Puerto Plata

Bathed in Atlantic waters, this town just north of the Dominican Republic will win your heart at first glance. Over 100 kilometers of paradise beaches, including Playa Dorada and Punta Rucia, which are adorned by hundreds of palm trees and the most exotic vegetation.

The surrounding area is a vast expanse of cocoa and coffee plantations, rivers and waterfalls that will delight those with an explorer's soul. For a panoramic view, there’s nothing like boarding the only Caribbean cable car, located at the top of Loma Isabel de Torres.

On the streets of Puerto Plata , Spanish colonial architecture awaits you, with the largest collection of 19th-century Victorian houses in the country. There, one of the first colonial fortresses was built: that of San Felipe in 1577.

For water sports lovers, the location of La Novia del Atlantico, as locals call it, is simply perfect. In this area, and specifically in Cabarete, there is a well-known surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing centre. You can also go canyoning in the 27 Charcos de Damajagua (waterfalls) or snorkelling in Cayo Arena.

And to delve deeper into local culture and customs, in Puerto Plata you can explore many villages where you can visit family plantations, taste Caribbean cuisine, dance to the rhythm of meringue or discover its sports history.

If you are looking for a complete experience for your next holiday, Puerto Plata has everything you need for an unforgettable getaway!

Bathed in Atlantic waters, this town just north of the Dominican Republic will win your heart at first glance. Over 100 kilometers of paradise beaches, including Playa Dorada and Punta Rucia, which are adorned by hundreds of palm trees and the most exotic vegetation.

The surrounding area is a vast expanse of cocoa and coffee plantations, rivers and waterfalls that will delight those with an explorer's soul. For a panoramic view, there’s nothing like boarding the only Caribbean cable car, located at the top of Loma Isabel de Torres.

On the streets of Puerto Plata , Spanish colonial architecture awaits you, with the largest collection of 19th-century Victorian houses in the country. There, one of the first colonial fortresses was built: that of San Felipe in 1577.

For water sports lovers, the location of La Novia del Atlantico, as locals call it, is simply perfect. In this area, and specifically in Cabarete, there is a well-known surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing centre. You can also go canyoning in the 27 Charcos de Damajagua (waterfalls) or snorkelling in Cayo Arena.

And to delve deeper into local culture and customs, in Puerto Plata you can explore many villages where you can visit family plantations, taste Caribbean cuisine, dance to the rhythm of meringue or discover its sports history.

If you are looking for a complete experience for your next holiday, Puerto Plata has everything you need for an unforgettable getaway!

Puerto Plata beaches

Located in the north of the Dominican Republic, the beaches of Puerto Playa are bathed in the Atlantic Ocean. A combination of perfect white sand with surf-ready waters. Feel like discovering them?

Playa Dorada

This is one of the best beaches in Puerto Plata and is proud to fly a blue flag. Fine white sand and transparent turquoise waters, which hide coral reefs and a wide range of marine fauna. There are numerous resorts, bars, restaurants and nightclubs near the coast. Everything you need for a perfect holiday!

Punta Rucia

Punta Rucia is one of the little treasures you can find on your trip to the Dominican Republic. Its waters are part of Isabela Bay, which has large coral settlements and a multitude of marine species. A delight for diving lovers!

Playa Grande

Another beach in Puerto Plata to visit. Its atmosphere is very quiet, with sand and calm waters where you can relax. Surrounded by vegetation, it has several beach shacks selling coconuts.

Cosita Rica Beach

Cosita Rica is one of the beaches next to the Malecón. It’s very wide, so you’ll have no problem if you want to find a quiet spot for yourself. If you like to stroll by the shore, here you can take advantage of its flatness, and although it has waves, they are quite gentle.

Acapulco Beach

One of the beaches of Puerto Plata where services are rather scarce, if not non-existent. This is the smallest of the three beaches of the Malecón, but also the most manicured and pleasant. Remember to take your umbrella with you if you don’t want to suffer in the sun!

El Chaparral

Also known as El Pueblito, it has light sand, and is welcoming and well-maintained. It has several bars and restaurants in the surrounding area, so at weekends it gets busier.

Dominican gastronomy is based on the fusion of Taino culture with African and Spanish cultures from the conquests. If you’re wondering what to eat in Puerto Plata, we’ll tell you the most flavoursome dishes!

What to eat in Puerto Plata? Best dishes

Rice is very present in typical dishes in this country. For example, it accompanies sancocho, a stew with vegetables, tubers and various types of meat. It is also one of three stars of the Dominican Bandera, the quintessential traditional dish. The other two are red beans and beef or chicken.

