Puerto Plata – Dominican Republic Visitor Guide Series Part 5 of 5

Hi all, I am doing a little something different this month and doing a 5 part series on cities to visit in the Dominion Republic. This is the final part of my 5 part series. Below are links to other cities in the country that we hope to visit. I have been watching some of my favorite YouTube vloggers Delightful Travellers and they have been there for six months and are planning to be there for a few more months. They make it look so beautiful and inviting that we are seriously thinking about spending a week or so there over Christmas and New Years’ this year. We have never been out of the country over the New Year I don’t think, and have never been to the Dominion Republic so this will be an adventure! Not sure where we will end up if we do go to the DR, thus I wanted to do some research on many cities to decide where we would like to visit most. This post is about a beach city named Puerto Plata. In it, I am going to share some of the fun things I hope to do if we make it to Puerta Plata, as well as share a little history about the area.

It is the capital of the province of Puerta Plata, the third-largest city in the DR, and is officially known as San Felipe de Puerto Plata (however most people still call it Puerta Plata). The settlement became notorious in April of 1563 when the English slave trader Sir John Hawkins brought 400 people he had abducted from Sierra Leone to the area. He then traded his victims with the Spanish for pearls, hides, sugar, and some gold. This was the start of British involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Puerto Plata is bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and to the south and southwest by the hill Isabel de Torres. Not surprisingly, it has a tropical climate, more specifically a tropical monsoon climate, with hot, somewhat wet summers and warm, very wet winters (Köppen climate classification Am), due to its tropical location and the cold fronts that reach the region during the “winter” which typically brings the area humid, wetter weather. However, the temperature in Puerto Plata varies so little throughout the year that it is not entirely meaningful to discuss hot and cold seasons. With that said, the tourism score favors clear, rainless days with perceived temperatures between 65°F and 80°F. Based on this score, the best time of year to visit Puerto Plata for general outdoor tourist activities is from mid-December to late March, with a peak score in the last week of January.

While the beaches of course are the biggest pull to the area, there are also quite a few things to do in the area. Here are just a few and they are not in any particular order. Let me know if there is something I need to add here or below.

Charcos

If you love waterfalls like me, you definitely have to check out 27 Charcos. Here you will find twenty-seven Mother Nature-created, awe-inspiring pools etched out of limestone. 27! That seems so amazing. This adventure is nestled in the rolling hills of the Northern Corridor Mountain range and behind long stocks of sugar cane. Sounds like a pleasure to visit even before you get there. This is high on my list if we make it one day.

Teleferico Puerto Plata Cable Car

Located on the Mountain “Isabel de Torres”, south of the beautiful city of Puerto Plata is this wonderful attraction. At the top of the mountain, above a fortress is the statue of “Christ the Redeemer” with open arms giving the welcome to visitors. After this warm welcome, you will be able to enjoy wonderful views of the ocean and city, as well as beautiful gardens, since the mountain has been declared a Scientific Reserve for a wide variety of animal and plant species.  You may also discover hidden caves that lead to springs and streams that flow into the mountain.

Ocean World Adventure Park

Stating to be the most complete entertainment complex of the Dominican Republic, lOcean World Adventure park is located in Cofresi Beach. It is just 3 miles west of the town of Puerto Plata and is the most advanced interactive marine park of its kind. Guests will have the opportunity to touch, pet, and feed all their favorite animals and mammal friends, including dolphins, sea lions, sharks, stingrays, exotic tropical birds; walk through rain forests, and much, much more. Sounds like it could be an experience of a lifetime.

Macorix House of Rum

What is a trip to the DR without touring a run plant? Macorix House of Rum offers lovers of rum a quick and enriching experience. Not only will you be able to taste the liquor, but you will also be able to know the history and evolution of the brand.

Amber Museum

This Victorian-style museum houses a unique collection of Dominican amber. What I didn’t know about amber is that it is classified as semiprecious and is actually tree sap that has hardened for millions of years, capturing many fossils of plant and insect life. The ages of the ones here vary from 20 Million years up to 245 Million years, while Dominican Amber ranges from 25-40 million years (Tertiary period). I thought that was very interesting. If you would like to learn more, they offer guided tours in several languages which are given Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm.

Puerto Plata is stated to be the Bride of the Atlantic and has more than 78 miles of golden sand beaches and turquoise waters dotted with palm trees. It’s an exotic paradise. Here are some of the best beaches in and around Puerto Plata.

Golden Beach (Playa Dorada)

The most popular beach in Puerto Plata is located on the Dominican Republic’s famous Amber Coast. Besides swimming and sunbathing, there are also plenty of other activities such as windsurfing, snorkeling and even fishing in some areas. Of course there are also plenty of bars and restaurants for snacks and drinks.

Playa Cofresí Beach

Playa Cofresí Beach is a lively beach that has the perfect conditions to practice aquatic sports like diving or snorkeling. Although the main attraction of this beach is its aquatic theme park, where people can spend an entertaining day. Just like at Golden Beach, you can find a great variety of hotels and restaurants, where you can taste the Dominican cuisine and discover the Dominican culture.

Long Beach

Located on the very eastern end of the Malecón is Long Beach where crowds flock particularly near sunset and into the night to enjoy the widest stretch of sand where a couple of beachside bars await. Locals and visitors enjoy surfing and swimming, while others just sit and enjoy the scenery.

Playa Sosúa

Even though it’s about 20 minutes away from Puerto Plata, this half-moon beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Caribbean. It’s a very lively beach that’s close to numerous restaurants and shops and is very popular with divers and snorkelers. As such, it was one of the first beaches to attract tourism to the Dominican Republic.

I hope we can make it to the Dominican Republic sometime this year or the year after. I know there are a lot of things to do in Puerto Plata so it might be hard to select just a few, especially if you only have a short amount of time. Whenever we go, I know I plan on going to a beach either early in the morning or late afternoon and exploring other aspects of the area during the day. Have you been to Puerto Plata? If so, please share some of your highlights in the comments below and add anything I may have missed while doing research.

Here is a link to my other posts on this series:

Punta Cana
Santo Domingo
Las Terrenas
Cabarete