Infos Puerto Plata (North Coast)

Attractions: Costambar, Confresi and Luperon: Sosua: Cabarete: Gift Shops: Hotels:

Puerto Plata

The North Coast is the center of a third of the nation's hotel rooms, or more than 17,000. At the heart of this region, the city of Puerto Plata curves around the base of towering Mt. Isabel de Torres, whose pinnacle can be reached by an electrified sky lift system called the teleférico. A manicured botanical garden dominated by an illuminated statue of Christ - a scaled-down version of the one in Rio de Janeiro - crowns its summit. More adventurous types can reach the summit on foot. The charm of Puerto Plata, the largest city on the North Coast, is enhanced by the extent and variety of its Victorian architecture, unrivaled by any other Dominican city. Stylistically, the gingerbread motifs, wooden 'lace' filigree, and pastel colors of its houses and public buildings convey the romantic aura of an earlier time, but functionally they house a tourist-oriented city's businesses, offices, shops, bars, restaurants and clubs. History is also preserved here in the imposing San Felipe Fort, built by the Spaniards in the 16th century as protection against seaborne invaders. The fort, which was used as a prison until the 1960's, now houses a fine museum that documents its interesting history. Visitors strolling the city's picturesque streets will also want to take time to see Puerto Plata's extraordinary Amber Museum, the Brugal rum factory, and stroll the length of the Malecón, the lively seaside boulevard.

Attractions

Downtown Puerto Plata

Visit the city's central park, Parque Luperon, and make a stop at the picturesque church, Iglesia de San Felipe. Several inexpensive cafeterias are nearby, in addition to numerous stores specializing in local crafts. In downtown Puerto Plata you will find the last remaining Victorian gingerbread buildings - elegant 19th century structures which are quickly disappearing due to commercial development.

The Amber Museum

Located on the second floor of a Victorian mansion, the Amber Museum is perhaps one of Puerto Plata's best known tourist attractions. Open from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, Monday through Saturday, the Amber Museum features collections of fossilized resin (Amber), some of which contain remarkably preserved specimens dating back thousands of years. Admission is about $2 U.S.

Mount Isabel de Torres

Undoubtedly Puerto Plata's most impressive geographic feature, 2,600 foot Mount Isabel is also a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. After a seven minute cable car ride up the nearly vertical slope, visitors will find botanical gardens, a statue of Christ similar to the one in Rio de Janeiro, and a superb restaurant, in addition, of course, to breathtaking views of the city and surrounding sea. Open Tuesdays and Thursday through Sunday from 8 am until 5 pm. Admission is about $10 U.S.

Playa Dorada

Home to the majority of Puerto Plata's "all-inclusive" resorts, Playa Dorada features two golf courses, casinos, a shopping mall, and over 15 miles of beaches and the Home of the Sea Pro Divers company. Although most of the property in Playa Dorada is private, the beach itself is open to the public and can be accessed at the end of the main road running through the complex.

Columbus Aguaparque

Arguably the Caribbean's finest attraction of its kind, the Columbus Aguaparque has quickly established itself as a favourite with kids of all ages for a day-long outing. Featuring a restaurant, small gift shop, showers, and lockers. Open daily from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. Admission is about $10 U.S. for the day, or about $5 U.S. after 4:00 pm.

The Brugal Rum Factory

Producing over a million and a half liters of white and dark rum each year, Brugal is the drink of choice for many North Coast Dominicans (with Barcelo being favoured in the South). Although no distillation actually takes place at the Brugal Factory, visitors are given a brief tour of Brugal's bottling operations and are treated to a refreshing drink featuring, but of course, Brugal rum. Open 9:00 am - noon & 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Admission is free.

The Malecón & Fort San Felipe

The Malecón is an ocean side road featuring numerous cafes and small restaurants. Although the small beach is not suitable for swimming, a leisurely stroll along the Malecón offers fresh ocean breezes and excellent people watching. The Malecón is especially popular on weekends and at night when road side vendors prepare small snacks and several discos blast music into the early morning hours.

Walking west along the Malecón will lead visitor to Fuerte San Felipe, Puerto Plata's only remaining colonial structure. Located on a small peninsula on Puerto Plata Bay, Bahia de Puerto Plata, it was at Fuerte San Felipe that Columbus had hoped to establish the first Spanish colony in the New World (the colony in Puerto Plata, however, did not last long and the Spanish resettled on the island's Southern Coast at Santo Domingo). The fort features a moat, historical artifacts, and a small museum. Admission is about $1 U.S.

