Puerto Plata, means Port Of Silver, is haven for tourist as it has very pulsating nightlife; attracting bands and salsa dancers from all over the Caribbean, inexpensive sea front beach hotels and adventurous water sports such as wind surfing, snorkeling, diving with free shows of whale watching.
The Puerto Plata port is the money-making port of the north coast of Dominican Republic and was established in 1502. Dominican Republic has very unique culture; French dance and ballet can be seen in Cibao and Santiago, Victorian and English architecture can be seen in Puerto Plata and Jews who fled from Germany during Hitler rule still call Sosua their home.
In Sosua you will get to see number of reefs, canyons, shipwrecks, and precincts. It just takes twenty minutes to reach Sosua. And about an hour and a half away from the port there is this spot called Gri Gri lagoon which is good for snorkeling. Most of the dive depths are fifty to one hundred and thirty feet under water. Most of the big hotels at Puerto Plata help in organizing diving and snorkeling for their guest.
The beaches are another attraction in and around Puerto Plata. The place has stunning stretch of golden sand and is fronted by the coral reefs. The whole area of beach is about three lakh square meters and most in demand beach is between Cofresi to Sosua among the tourists. The most famous beach in Puerto Plata is Long Beach which is situated in the east, beside the Malecon. The beaches to the west of Puerto Plata, Confresi and Sosua, are dominated by the opulent resorts.
Cable Car Tours (Teleferico)
At your stay at Puerto Plata, one can’t miss out the cable car tour. The cable car starts from the uppermost peak of the mount Isabel which is about 2555 ft above sea level and gives a fantastic landscape view of the places around Puerto Plata. The whole trip will be memorable and remarkable excursion for the tourists visiting here. The cable car tour will only cost less then eight dollars.
Apart from the cable car on the top of the mount, there are botanical gardens, statue of Christ and restaurants with beautiful scenic view around.
Whale watching
Between January and April, thousand of Humpback whales migrate from the North Atlantic to the bay at Samana each winter to mate and reproduce. The bay is just approximately seventy miles away from the north east of Puerto Plata. Around fifteen hundred of humpback whales come here at the bay. The Samana bay is considered to be one of the best places in the world to watch whales by the World Wildlife Fund. You can see male whales competing to lure female whales to mate and nursery shelter for the baby whales.
San Felipe Fort
San Felipe Fort is the only trace of Puerto Plata’s colonial history. The fort is situated on a little peninsula at the Bahia de Puerto Plata. There is also a small historical museum which will give you brief about the independence movement about the place. You will find number of tour guides to show you around the place with meager rate.
Ecological Tour
Puerto Plata features tropical oasis which is fifteen minutes away from the port. The forest looks beautiful with diverse flora and fauna; don’t miss out the river which is encircled with mangroves.
The place has excellent nightlife for the tired tourists after whole day activities. The most of the bars, cafes, casinos and clubs opens up. The most famous casino here is the Ocean World Casino, the whole building is aquatic themed casino which displays unusual mosaics work of whales, dolphins and tropical fishes. It is the landmark with beautiful sight of marine.
Puerto Plata Gregorio Luperon Airport is the nearest airport from the port around eleven miles. You will get cars and buses to get around the place. Transportation is not a problem here.