Located on the north shore of the Dominican Republic, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Puerto Plata was the original tourist town in the country before Punta Cana became the favorite destination. Christopher Columbus created a settlement nearby during his travels.
And while the tourism is not what it once was, it’s seeing a resurgence thanks to the arrival of cruises. The colonial style buildings and gorgeous beaches make the town an important stop to make on any trip to the Dominican Republic.
This post contains affiliate links that can earn this website a small income. They will not cost you anything to use.
Amber Cove, where the cruise ships dock (including the one I was on with Fathom), is actually a 20-minute drive from Puerto Plata. It doesn’t seem like much, but the gated port only allows certain taxis inside to pick up passengers, which quickly hikes up rates to $35 USD each way.
As a solo and independent traveler, that was very hard for me. I didn’t think my Spanish was good enough to negotiate a fair rate and I wanted the flexibility to explore on my own instead of sharing a taxi with other passengers. This is how I ended up booking a tour through Fathom, which cost about the same as one way in the taxi and included more stops, specifically Brugal Rum, the Amber Museum and Fortaleza San Felipe.
The half-day tour first stopped for a visit to the Brugal Y Compañia C. Por A. factory, one of the top brands in the country. All of their rum is bottled here after being made elsewhere in the country. Tours include information on the family-run business, the process of making rum, the bottling line and, most importantly, tastings of their rum. They sell the bottles in the gift shop to take home with you.
Set in a colonial building, the Museo Del Ambar started with a mosquito in amber, just as the story in Jurassic Park did. The museum has displays on how amber is made and all sorts of creatures captured in the resin like the reptile pictured above.
They also sell souvenirs including amber and larimar jewelry, cigars, and coffee. Fortaleza San Felipe was built in 1564 and overlooks the harbor, protecting the city from attack. Later, it served as a prison under the dictator Rafael Trujillo and is now a museum.
Puerto Plata has plenty to keep visitors entertained for a few days, whether you want history and culture or just beach time. If I’d had more time to explore Puerto Plata on my own, I would have gone to Playa Dorada, one of the country’s most beautiful beaches, and taken the cable car to the top of Pico Isabel de Torres mountain, where they have a smaller version of Christ the Redeemer made famous by Rio de Janiero. A day trip to the 27 Waterfalls would also be nice. This just means another visit is in order!
The Perfect Day in Puerto Plata
8:30 am– Grab a coffee and pastry to go and get to Pico Isabel de Torres first thing before the fog sets in or it starts to rain.
10 am– Stop by the Amber Museum to learn about why they call this area the Amber Coast.
11:30 am– It’s never too early for rum! Head over to Brugal for a tour and tasting.
12:30 pm– Have lunch at one of the restaurants in the Colonial District while admiring the Victorian buildings.
2 pm– Learn about the colonial history at Fortaleza San Felipe and admire the views of the mountain.
3:30 pm– Spend the late afternoon hours at Playa Dorada, one of the country’s best beaches.
8:30 pm– Go for a seafood dinner in Maimón, 13 kilometers from Puerto Plata, which claims to have the best on the north coast.
10 pm– Catch a local baseball game if they’re in season or learn how to dance the merengue.
Leave a Reply