Getting around in Santo Domingo

Now, it might be a little confusing but I wasn't done with my posts about the Dominican Republic. Today, I'd like to blog about transportation within Santo Domingo.

There's a very neat subway system, the Metro. It's clean, air-conditioned, and safe. The first line opened in 2009. Since it's fairly new, there are only two lines but there are supposed to be 6 lines in total, when everything is done. You can find further information in Spanish on the official homepage << click >>.

 

You can buy a plastic card for recharging purposes or buy one-way paper tickets, which look like this. One ride costs 20 Pesos, which are like 0.40€.

 

As I said, it's very safe. On each ride that we went, there were police officers with us.

 

Line 1 goes from north (Villa Mella) to south (Centro de Los Heroes). The stations are:

• Mamá Tingó
• Gregorio Urbano Gilbert
• Gregorio Luperón
• José Francisco Peña Gómez
• Hermanas Mirabal
• Máximo Gómez
• Los Taínos
• Pedro Livio Cedeño
• Peña Batlle
• Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte
• Juan Bosch
• Casandra Damirón
• Joaquín Balaguer
• Amín Abel
• Francisco Alberto Caamaño
• Centro de los Héroes

 

Line 2 goes from Ave. Luperon to Puente de la 17. I think, it's from west to the center. The second half of line 2 will continue to the east of santo Domingo. The stations for line 2 are:

• María Montez
• Pedro F. Bonó
• Francisco G. Billini
• Ulises F. Espaillat
• Pedro Mir
• Freddy Beras Goico
• Juan U. García F.
• Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte
• Cnel. Rafael T Fernandez D.
• Mauricio Báez
• Ramón Cáceres
• Horacio Vásquez
• Manuel de Jesus Galván
• Eduardo Brit

 

There are also other possibilities to travel around the city. Of course you can take a taxi. If you take a taxi from a company and don't travel too far, it's 150 Pesos, which are 3€. That's still very affordable. It doesn't matter if the cab has air-conditioning, it's the same prize.

Then, you can be a bit more adventurous. You can take a collective taxi, which can be recognized by the sign on the car that also tells you its route. They normally transport 6 people, 4 in the back and 2 next to the driver.

 

If you're lucky, your collective cab might look like a normal car. Otherwise, you might be traveling in something like this...

 

Sometimes I'm surprised, how the cars are still able to drive... You think, it'll pass the German TÜV? ;-)

Because of these seats, I always wear leggings or jeans so that my skin doesn't touch anything... I don't wanna know about all the bacteria.

Anyway, one ride costs 25 Pesos (0.50€). These cars run everywhere and very frequently. They have certain routes and they stop whenever you tell them. If someone is fat or wants a bit more comfort, they pay for the amount of seats, they need.