Cabarete
Many consider the small, laid-back seaside town, Cabarete, to be
the kitesurfing and windsurfing capital of the Caribbean. The
popular holiday destination has hosted international competitions
since the 1980s, and is the perfect tropical setting, particularly
for younger travellers seeking sun and adventure sports. Cabarete
also has a buzzing beachside bar and restaurant scene. Tour
operators offer plenty of other activities as well, such as hiking,
surfing, canyoning, horse riding and mountain biking.
Cabarete
Jeff
Amber Museum
An attractive Victorian building in the centre of Puerto Plata
on Duarte Street houses the Amber Museum, which showcases a unique
collection of valuable Dominican amber. According to experts, the
amber found in this region is the most transparent, and therefore
the most valued, in the world. Classified as a semi-precious stone,
the substance is actually tree resin that has hardened across
millennia, often enclosing fossils of plant and insect life. The
museum offers guided tours in several languages, and has a shop
where a full selection of Dominican amber jewellery can be
purchased.
Address:
61 Duarte Street
Opening time:
Monday to Saturday 9am - 6pm
Amber Museum
Michael Rhys
Mount Isabel de Torres
Towering over the city of Puerto Plata is the 2,600 feet (792m)
Mount Isabel de Torres, which is a popular tourist attraction in
its own right. Visitors can take a spectacular seven-minute cable
car ride up the mountainside to explore the summit. The botanical
garden at the top boasts an amazing array of flora and fauna, as
well as a cruciform statue of Jesus Christ. The statue replicates
Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer. There is also a restaurant,
from which diners can enjoy breathtaking views of the city and
coastline.
Mount Isabel de Torres
Mercedes
Fuerte San Felipe
The only remnant of Puerto Plata's Spanish Colonial past is a
small fort. Built in the mid-16th century to protect the bay
against pirates, it features a moat, and a collection of historical
artefacts in a small museum. The fort never saw great battle,
though, and was mostly used as a prison. An ocean-side road known
as the Malecon lies to the east of the fort, and has many cafes and
roadside vendors. It is a popular promenade for walks beside the
beach.
Fort San Felipe
Kyle Simourd
Sosua
To the east of Puerto Plata is the holiday destination of Sosua,
a small village with a cosmopolitan character. Visitors will find a
superb crescent-shaped beach and numerous cafés, bars and
restaurants. The town was developed by a group of approximately 600
Jewish refugees from Europe who settled here in 1940, and founded
the now-thriving dairy industry for which the village is noted. The
original synagogue built by this expatriate community is still
standing, and features a museum dedicated to the history of the
community.
Playa Sosua
Brent
Samana Peninsula
Jutting into the Atlantic like a finger, the beautiful Samaná
Peninsula lies in the east of the island and is a remote area with
deserted white-sand beaches, palm forests and clear, calm waters.
Hidden towns and fishing villages, brightly painted Dominican
homes, and a Mediterranean-influenced atmosphere characterise its
communities. Mountain passes with winding roads dominate the
interior. Visitors will enjoy their cool waterfalls, lush
vegetation and magnificent views. The Samaná Peninsula is also
known for the migration of humpback whales. This happens between
January and March every year, when whales enter the sheltered warm
waters along its coast.
Samana Peninsula
Jens Jäpel
Puerto Plata
Capital to a province of the same name, Puerto Plata sits on the
country's north coast and is the gateway to the many holiday towns
and resorts found adjacent to the shore. The coastline itself is
blessed with beautiful stretches of pristine beach and lush green
valleys, and has the majestic Mount Isabel de Torres in the
background. Christopher Columbus described the spot as 'the fairest
land under heaven' when he arrived there in 1492, and modern-day
tourists tend to agree with him. The city sports a romantic air of
days gone by, enhanced by its Victorian architecture. Indeed,
filigree-lace wood and ironwork, as well as 'gingerbread' motifs
characterise most of the historic homesteads and public buildings.
That said, the town has a buzzing atmosphere, with many restaurants
and clubs pumping the sultry beats of merengue and salsa into the
tropical night air.
Beach walker
Vishal Patel
Gregorio Luperon International Airport
Location: The airport is located 12 miles (20km) from Puerto
Plata.
Time: GMT -4.
Getting to the city:
Those on an air/hotel package with ground transfers included
will be met by hotel reps, otherwise taxis are available.
Car Rental:
Car rental is available.
Facilities:
Airport facilities include duty-free shopping, banks, bureau de
change and ATMs, restaurants and bars, gift shops, first aid and a
tourist help desk.
Parking
Short- and long-term parking is available at the airport.
However, parking charges can only be paid in Dominican pesos, as US
Dollars are not accepted.
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The Dominican Republic's north coast is very popular with
tourists and adventure seekers of all kinds. A trip to the Amber
Coast allows visitors to experience a unique mix of local Dominican
flavour and exciting activities for the whole family. There are
plenty of sights on offer, from attractions like the Amber Museum
in Puerto Plata, which showcases the precious resource, to the
unique colonial architecture in the capital, Puerto Plata. And of
course, travellers should take in the beautiful beaches that adorn
the coast.
But the Amber Coast is not all about beautiful beaches and
amazing coastlines. Visitors can also experience the jungle-covered
mountain of Mount Isabel de Torres, which lies just a few
kilometres inland. It can be climbed with a guide or ascended by
the cableway, which boasts amazing views of the city of Puerto
Plata below and the north coast beyond.
Excursions from the capital can include a visit to the Samana
Peninsula, where travellers can relax in a more remote area,
reminiscent of a lost beach paradise. Or they can take a festive
Dominican safari through the less touristy areas of the island,
with visitors being escorted through gorgeous landscapes aboard a
colourful and quirky safari-style vehicle.
There are also plenty of options for adventure activities on the
north coast, with most resorts catering for activities such as
diving, jet skiing, beach horseback rides, cultural tours of the
city and surrounds, and stopping at great sights, such as the old
Spanish colonial fort of San Filipe.
Cabarete
Jeff
Amber Museum
Michael Rhys
Mount Isabel de Torres
Mercedes
Fort San Felipe
Kyle Simourd
Playa Sosua
Brent
Samana Peninsula
Jens Jäpel
Beach walker
Vishal Patel
