At a glance
- Best for
- Adventure, watersports, history and value
- Nearest airport
- Gregorio Luperón International, about twenty minutes to town
- Time needed
- Three to six days
- Best time
- December to April; June to August for steady kitesurfing winds
- Getting around
- Guaguas, taxis, ride apps and tours
- Good base for
- Cabarete, Sosúa, Damajagua and Santiago
Puerto Plata city
The **Teleférico** cable car climbs **Mount Isabel de Torres** to a statue of Christ, botanical gardens and wide views over the coast; go early in the day before clouds roll in. In town, the streets around **Parque Central** keep painted Victorian houses and a gazebo, and the colourful **Calle de las Sombrillas** (umbrella street) and **Calle Rosa** are favourites for photos. The **Fortaleza San Felipe** is a sixteenth century fort on the Malecón, and the **Amber Museum** explains the fossil resin for which the coast is named. **Playa Dorada**, just east, is a long established resort zone.
Waterfalls and nature
The **27 Charcos de Damajagua** are a series of waterfalls in a river canyon south of the city where you climb up and then jump and slide down natural rock chutes with a guide, helmet and life jacket. It is one of the most fun days out in the country. **Laguna Gri Gri** at Río San Juan has mangrove boat trips, and **Playa Ermitaño** and **Playa Grande** further east are beautiful.
Sosúa and Cabarete
**Sosúa** has a calm, sheltered bay with good snorkelling and diving and an interesting history as a refuge for Jewish families in the 1940s, told in its small museum. **Cabarete**, a little further east, is a world famous kitesurfing and windsurfing centre with schools along **Kite Beach**, and its main beach comes alive at night with restaurants and bars on the sand. Surfers head to **Playa Encuentro** in the mornings. Inland from Cabarete, the **Cabarete caves** and **El Choco National Park** offer cool swimming holes.
Food
Try fresh fish and tostones on the beach, the local seafood at Puerto Plata's Malecón, and the international dining scene that Cabarete's mixed community has built.
Getting around and safety
Guaguas run regularly along the coast road between Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Cabarete. Taxis and ride apps are available; agree fares in advance with taxis. Sosúa's nightlife area has a reputation for sex tourism and petty crime, so stay alert there at night. Follow your government's current travel advice.
A suggested four days
Day one: the cable car in the morning, then the old town, the umbrella street and the fort. Day two: the 27 Charcos, followed by a lazy afternoon at the hotel pool. Day three: a kitesurf or surf lesson in Cabarete, then dinner on the sand. Day four: snorkelling in Sosúa or a trip east to Playa Grande and the Gri Gri lagoon.
Where to stay
Playa Dorada suits resort lovers close to town, Cabarete suits active travellers, Sosúa offers value, and Río San Juan suits those after peace and quiet.
Practical tips
The Atlantic can be rough, so swim at sheltered beaches such as Sosúa, check flags and conditions, and ask locally before swimming at wilder spots. Bring water shoes for the 27 Charcos and a dry bag for boat trips. The cable car can close in strong wind or cloud, so have a backup plan. Cash in pesos is handy for guaguas, beach shacks and guides.
Shape your route with the free trip planner.
Questions about Puerto Plata
Is Puerto Plata better than Punta Cana?
They suit different trips. Punta Cana has calmer water and bigger resorts; Puerto Plata has more history, adventure and independent travel, with rougher Atlantic beaches.
Do I need experience for the 27 Charcos?
No, but you need to be comfortable in water and reasonably fit. Guides, helmets and life jackets are required, and you can choose to do fewer falls.
When is the best time to kitesurf in Cabarete?
Winds are usually most reliable in summer, from around June to August, with a second good season in winter. Schools along Kite Beach offer lessons year round.
How far is Puerto Plata from Santo Domingo?
About three and a half to four hours by road, via Santiago. Comfortable buses run between the two cities.
Facts checked . Fees, schedules and entry rules change, so always confirm the latest with the official source.
