Why this route exists the way it does
Santo Domingo's airports, particularly Las Américas (SDQ), are the country's primary international arrival points, so most travellers reaching the Dominican Republic from abroad land there regardless of their final destination. For the south-west, that means an overland connection is currently unavoidable.
The route follows the country's southern coast and inland valleys rather than cutting through the central mountain ranges, broadly tracking through Baní, Azua and on toward Barahona province before reaching Pedernales itself.
This is the same overland corridor that connects the capital to the rest of the south, and it predates any airport discussion — it is simply the way the region has always been reached by road.
Barahona as a natural stopping point
Because the full trip from Santo Domingo to Pedernales is long, many travellers break it at Barahona, which has more established hotel infrastructure than Pedernales does today and sits roughly at the midpoint of the journey.
Stopping in Barahona also opens the option of exploring Playa San Rafael, Los Patos or the town itself before continuing on to Pedernales the next day, turning a single long transfer day into two more manageable ones.
The final stretch: Barahona to Pedernales
From Barahona, the route continues along the coastal highway toward Pedernales, passing through Paraíso and Enriquillo, with the Sierra de Bahoruco visible inland for much of the drive and the Caribbean coastline running alongside the road.
This stretch is described in more detail in our southwest coast road guide, which covers what the highway passes and what to expect from it as a route, without quoting drive times.
How CBJ is expected to change this trip
Once CBJ opens, travellers whose final destination is Pedernales province will have the option of flying much closer to their destination rather than making the full overland crossing from Santo Domingo. That is the core rationale for the airport's location.
Until that happens, the Santo Domingo–Pedernales overland route remains the standard way to reach the province for travellers arriving internationally, and it is a well-travelled, workable route rather than an obstacle — just a long one.
Where this route connects to once you're in the south-west
| Destination | Status |
|---|---|
| Pedernales town | Advance requests only |
| Cabo Rojo | Advance requests only |
| Bahía de las Águilas | Advance requests only |
| Barahona / Playa San Rafael | Advance requests only |
| Lago Enriquillo / Duvergé | Advance requests only |
| Jaragua National Park | Advance requests only |
| Santo Domingo | Advance requests only |
Confirmed geography — no drive times or distances are stated, since none are published for the CBJ leg.
CBJ is planned to open in February 2027. Transfer prices will be published once the airport's opening and terminal access are officially confirmed — until then we take advance requests and send your quote the moment rates are set.
Register your trip and we contact you when CBJ details are official
Send your destination in the Pedernales region, your travel dates and party size. We reply on WhatsApp with what is confirmed, and again once the airport's opening and rates are published.
Register on WhatsAppQuestions we get on this
- Can I fly directly from Santo Domingo to Pedernales?
- No. There is no scheduled commercial flight into Pedernales province today; the trip is made overland from Santo Domingo.
- Do most travellers stop in Barahona on the way?
- Many do, since it breaks a long overland day into two and Barahona has more established accommodation than Pedernales currently does.
- Will this route still be used once CBJ opens?
- It will likely remain useful for travellers not flying directly into CBJ, but CBJ is intended to offer a much shorter overland leg for those whose destination is Pedernales province specifically.