It was on this coast that Christopher Columbus first landed on the island of Hispaniola on 11 January 1493 aboard his caravel Santa Maria. He named the place Puerto Plata (literally the port of silver), because of the silvery sheen of its waters. The town of Puerto Plata, nicknamed "The Bride of the Atlantic", is the capital of the province of the same name. Its real name is San Felipe de Puerto Plata, as the name of the fort (San Felipe) and the cathedral (San Felipe) suggest. Razed in 1863 after the war between the Dominicans and the Spanish, the town was rebuilt in 1865 in Victorian style.
Located on the north-west coast of the Dominican Republic, and more specifically the Amber Coast, Puerto Plata stands out from Punta Cana for its authenticity and history. The northern cordillera begins in the hinterland. The Amber Coast is nicknamed for its large reserves of the famous fossilised resin, which is used in a wide range of handicrafts and jewellery. The programme includes a charming colonial town centre with adorable Victorian-style pastel-coloured wooden houses, an impressive sixteenth-century military fort, a stroll along the malecon bordering the Atlantic Ocean, and a visit to the Amber Museum and the Museum of Gregorio Luperon, the national hero. All this can be admired from the top of the only cable car in the Caribbean, which takes you to the top of the local mountain, topped by Christ the Redeemer. For relaxation and water sports, head for the seaside resort of Playa Dorada, 5km east of Puerto Plata. The must-see excursion in the area is the 27 breathtakingly beautiful Damajagua Falls!
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The marina in Puerto Plata
- © jvphoto.ca / Shutterstock✈️ Airline tickets to Puerto Plata
Latest ticket offers to Puerto PlataThe history of Puerto Plata
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Purto Plata in Dominican Republic
- © ross thereault / ShutterstockWhy visit Puerto Plata?
The seaside resort of Cofresi benefits from its location just 5 km from Puerto Plata, along the Amber Coast, and just 19 km from the airport, a 35-minute journey. The site is renowned for its Ocean World park, one of the best-known in the Dominican Republic for swimming with dolphins. Another must-see spot is Cofresi's Café del Mar, inaugurated on 24 September 2015. It has everything going for it: a location close to Puerto Plata, where many cruise ships dock.
In particular, it attracts guests from the luxurious Lifestyle Holiday Vacation Resort and Cofresi Palm Beach.
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A cruise ship off the coast of Puerto Plata
- © Solarisys / ShutterstockOur favourite hotel in Puerto Plata
![Casa Colonial Beach & Spa](https://ims.ev.mu/large_Casa_Colonial_Beach_and_Spa_0d54516f13/large_Casa_Colonial_Beach_and_Spa_0d54516f13.jpg)
Casa Colonial Beach & Spa
Just 5 km east of Puerto Plata, the Playa Dorada complex is home to a number of resorts along the superb beach of the same name. The sierra mountains can be seen in the distance: a magnificent setting!What to see in Puerto Plata
Visit the Amber Museum
Opened in 1982, the Amber Museum is naturally located in the town of Puerto Plata, on the Amber Coast, close to the largest amber deposits in the world. It is housed in a two-storey mansion with Victorian architecture typical of Puerto Plata houses.
Amber is a precious stone of plant origin with a honey-yellow tinge, obtained by preserving the resin of prehistoric trees. This resin sometimes contains fossils trapped inside, such as plants or animals with an extraordinary quality of preservation that can date back 40 million years! In this museum, you'll see a lizard measuring almost 43 centimetres, a scorpion, a centipede, wasp nests and two beetles mating...
Practical information
📍 Location: Calle Duarte. 59 con, C. Emilio Prud'Homme, Puerto Plata 57000, Dominican Republic.
👛 Price: entrance to the amber museum costs 100 pesos, about $2.
⏰ Opening times: the museum is open every day from 9am to 5pm
🚌 Getting there: the easiest way to get to the museum is on foot, as it's right in the heart of the city, just a few minutes' walk from San Felipe cathedral.
👉 Website
Damajagua Falls
Take an hour to climb the mountain, then jump off and descend the 27 waterfalls. If you prefer a shorter adventure, climb only the first 7 waterfalls. This adventure, run by local guides who live in the village, is for those in good physical condition. It is about half an hour from the town of Puerto Plata.
![](https://ims.ev.mu/medium_Yavimr_Shutterstock_L_une_des_27_chutes_de_Damajagua_3f95fe102a/medium_Yavimr_Shutterstock_L_une_des_27_chutes_de_Damajagua_3f95fe102a.jpg)
One of Damajagua's 27 waterfalls
- © Yavimr / ShutterstockPractical information
📍 Location: it's HERE on Google Maps
👛 Price: depending on the length of the hike and the number of waterfalls you visit, excursions with a local guide are between €50 and €80.
⏰ Times: free access
Puerto Plata: adventure day at the Damajagua Waterfalls - Punta Cana
Get a taste of adventure and adrenalin amid the rocks of the Damajagua waterfalls and plunge into superb natural pools.Fort San Felipe
Fort San Felipe, or the citadel of Puerto Plata, was built in 1577 to defend against attacks from the sea, particularly from pirates. The fort was then used as a prison under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, from 1930 to 1961. It now houses a museum on the history of the city. You can see the cell of Juan Pablo Duarte, Father of the Homeland, who was detained there in August 1844.
