Guidebook for Puerto Plata and Cofresi
Food scene
The restaurant has an artistic style, a laid-back atmosphere, fine food, and excellent drinks in my opinion. The delicious food menu at this restaurant made me return many times in a week. The pesto penne with burrata is my recommendation.
11 personas locales recomiendan
Casa 40
40, esq Calle Imbert
The restaurant has an artistic style, a laid-back atmosphere, fine food, and excellent drinks in my opinion. The delicious food menu at this restaurant made me return many times in a week. The pesto penne with burrata is my recommendation.
Check out this restaurant at the end of the street "Paseo de Dona Blanca" for quick Mexican snacks.
El Patio de Frida
30 Calle Profesor Juan BoschCheck out this restaurant at the end of the street "Paseo de Dona Blanca" for quick Mexican snacks.
Get a taste of local food at Master BBQ Zone. Small but mighty, this restaurant will keep you coming back.
Master bbq zone
Calle 3Get a taste of local food at Master BBQ Zone. Small but mighty, this restaurant will keep you coming back.
If you are looking for a place to relax on the beach, La Carihuela is the place for you.
15 personas locales recomiendan
La Carihuela
Avenida General Gregorio LuperónIf you are looking for a place to relax on the beach, La Carihuela is the place for you.
This cute blue house can be found right across the street from Parque Central. A variety of food options are available, including mouthwatering seafood. It's better to ask for prices before ordering, as I was scammed on the lobster price (I learned my lesson). Despite this bad event, I really enjoyed the food there!
8 personas locales recomiendan
Casita Azul
No.40 Calle BellerThis cute blue house can be found right across the street from Parque Central. A variety of food options are available, including mouthwatering seafood. It's better to ask for prices before ordering, as I was scammed on the lobster price (I learned my lesson). Despite this bad event, I really enjoyed the food there!
With an indescribable view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Ocean World Terrace offers a great option for entertaining.
The restaurant is the ideal place for locals and tourists visiting Puerto Plata to interact and enjoy a great atmosphere on comfortable terraces overlooking the Marina which makes it the best place to share with family and friends.
13 personas locales recomiendan
Ocean World Terrace
With an indescribable view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Ocean World Terrace offers a great option for entertaining.
The restaurant is the ideal place for locals and tourists visiting Puerto Plata to interact and enjoy a great atmosphere on comfortable terraces overlooking the Marina which makes it the best place to share with family and friends.
City/town information
In Puerto Plata, Cofresi has one of the most lively beaches. It is the perfect place to practice aquatic sports such as diving and snorkeling. However, the city's main attraction is its aquatic theme park, Ocean World Adventure Park, where people can enjoy an entertaining day.
9 personas locales recomiendan
Cofresi
In Puerto Plata, Cofresi has one of the most lively beaches. It is the perfect place to practice aquatic sports such as diving and snorkeling. However, the city's main attraction is its aquatic theme park, Ocean World Adventure Park, where people can enjoy an entertaining day.
Puerto Plata’s natural bounty continues to astound those who lay eyes on La Novia del Atlántico, or as locals call it, the Atlantic’s Darling. A bird’s eye view from the cable car–the only one in the Caribbean, taking passengers to Mount Isabel de Torres and its lush botanical gardens–reveals part of an Atlantic coastline with more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of beaches gracing multiple coastal villages, inland farming communities replete with rivers and falls, and hotels of all sizes to suit all tastes.
To boot, Puerto Plata is home to colonial vestiges, including the largest collection of preserved 19th-century Victorian-style houses in the Caribbean, the oldest amber fossils in the world on display at the Amber Museum, and one of the first colonial period fortresses in the region at Fortaleza San Felipe, dating back to 1577.
East and west along Puerto Plata’s coastline, steady trade winds, river systems, the vast Cordillera Septentrional mountain range, and the Atlantic Ocean conspire to create a world of outdoor adventure, including beach towns renowned for water sports. Less than half an hour from the city there is Sosúa, boasting beautiful beaches where expats and locals coexist, and rich underwater sites.
Nearby Cabarete is a world-famous hub for windsurfing, surfing, and kiteboarding, and a favorite cosmopolitan hideout of snowbirds.
129 personas locales recomiendan
puerto plata
Puerto Plata’s natural bounty continues to astound those who lay eyes on La Novia del Atlántico, or as locals call it, the Atlantic’s Darling. A bird’s eye view from the cable car–the only one in the Caribbean, taking passengers to Mount Isabel de Torres and its lush botanical gardens–reveals part of an Atlantic coastline with more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of beaches gracing multiple coastal villages, inland farming communities replete with rivers and falls, and hotels of all sizes to suit all tastes.
