my wife was pretty sick, she called our taxi of confidence and he went to the pharmacy, bought the medicine and we were able to pay him 2 days later when the bank opened. This will not happen without an established relationship.

Even though you will see different companies all through the city, they normally service an area. Here in the Gurabo section of Santiago we are serviced by Ermita Taxi and Emitaxi. When I say service, those are the 2 companies that are based here in our neighborhood. They will arrive here quicker than one that needs to come from across town.

The price will depend on company, driver and how many ‘zones’ he crosses to bring you where you want to go. One of the biggest things when using private taxis that you are not familiar with is to agree on the fare prior to entering the taxi. I found this to be the same in Panama when I was there. If you think he is trying to take advantage you can ask him to call the base and ask for the tariff, be careful because if his price was lower than normal you just raised your taxi ride because he will go with the base quote. As you start to use the taxis you will get an idea of the cost.