Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

The birthplace of tourism in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata continues to pack a mighty punch.

Its spectacular, sprawling landscape combines sea, mountains, lush valleys, rivers, and a multitude of beaches. Its fertile soil grows cacao and coffee trees, while underneath rests the world’s clearest amber.

Savvy explorer Christopher Columbus knew there was much to discover on this northern Atlantic coastline–eventually finding gold deposits–when he glimpsed it from his ship in 1492. Drawn by the sight of clouds shimmering over Mount Isabel de Torres and illuminating Puerto Plata’s vast blue shoreline, he named the area the “Silver Port” and settled at La Isabela with a mixed community of Tainos–original inhabitants of the area–and Spaniards, built the first church and his first home in the Americas. You can follow Columbus’s trail and tour these archeological ruins, now part of a national park.

Puerto Plata is better known for its Atlantic coastline with more than 60 miles (100km) of beaches, coastal villages and hotels.  The beach towns of Sosua and Cabarete, would famous for its windsurfing and kiteboarding, are less than half an hour away.  The popular Ocean World Adventure Park is on the outskirts of the city, about 20 minutes north of Amber Cove.  Damajagua Falls is just a 30 minute ride south.

With the recent opening of a second cruise port in the city Puerto Plata is home for the day to over 24,000 cruise ship tourists weekly! 

Airport Locations

1 La Romana International Airport (LRM)
2 Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
3 Las Américas (SDQ)
4 Samaná El Catey International Airport (AZS)
5 Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP)
6 Cibao International Airport (Santiago International) (STI)

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