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Fort San Felipe in Puerto Plata
- © Viagens e Caminhos / ShutterstockPractical information
📍 Location: Puerto Plata Harbor LightHouse, Parque San Felipe, Av. Gral. Gregorio Luperón, Puerto Plata 57000, Dominican Republic.
⏰ Opening hours: the fort is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Closed on Mondays
🚌 Getting there: the fort is at the northern end of the Parque Infantil Malecon. A little out of town, it's about a 20-minute walk after getting off at the Caribe Tours bus terminal.
👉 Visits: access to the fort is subject to a charge. The ticket includes an audio tour of the site.
The old town of Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata's old town is full of charm, with its Victorian-style houses, its Independence Square featuring the cathedral and a kiosk, and its two main museums: the Amber Museum and the Gregoria Luperon Museum. Not forgetting Fort San Felipe. Welcome to the first city in the Dominican Republic, where Christopher Columbus landed on 11 January 1493 aboard the caravel Santa Maria! It was he who christened it the Port of Silver.
Don't miss Independence Square, with its charming kiosk facing the cathedral, one of the symbols of Puerto Plata.
![](https://ims.ev.mu/medium_my_miracle_box_Shutterstock_Le_kiosque_de_la_place_de_l_Independance_9e4fdee9c1/medium_my_miracle_box_Shutterstock_Le_kiosque_de_la_place_de_l_Independance_9e4fdee9c1.jpg)
The kiosk in Place de l'Indépendance
- © my.miracle.box / ShutterstockEl malecón de Puerto Plata
El malecón de Puerto Plata is almost 5 km long and runs alongside the Atlantic Ocean. It's a popular place for a stroll for the inhabitants of the amber capital. A colossal statue of Neptune, almost 7 metres high, watches over the city with his trident. It was erected on an islet opposite the beach in 1971. A stroll along El Malecón will allow you to admire this beautiful statue, as well as the sea, the beach, the locals playing dominoes and the young people gathering in their hundreds.
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Panoramic view of El malecon of Puerto Plata
- © Anastasia Petrosyan / ShutterstockThe Puerto Plata cable car
Designed by a company in Milan, this is the only cable car in the Caribbean. Inaugurated in 1975, it takes tourists to the top of Mount Isabel de Torres, 800 metres above sea level, in just 10 minutes. The most courageous can climb on foot in 2h30... A road also takes you there in 30 minutes. The view over Puerto Plata is splendid!
![](https://ims.ev.mu/medium_lemontune_com_Shutterstock_L_unique_telepherique_des_Caraibes_0c129c7bca/medium_lemontune_com_Shutterstock_L_unique_telepherique_des_Caraibes_0c129c7bca.jpg)
The only cable car in the Caribbean
- © lemontune.com / ShutterstockInaugurated in 1970, Christ the Redeemer is reminiscent of the statue in Rio de Janeiro. You'll also find a botanical garden, a restaurant, a grotto and a bunker built by the dictator Trujillo under the statue of Christ the King, which now houses several shops. This domed blockhouse is a former military fortress that has seen very little use.
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Christ the Redeemer in Puerto plata
- © Vallehr / ShutterstockPractical information
📍 Location: C. del Teleférico, Puerto Plata 57000, Dominican Republic.
👛 Price: 350 Dominican pesos for adults, around $6.50.
⏰ Opening times: daily from 8.30am to 5pm.
👉 Website
The Gregorio Luperon Museum
The Gregorio Luperon Museum was inaugurated in summer 2013 in a lacy Victorian house dating from 1875. Its collection traces the island's turbulent past and the story of General Gregorio Luperon, who liberated the country from the Spanish yoke. You can also admire the rich colonial interiors from the 19th century, with their precious wooden furniture and rich collections of porcelain, paintings and period costumes.
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Equestrian statue of General Gregory Luperon
- © Dmitry Chulov / ShutterstockPractical information
📍 Location: C. 12 de Julio, Puerto Plata 57000, Dominican Republic
👛 Price: 100 Dominican pesos for adults and 50 for children. That's around $2 for adults and $1 for children.
⏰ Opening times: daily from 8.30am to 5pm.
👉 Website
Practical information
When should you visit Puerto Plata?
The weather in Puerto Plata is pleasant all year round, with temperatures ranging from 29°C (in January) to 34°C (in August). However, the rainiest months are November, December and January. So it's best to avoid visiting Puerto Plata at this time of year, and opt for the rest of the year, from February to October, when visiting the city.
Documents and visas
To travel to Puerto Plata, as to the rest of Punta Cana, French nationals must present a valid passport.
Health
No vaccinations are required, but a D-T-Polio update is recommended, as is anti-malarial treatment. Always drink bottled water and avoid raw vegetables and milk. Beware of heat shock between the over 30°C outside and the 15°C air-conditioned rooms, bars and restaurants.
Language
Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic, but as Punta Cana is a popular tourist destination, you'll have no trouble finding English- and French-speaking interlocutors.
Currency
The currency is the Dominican peso (RDS). There are cash dispensers in the reception areas of major hotels. Most of the time, you can pay in US dollars, and sometimes in euros in European hotel chains. Credit and debit cards are generally accepted. Lastly, prices do not include VAT. In this case, you must add 16% tax, to which it is a good idea to add a 5-10% tip.