Travelling with surf and kite gear to Las Terrenas

<p>Travelling with surfboards or kite gear always raises the same question: will it all fit in the vehicle, and what will it cost? The honest answer starts with what we don't know: we found no published rules on carrying boards in Dominican taxis, guaguas, buses or ferries. It all depends on the vehicle and the carrier, which is why it pays to declare your gear in your request from the start.</p> <h2>What we know (and what we don't)</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Rules for boards:</strong> none found, for taxis or for public transport.</li> <li><strong>Guaguas:</strong> these are privately run minibuses on daily routes (official tourism site), and Rough Guides warns that there is little room for luggage on board. With long board bags, don't count on them.</li> <li><strong>Board surcharge:</strong> there may be one, but we found no published amounts. It is <strong>to be confirmed</strong> with each carrier.</li> </ul> <h2>Declare your gear in your request</h2> <p>The <a href="/en/request/" rel="noopener">request form</a> has a <strong>surf or kite boards</strong> field. Fill it in and add in the message:</p> <ul> <li>how many board bags you have and the length of the longest one;</li> <li>how many kite bags, and whether bars, harnesses or kites travel separately;</li> <li>the rest of your luggage and the number of passengers;</li> <li>whether you want to stop at a school or a spot on the way.</li> </ul> <p>With that, our team asks a carrier whether the gear fits, in which vehicle and with what surcharge, and replies on WhatsApp before you confirm anything. Only your WhatsApp number is required, and a request is not a confirmed booking.</p> <h2>Which vehicle to ask for</h2> <ul> <li>With a single short board bag, a car may be enough. With several boards or long bags, a larger vehicle such as a minivan may be needed.</li> <li>For a group with gear, see <a href="/en/group-shuttles-las-terrenas/" rel="noopener">group shuttles</a> and choose the vehicle type in the <strong>preferred vehicle</strong> field.</li> <li>Don't assume the vehicle has a roof rack: ask.</li> <li><strong>Tolls:</strong> RD Vial classifies vehicles by axles. Category 1 covers two-axle vehicles, category 2 two-axle vehicles with dual rear wheels. At the Guaraguao station, for example, category 1 pays RD$200 and category 2 pays RD$300 (fares checked on October 4, 2026, and subject to change). A bigger vehicle may pay more, so ask whether the price includes tolls.</li> </ul> <p>On our fare pages, when a carrier publishes a surf or kite board surcharge, it is shown next to the fare, with its amount or marked "to be confirmed". Ask whether it applies per board or per bag.</p> <h2>From the airport, with boards</h2> <ul> <li>Put your flight number and your gear in the same request: the vehicle is chosen around your board bags.</li> <li>From El Catey (AZS), the official tourism site gives about 30 minutes to Las Terrenas. From the other airports we found no reliable journey time: <strong>to be confirmed</strong>.</li> <li>If you plan to take a bus or a guagua with boards, ask before you buy a ticket or get on. Rough Guides recommends always asking before hopping aboard a guagua, and we found no published rules from bus companies on sports equipment.</li> </ul> <h2>Moto-taxis and gear</h2> <p>We found no rules on carrying boards on a motoconcho. What is written down is that Decree 256-20 (2020) limits each motorcycle to one driver and one passenger (a rule that may change, so check it before you travel). With a big board bag, ask for a car.</p> <h2>Spots and routes</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Playa Cosón:</strong> popular for kitesurfing, with lessons on the beach, and for bodysurfing. It is about a 20-minute drive west of the town centre, according to the official tourism site.</li> <li><strong>Playa Bonita:</strong> its eastern end has waves and a kitesurfing school, according to the same source.</li> <li><strong>Cabarete:</strong> the official tourism site lists it among the north-coast destinations near Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperón airport (POP). If you are combining the two, see <a href="/en/las-terrenas-to-cabarete/" rel="noopener">Las Terrenas – Cabarete</a> and <a href="/en/puerto-plata-to-las-terrenas/" rel="noopener">Puerto Plata – Las Terrenas</a>. We found no reliable journey time between Las Terrenas and Cabarete: <strong>to be confirmed</strong>.</li> </ul> <h2>Before you travel</h2> <ul> <li>Measure your board bags and note the dimensions.</li> <li>Declare your gear in the request, not on arrival.</li> <li>Ask for written confirmation of the vehicle, the price, its unit (per vehicle or per person) and any extras.</li> <li>For your arrival, read <a href="/en/guides/getting-to-las-terrenas-from-the-airports/" rel="noopener">getting to Las Terrenas from the airports</a>; for an idea of prices, see <a href="/en/guides/usual-transport-prices-las-terrenas/" rel="noopener">usual transport prices</a>.</li> </ul>