Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata : Travel information before you go!

Discover the destination

Located on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata is a tourist resort perfect for those seeking a relaxing holiday at an attractive price with a lot of places to visit. Except for Long Beach, located just minutes from the centre of Puerto Plata, you will not find huge white sand beaches like in Punta Cana (on the east coast of the island), but a number of excursions and notably an authentic Dominican lifestyle that is present both day and night.
The North coast is known as the Amber coast because of its large reserves of the famous fossilised resin, used in many crafts and jewelry. It enjoys a mild climate (tropical humidity). Rich in coffee, sugar, cocoa and tobacco, the region offers lush landscape covered with dense tropical vegetation. It is on this coast that Christopher Columbus landed for the first time on the island and it is also he who gave the city its current name, populated by smiling and welcoming Dominicans, just as throughout the country. It is pleasant to wander through the beautiful wooden houses of a Victorian colonial style. As for shopping, Puerto Plata offers many shops selling amber as well as other different types of little souvenir shops. Nearby is the resort of Playa Dorada, served by the Gregorio Luperon International Airport (located 11 miles east of the city). The resort sets itself apart for its tourist life with major hotels, golf courses, famous casinos and many sporting activities.

A good starting point for excursions, the city of Puerto Plata itself offers many areas of interest. These include the Amber Museum, which contains the finest collection of jewellery in the country. Guided tours are offered in several languages from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

See also:
-The port and, at the entrance, Fort San Felipe
- Malecon avenue, which runs nearly 3 miles along the Atlantic Ocean
-The crafts markets (Nuevo Mercado)
- The Pointe-Fortaleza lighthouse

Outside of the city:
-Rio San Juan and Playa Grande
- the large Peninsula of Samana offers you the opportunity to observe humpback whales.

pros

Authentic Dominican lifestyle
Walks in the city of Puerto Plata and varied excursions

cons

The resorts are not spared by mass tourism
The hotels' infrastructure and the varied levels of comfort

Weather Puerto Plata

All overall indicators 66/100 Good

Weather May Year's weather

Temperature indicators 88/100 Excellent
Bad weather indicators 32/100 Bad
Sunbathing indicators 36/100 Bad
Swimming indicators 88/100 Excellent
Wind indicators 76/100 Good
Temperature indicatorsHot / Optimal :
The maximum temperature is <24°, temperature felt between 30°C and 33°C.
Bad weather indicatorsRainy :
Rainy - averaging between 3.5mm and 4.5mm per day.
Sunbathing indicatorsCloudy :
Overcast 60% to 80% cloud cover.
Swimming indicatorsVery pleasant / Optimal :
High air temperature (>24°C), high sea temperature (>24°C), light to moderate winds (between 7 mph and 12 mph).
Wind indicatorsLight warm breeze :
Near optimal comfort: moderate to light winds (between 6 mph and 7 mph) in a warm enviromnment (>24°C).

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Visit Puerto Plata

To see

The city of Puerto Plata offers beautiful walks from the Parque Central, its picturesque centre with the towers of the of San Felipe church. The Amber Museum, on Duarte Street is a fine example of Victorian architecture and contains a unique collection of precious multicoloured jewels. Many experts consider this amber as the most transparent in the world.

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To do

The multiple sports activities, the water sports and cultural sites (dance classes, Merengue and the Bachata, traditional music of the Republic Dominican) of Playa Dorada; the villages of Luperon, La Isabela, Punta Rucia, Montecristi (and its carnival every Sunday from February) to the west of Puerto Plata; and those of Sosua, Cabarete (sports including sailing), to the east.

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To think about

A suitcase for the summer: light clothing cotton, open shoes, shorts, shirts, T-shirts, without forgetting the bathing suit, as well as warm clothes and walking shoes for getaways in the mountains. A lightweight raincoat is useful during the rainy season (from May to July).

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To avoid

Puerto Plata does not have a beautiful beach, so it is better to avoid staying here if you are looking for a beach holiday. However, the evening activities are great so stay here to immerse yourself in the authentic Dominican lifestyle.

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To try

Rich and spicy, Dominican cuisine is the result of Creole, European and African influences. Starch foods (rice, sweet potatoes and plantain), fish and shell fish as well as tropical fruits are the key foods. The stews (mondogo, sancocho) are common, with goat meat or fish cooked in coconut milk being prime examples.

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To bring back

Jewellery made from amber (brown solidified resin), larimar (blue stone), leather items, baskets, naive paintings, a legacy of Indian Taïnos, CDs of merengue and bachata, cigars, liquid vanilla, jam, rum and coffee are the main souvenirs that you can bring home. They can be found everywhere on beaches and especially in local markets.

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Dominican Republic Travel guide

Dominican Republic, All you need to know!

Best selection of hotels in Puerto Plata

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Dorado Club© Easyvoyage
Hacienda Tropical© Easyvoyage

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La Closerie de HonfleurLa Closerie de Honfleur

Daisy Rivers 29/04/2013 :

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Mark Attwell 05/03/2013 :

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