To boot, Puerto Plata is home to colonial vestiges, including the largest collection of preserved 19th-century Victorian-style houses in the Caribbean, the oldest amber fossils in the world on display at the Amber Museum, and one of the first colonial period fortresses in the region at Fortaleza San Felipe, dating back to 1577.
East and west along Puerto Plata’s coastline, steady trade winds, river systems, the vast Cordillera Septentrional mountain range, and the Atlantic Ocean conspire to create a world of outdoor adventure, including beach towns renowned for water sports. Less than half an hour from the city there is Sosúa, boasting beautiful beaches where expats and locals coexist, and rich underwater sites.
Nearby Cabarete is a world-famous hub for windsurfing, surfing, and kiteboarding, and a favorite cosmopolitan hideout of snowbirds.
Sightseeing
I am glad I went to Damajagua! Although the water was ice-cold, we had a blast sliding down the soft rocks. It is recommended that you book this in advance. This local guide can help you with all your questions and can be reached at +1 (809) 250 4200.
20 personas locales recomiendan
Damajagua
I am glad I went to Damajagua! Although the water was ice-cold, we had a blast sliding down the soft rocks. It is recommended that you book this in advance. This local guide can help you with all your questions and can be reached at +1 (809) 250 4200.
You can get to Fricolandia by car in about an hour and 30 minutes from Puerto Plata, and you must make reservations ahead of time (make sure to book a table near the water). Among their attractions are a natural ocean pool, jet skis, buggy rides, and walking around the premises. You can either bring your drinks and food or purchase them at the restaurant. If you would like to make a reservation or have any questions, you can reach them at +1 (829) 801 1479.
13 personas locales recomiendan
Fricolandia
You can get to Fricolandia by car in about an hour and 30 minutes from Puerto Plata, and you must make reservations ahead of time (make sure to book a table near the water). Among their attractions are a natural ocean pool, jet skis, buggy rides, and walking around the premises. You can either bring your drinks and food or purchase them at the restaurant. If you would like to make a reservation or have any questions, you can reach them at +1 (829) 801 1479.
The historic center has the Parque Central in the middle with the San Felipe Cathedral towering on one side and a ride of colonial Victorian buildings on the other. The grid of streets radiating from here has plenty more great architecture, restaurants, cigar factory, art galleries, and much more (like Umbrella Street and Paseo de Dona Blanca).
129 personas locales recomiendan
puerto plata
The historic center has the Parque Central in the middle with the San Felipe Cathedral towering on one side and a ride of colonial Victorian buildings on the other. The grid of streets radiating from here has plenty more great architecture, restaurants, cigar factory, art galleries, and much more (like Umbrella Street and Paseo de Dona Blanca).
Playa Dorada is for those who want to relax in style on golden stretches, or play golf in the 18-Hole Golf Club Playa Dorado Course.
69 personas locales recomiendan
Playa Dorada
Playa Dorada is for those who want to relax in style on golden stretches, or play golf in the 18-Hole Golf Club Playa Dorado Course.
No visit to Puerto Plata is complete without riding the teleférico–the only complete cable car ride you’ll find in the whole Caribbean region, operating continuously since 1975. A breathtaking 10-minute ride takes you soaring in one of two cable cars 800 meters (2,625 feet) above Puerto Plata’s magical landscape–from the sea on your north to the lush, verdant plains that eventually lead you to the other end of the cable, at Mount Isabel de Torres. Explore the nature reserve and botanical gardens, enjoying the ride back down by cable car once more before heading out.
182 personas locales recomiendan
El Teleférico de Puerto Plata
Calle del TeleféricoNo visit to Puerto Plata is complete without riding the teleférico–the only complete cable car ride you’ll find in the whole Caribbean region, operating continuously since 1975. A breathtaking 10-minute ride takes you soaring in one of two cable cars 800 meters (2,625 feet) above Puerto Plata’s magical landscape–from the sea on your north to the lush, verdant plains that eventually lead you to the other end of the cable, at Mount Isabel de Torres. Explore the nature reserve and botanical gardens, enjoying the ride back down by cable car once more before heading out.
Costambar Beach is considered one of the top 5 beaches in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. It is located in the town of the same name, just past the main city of San Felipe. It has a beautiful landscape with golden sands, tropical trees and extensive reef areas that host many marine species such as Manatee, Turtles, Octopus, Tangs, Stingray, Angel fish, Trunk fish, Flounder, Eels, and Barracuda.
10 personas locales recomiendan
Costambar
8 C. Rey FernandoCostambar Beach is considered one of the top 5 beaches in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. It is located in the town of the same name, just past the main city of San Felipe. It has a beautiful landscape with golden sands, tropical trees and extensive reef areas that host many marine species such as Manatee, Turtles, Octopus, Tangs, Stingray, Angel fish, Trunk fish, Flounder, Eels, and Barracuda.