If you like something lighter, bananas are also widely used. An example of this is the mangú, a mash eaten with salami, white cheese and fried onions, or in the tostones, which look like pancakes. And while we're on the subject of similarities, try the yaniqueques, which will remind you of our pasties.

Where to eat in Puerto Plata? Best Restaurants

If the question is where to eat in Puerto Plata, you’ll find restaurants of all kinds of cuisine on every corner. Casa 40 is located in a Victorian house in the heart of historic downtown. It serves homemade food with local produce, including burgers, crepes, nachos, salads and even a local dish of the day.

Papillón is another of the most carefully maintained restaurants in Puerto Plata, specialising in beef and fish. For garden views over lunch or dinner, head to Las Palmas, an Italian restaurant with vegetarian options.

And if you want to eat in Puerto Plata as an authentic local, we recommend Como en Familia, close to the coast and at affordable prices, or La Placita Criolla, with an excellent seafood menu.

If you think there’s only sand and sea in the Caribbean region to enjoy the days, you’re missing out on all there is to do in Puerto Plata!

What to do in Puerto Plata? Adventure and Sports Activities

We start with the most obvious, and they are the sea-based activities in Puerto Plata. Since its waters belong to the Atlantic Ocean, it has bigger waves than the Caribbean Sea. So if you have experience or want to experiment, here you can try the watersports in Puerto Plata!

In Cabarete, a surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing world championship takes place, so you can get a sense of what you’re going to find. And if you prefer the seabed to the waves, there’s also a lot to do in Puerto Plata. Coral reefs, caves and caves, shipwrecks and even humpback whales if you travel on the date they come.

For those seeking adventure in Puerto Plata, its nature is full of jewels, though not as valuable as the amber that lies beneath this coastal town. Tropical rainforest, rivers, waterfalls and mountains to get lost in are just some of the adventure activities you can try.

And if you don't want to miss the excursions in Puerto Plata, we encourage you to visit the Amber Museum, the San Felipe Fortress or the only cable car in the Caribbean, located at Loma Isabel de Torres.

The activities in Puerto Plata are adapted to all tastes, but what you can be assured is that you will never get bored.

Culture and leisure activities in Puerto Plata

One of the activities in Puerto Plata that is almost obligatory is to visit the shops where they sell precious stones. Think that under this town, you can find the most valuable amber in the world, that's why they even have a museum. Other products you can buy here are organic cocoa and coffee, handicrafts of all kinds and musical instruments that are made in the meringue villages. A way to get to know Puerto Plata’s culture!

After shopping, you can continue as the rule dictates on holiday, and it’s by visiting the bars and night spots. Active tourism in Puerto Plata seeks spaces where you can dance well into the early morning and even until sunrise. Both on the coast and in the city centre, you can enjoy great music. Leisure in Puerto Plata never ends!

And if you fancy a flutter, head to the city’s casinos. But if possible, responsibly. At venues like the Ocean World Marina you’ll find a combination of all the above. Restaurant, disco and casino. Getting bored is prohibited in a place like this!

There are recurring events, such as carnival between February and March; Caribbean Cigar Night in March; Jazz Festival in November; and Rum Festival in July.

Local documentation and rates

For Spanish citizens with a stay of less than 30 days, a valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of entry is mandatory, in addition to a return ticket. Country entry and exit fees are included in the price of travel. Citizens of other nationalities should consult the entry requirements at the Dominican Republic Embassy.

Upon arrival in the country, the COVID-19 migration, customs and public health form must be submitted. It is mandatory to process it online at: https://eticket.migracion.gob.do

Currency

The official currency is the Dominican peso divided into 100 cents (1€ equals approximately 69 pesos). It is recommended to bring EUROS and change the destination to local currency.

Time difference

The time difference from peninsular Spain is less than 6 hours in summer and less than 5 hours in winter.

Healthcare

Mosquito repellent, sunscreen and bottled water are recommended. There is no agreement with the Dominican Social Security, so healthcare is private. If you require regular medication, it is recommended to take it from home, and take any basic medication given its high cost.

Electricity

Almost all hotels have 220-volt electricity, although the national grid is 110 volts. Don't forget to bring an adapter for flat-pin plugs.

Weather

The climate in the Dominican Republic is a tropical climate that ranges from 27 to 30 or so you can enjoy the beach any time of year.

Shopping

Local handicrafts are everywhere, as well as amber and larimar jewellery, cigars, chocolate, coffee or a bottle of mamajuana which is a deep red liqueur made from rum, red wine and honey soaked in tree bark and herbs.

Curiosities

The Caribbean is affected at times by a seaweed called sargassum which is totally harmless to humans, although it may be unpleasant due to odour and density. It is a natural phenomenon and whether or not it arrives at the coast depends on sea currents. Hotels work to contain it as well as clean up the beaches daily.