Once a major colonial city, San Felipe de Puerto Plata is making a quiet comeback, thanks largely to some of the Caribbean’s best value beach resorts! Here’s what to see amid the sun, sea, and sand!
1 – Columbus House
Columbus House
Where better to begin your discovery of Puerto Plata than at the ruins of Christopher Columbus’ old house in La Isabella – the Dominican Republic’s first settlement!
2 – Paradise Island
Paradise Island
This pristine sandbank makes for a luxurious excursion from the Dominican shoreline. The amenities are top-notch, but you really ought to go for the coral snorkelling!
3 – Damajagua Waterfalls
Damajagua Waterfalls
Climb, slide, swim, and jump across the 27 cascades and rock pools that make up Damajagua! Thrillseekers need look no further than this gorgeous landscape-cum-adventure park.
4 – Ocean World Adventure Park
Ocean World Adventure Park puerto plata
Family vacation? This interactive aquarium and marina lets visitors swim with dolphins, pet stingrays, and play with sealions. There are even tigers! (Real ones. Not sea-tigers.)
5 – Dominican Amber Museum
Amber Museum
Dominican amber is among the best in the world and the Museo del Ambar exhibits stunning fossils of insects, leaves, lizards, and even birds preserved within its effervescent grip!
6 – Fort San Felipe
Fort San Felipe puerto plata
Built in 1564 to defend against pirates, San Felipe is one of the oldest European forts in the Americas. The oldest is Santo Domingo’s Fortaleza Ozama, just a short trip away!
7 – Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo puerto plata
Day-trips to and from the Dominican capital are quick and easy! Sightseeing highlights include the National Pantheon, Calle las Damas, and The Three Eyes national park.