The Dominican Amber Museum is one of the most visited places in Puerto Plata. Inside, it hosts one of the biggest resin exhibitions in the Dominican Republic. The country has the most important amber deposits in the world; moreover, blue, green or warm honey colours are unique from this area due to its volcanic activity.
Here, you can discover the history of this vegetal-origin precious stone. One of the most important stones of this museum is a 40cm lizard conserved inside a piece of amber. This resin can hold prehistoric fossils of plants and little animals on its inside due to its sticky nature, that turns this stone in subject of study.
It is said that Steven Spielberg was inspired by this museum when he was working on his famous film Jurassic Park.
This museum offers guided tours, and it has a shop where people can buy little amber stones as souvenirs of their journey in the Dominican Republic.
62 personas locales recomiendan
Museo Del Ámbar
24 C. 12 de JulioThe Dominican Amber Museum is one of the most visited places in Puerto Plata. Inside, it hosts one of the biggest resin exhibitions in the Dominican Republic. The country has the most important amber deposits in the world; moreover, blue, green or warm honey colours are unique from this area due to its volcanic activity.
Here, you can discover the history of this vegetal-origin precious stone. One of the most important stones of this museum is a 40cm lizard conserved inside a piece of amber. This resin can hold prehistoric fossils of plants and little animals on its inside due to its sticky nature, that turns this stone in subject of study.
It is said that Steven Spielberg was inspired by this museum when he was working on his famous film Jurassic Park.
This museum offers guided tours, and it has a shop where people can buy little amber stones as souvenirs of their journey in the Dominican Republic.
A key piece of Puerto Plata’s history, Fortaleza San Felipe was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend the north coast of the Dominican Republic from the British and Dutch, and from French pirates in search of the area’s abundant gold and silver. Considered one of the most important colonial military structures in the Caribbean, it was completed in 1577 and later served as a prison from the 19th century through the Trujillo years.
Now a museum, touring the fort reveals the original canons facing the Atlantic, ancient weapons, and numerous hidden chambers. The panoramic views over the Puerto Plata coastline are impressive. Catching the sunset at the foot of the fort, beside La Puntilla park, is a daily Puerto Plateño activity.
75 personas locales recomiendan
Fortaleza de San Felipe
Avenida General Gregorio LuperónA key piece of Puerto Plata’s history, Fortaleza San Felipe was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend the north coast of the Dominican Republic from the British and Dutch, and from French pirates in search of the area’s abundant gold and silver. Considered one of the most important colonial military structures in the Caribbean, it was completed in 1577 and later served as a prison from the 19th century through the Trujillo years.
Now a museum, touring the fort reveals the original canons facing the Atlantic, ancient weapons, and numerous hidden chambers. The panoramic views over the Puerto Plata coastline are impressive. Catching the sunset at the foot of the fort, beside La Puntilla park, is a daily Puerto Plateño activity.
I would like to share a very "local" tip with you. It was a friend of my cousin who introduced me to this place. We enjoyed a refreshing afternoon in the cold water thanks to his guidance. If you want to avoid getting lost in the process, you might consider taking a local guide along with you!
Rio Camu
I would like to share a very "local" tip with you. It was a friend of my cousin who introduced me to this place. We enjoyed a refreshing afternoon in the cold water thanks to his guidance. If you want to avoid getting lost in the process, you might consider taking a local guide along with you!
Supermarket
Is there anything you need to buy? La Sirena offers a wide variety of products, including electronics, cosmetics, clothes, and food. You can also exchange money at a good exchange rate at banks or ATMs.
67 personas locales recomiendan
La Sirena Puerto Plata
14 Av. Gral. Gregorio LuperónIs there anything you need to buy? La Sirena offers a wide variety of products, including electronics, cosmetics, clothes, and food. You can also exchange money at a good exchange rate at banks or ATMs.
Consejos para la ciudad
Cómo moverse
Scooters are the fastest way to get around
Having a car or scooter is the best way to get around. Rentals are available locally for scooters at 20 USD or cars for 40 USD a day. Taxis, Uber, or local buses are also options if you don't want to rent. Here is the phone number of the car and scooter rental company we used: Piona Rent Car +1 (809) 586 3809 or +1 (809) 753 3809.
Formas de ahorrar
Don't use a credit card when paying on Uber!
Scamming alert! Many of us had negative experiences with Uber in Puerto Plata. Whenever you book an Uber, make sure you pay cash instead of a credit card! You should also message the driver to confirm the amount before taking a ride.
In order to get around, we used VIP Taxi. Whatsapp is the best way to contact them, and they will reply shortly after. You can reach them at +1 (809) 586 3330.