Getting here

Easy and quick

EASY TRAVEL

No fewer than 4 international airports as an option!

Swell is one of the easiest surf retreats in the world to get to. Puerto Plata international airport is just 25 minutes from our front door. Direct flights are coming daily from New York, Miami, Toronto and Montreal, covering North America and several European destinations also fly direct to the Dominican Republic.

Santiago (STI), Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Punta Cana airport (PUJ) are also options to fly into. Uber is now operating on the island so transportation over the whole island just got much cheaper. It's easier to get to Swell from anywhere in the world than it is to get to most surf camps in Costa Rica.

We've given you some suggestions below on how to get to us from where you are in the World.

The airports of the DR

CLOSEST AIRPORT: PUERTO PLATA (POP

The closest airport to Swell is Puerto Plata (airport code POP). We include POP collection and drop-off in all packages.

From arriving at Puerto Plata airport, you'd be with us in just 25 minutes!

There are direct daily flights from New York with JetBlue (JFK) and United Airlines (EWR) or from Miami (MIA) and Charlotte (CLT) with American Airlines.

Delta Airlines fly direct to Puerto Plata from Georgia, Atlanta (ATL)
There are also lots of charter flights that come in from all major airports in the US, Canada, and Europe.

DIRECT FLIGHTS TO PUERTO PLATA (POP)

From / via New York, USA If you come from New York or are flying via New York (as lots of our European guests do), JetBlue and United Airlines fly directly into Puerto Plata. Check for their services into STI and SDQ too; they are often cheaper, but bear in mind the higher taxi transfer costs noted (although with Uber now operating, the Government set regulated taxi fares now have competition.
Links:
-Jetblue
-United Airlines

From / via New Jersey, Jetblue now offers direct flights from EWR / Newark airport to Puerto Plata (POP).
Links:
-Jetblue

From / via Miami, USA: American Airlines has a direct, short flight to Puerto Plata from Miami/MIA
Links:
-American Airlines

From / via Georgia, Atlanta : Delta has direct flights to Puerto Plata from Georgia
Links:
-Delta

From / via Toronto, Canada: WestJet, Sunwing & Air Canada & Air Transat have direct flights to Puerto Plata from Toronto
Links:
- Westjet
- Sunwing
- Air Canada
- Air Transat

From / via Montreal, Canada: Sunwing & Air Canada have direct flights to Puerto Plata from Montreal
Links:
- Westjet
- Sunwing
- Air Canada

From / via Calgary, Canada: Westjet have direct flights to Puerto Plata from Calgary
Links:
- Westjet

From / via Ottawa, Canada: Air Transat have direct flights to Puerto Plata from Ottawa
Links:
- Air Transat

UK or Europe

Option 1: Air Europe has good direct flights to Santiago Airport (STI), via Madrid. From most European airports, it's easy & cheap to get to Madrid.

Option 2: Fly to Miami or New York and connect with either American Airlines, United, or Jet Blue to POP or STI.

Option 3: Condor has direct flights from Frankfurt to Puerto Plata. From Switzerland, Edelweiss Air has direct flights to Puerto Plata from Zurich

From the UK, British Airways flies direct to Punta Cana (PUJ). From Paris, France, Air France has a direct flight to Santo Domingo (SDQ). Uber now operates on the island so getting around has become much cheaper.

SANTIAGO (STI):

Santiago airport (airport code STI): Make sure you choose Cibao Airport/STI or you might end up in Chile! Uber charges around US$60 from STI to Swell (remember Uber has dynamic pricing but this is the usual fare level).

Santiago is a little bit further away, but still a very manageable 1 hour and 30 minutes by taxi.

SANTO DOMINGO (SDQ):

Flying into or out of Las Americas airport (code SDQ) is 2.5 to 3 hours away from Swell. Uber charges around US$140 from SDQ to Swell (again, Uber has dynamic pricing but this is the usual fare level).

Modern, cheap coaches are also available from Santo Domingo to Sosua. If you want to come via coach, take a short taxi ride from the airport to the bus depot and then another short ride from the bus depot in Sosua to Swell (registered taxis are always waiting at the bus depot). You can expect the total cost of getting from Santo Domingo to us this way to be in the region of $60 USD. Caribe Tours and Metro Tours are the providers.

PUNTA CANA (PUJ):

Flying into or out of Punta Cana international airport is really charming with its traditional cana roof designed by locally renowned architect Oscar Imbert. BA flies at least 3 times per week from Gatwick and there are also flights from Europe, the US and Canada to PUJ every day. The journey is a stunning drive over the scenic countryside of the Dominican Republic, taking around 5 hours. The cost is approximately US$250 with Uber.

Good websites to check different options:

(links open in a new window)
- flightconnections.com Puerto Plata
- flightconnections.com Santiago
- flightconnections.com Santo Domingo
- Kayak.com
- Google.com/travel/flights)
- Jetblue.com
- United.com/en/us
- Delta Airlines
- British Airways

“Think of Swell as the anti-surf camp. There’s plenty of surfing, of course, but the similarities to other surf camps end there. For starters, the rooms are stylish — more boutique surf retreat than reggae-loving surfer digs. Then there are the legendary breakfasts (omelets, pancakes and crepes, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and fruit bowls). Structured surf lessons take place each morning. An instructor alongside you and the head surf coach watching from shallow water, ready to offer learn to surf tips between riding waves. If you are serious about learning to surf, then Swell should be on top of your destination list. Highly recommended! ”
Reference Source:
[Frommer’s Travel Guides]

Designed with the discerning surfer in mind, Swell is far from a crash pad. The spare clean lines, plush bedding, modern photographs and funky furniture say ‘boutique surf retreat’. The pool, ping-pong and foosball tables and social vibe suggest otherwise. A huge wood communal table is the center of the hanging-out action, after all the surfing is done. Highly recommended!
Reference Source:
[Lonely Planet]