Infraestructura TurísticaPublished July 28, 20261 min read

Amber Highway to cut Santiago-Puerto Plata travel to 30 minutes

JSBy Joan SanzCurated by Joan Sanz. · July 28, 2026 · Follow on LinkedIn

Voice reading · ~1 min

Former CODIA president Teodoro Tejada has said it: the Amber Highway promises to cut the drive between Santiago and Puerto Plata to just 30 minutes. Right now, that trip takes a good hour and a half, if not more. This is not just great news for locals, it's a direct boost for north coast tourism.

According to Tejada, the road will also improve safety. And I'd add: it links two key points of the Dominican offer: Cibao International Airport with the resorts of Puerto Plata, Sosúa, Cabarete and beyond. The piece in Dominican Today confirms it.

My take: this unlocks opportunities for combined city + beach packages and eases pressure on Puerto Plata's airport. Tour operators should start rethinking transfer logistics. The Amber Highway isn't just a road, it's a visitor accelerator for the region.

Quick questions

What is the Amber Highway?

It's a planned highway linking Santiago and Puerto Plata, reducing travel time to 30 minutes. It will improve tourism connectivity in northern Dominican Republic.

Who announced this travel time reduction?

Teodoro Tejada, former president of CODIA (Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors), stated that the Amber Highway will achieve that time.

How long does it take now from Santiago to Puerto Plata?

Currently the trip can take between 1.5 and 2 hours, depending on traffic. The Amber Highway would cut that dramatically.

How does this benefit Dominican tourism?

It connects Cibao Airport with the north coast, making combined city and beach packages easier, and relieving congestion at Puerto Plata Airport.

When will the Amber Highway be operational?

No concrete date yet. The project is in the announcement and planning phase, but it is generating high expectations in the tourism sector.

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