Restaurants

Mi Bohio	Av. Manolo Tavares Justo	(809) 586-8042
An open air restaurant serving excellent steak and seafood fresh from the grill. Open daily for dinner.
Maria's	Av. Luis Ginebra	(809) 261-4333
An unique thatched roof restaurant surrounded by lush tropical gardens. Serving innovative appetizers and excellent Tex-Mex entrées. Open Monday - Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Restaurant Mr. Luis	Av. Manolo Tavares Justo	(809) 586-1771
A popular restaurant located at the Sunshine Hotel serving Italian, Chinese, and local Dominican dishes at a reasonable price. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Cafe Cito	Calle San Felipe	(809) 586-7923
Located in downtown Puerto Plata, this roof-top restaurant and bar serves a wonderful combination of Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisine. Voted "Best in Town" by the Rough Guide. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Los Tres Payasos	Vista Alegre esq. Paul Harris	(809) 586-4688
An informal outdoor restaurant set amidst tropical plants and trees. Serving authentic Dominican specialties and pizza. Inexpensive lunch specials are available Monday - Saturday. Open daily for dinner.
Sam's Bar & Grill	Calle Jose del Carmen Ariza	(809) 586-7267
Located in one of Puerto Plata's few remaining Victorian structures. Serving hearty breakfasts and American-style cuisine. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Acuarela Garden Cafe	Calle Professor Certad	(809) 261-1000
An upscale restaurant serving innovative international dishes created by a European-trained professional chef. Proper dress required, reservations recommended. Open Tuesday - Sunday for dinner.
Pizzeria Portofino	Calle Hermanas Mirabal	(809) 586-2858
Large, open air, restaurant serving fine Italian meals and pizza. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Anna's Bar & Grill	Av. Colon	(809) 586-5314
A lively pub and restaurant serving a variety of American, European, and Dominican dishes. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Pizzeria Roma II	Calle Beller	(809) 586-3904
An elegant restaurant serving fine Italian fare, steak, seafood, and a wide selection of wines. Proper dress required. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Back

Costambar, Cofresí, and Luperón

To the West from Puerto Plata lie the oceanside towns of Costambar, Cofresí, and Luperón. Costambar is a quiet residential community much frequented by families with small children who are attracted by its long stretch of reef-protected beach. Cofresí is a fast-developing tourist area with several resorts fronting its own lovely beach. The simple fishing village of Luperón is not only a paradise for scuba divers and anglers, but the meticulous excavations at nearby La Isabela are attracting amateur and professional archaeologists curious to learn about the first European settlement in the Americas.

Costambar

Surrounded by calm, crystal-clear waters, Costambar is truly a beach lover's delight! Featuring a 9-hole golf course, Los Mangos, Costambar is less crowded and more tranquil than Playa Dorada. Numerous restaurants are located throughout the residential community of Costambar.

El Caribe Beach Bar	Costambar Beach	---
A popular beachfront restaurant serving hamburgers, seafood, and tacos in an informal environment. Open daily for lunch.
Sandy Beaches	Costambar Beach	---
Beachfront restaurant serving typical fast food and seafood. Restaurant features live music on a weekly basis. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
>El Portal	Costambar	(809) 970-7213
An open air restaurant serving home-cooked Dominican dishes. Inexpensive lunch specials are available Monday - Saturday. Open daily for dinner.
Pizzeria Minerva	Costambar	(809) 970-3183
A popular pizzeria serving a variety of pizzas and Italian cuisine in a causal setting. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Back

Sosúa

A little further east lies the charming village of Sosúa, with its totally unpretentious, relaxed atmosphere. Many would contend that Sosúa's crescent-shaped beach hugged by a sheltering cove bracketed by Los Charamicos to the West and El Batey to the East is the country's most applauded beach. Settled by Jewish refugees from Europe more than a half century ago, Sosúa has remained popular with European visitors, and its vibrant streets are punctuated with casual European-style open air restaurants, bars, and cafes. The nightlife is compelling here too, with discos jumping into the early morning hours.

Restaurants

On the Waterfront	Calle Dr Rosen	(809) 571-3024
Located on a large oceanfront patio featuring spectacular sunsets, a lively bar area, and nightly entertainment. Serving traditional gourmet dishes and seafood. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Restaurant Morua Mai	Calle Pedro Clisante	(809) 571-2503
Serving imported pastas, pizzas, seafood platters, and sandwiches. Proper dress required. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Sunset Place Restaurant	Calle B. Phillips	(809) 571-3222
An elegant rooftop restaurant specializing in formal dining and innovative cuisine. Serving soups, salads, appetizers, and an extensive selection of entrées and deserts. Proper dress and reservations recommended for dinner. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Atlántico	Los Charamicos	(809) 571-2878
An informal seafood restaurant set on the cliffs above Sosúa Bay. Specializing in lobster, fish, and shrimp dishes. Open for lunch and dinner everyday except Thursday.
La Puntilla de Piergiorgio	Calle La Puntilla	(809) 571-2215
A formal restaurant overlooking Sosúa Bay. Serving authentic Italian cuisine, veal, and fresh fish in a garden-style veranda. Proper dress required, reservations recommended. Open daily for dinner.
El Coral	Calle Martinez	(809) 571-2645
Located in a Spanish-style building at the end of Sosúa Bay. Serving specialties such as Creole conch, fresh octopus, and pork chops with pineapple, in addition to more traditional plates. Proper dress and reservations recommended for dinner. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Restaurant Verena	Calle Dr Rosen	(809) 571-2651
Located in the Hotel Yaroa serving a variety of International-Dominican dishes. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Back

Cabarete

The Amber Coast's windsurfing Mecca is Cabarete, just a 15-minute drive east from Sosúa. This windsurfer's paradise is situated on a strip of land between a bay and a lagoon. The prestigious Professional Windsurfing Association World Cup competitions have been held here, and an annual Cabarete Race Week brings the best of amateur competitors from around the world. Besides windsurfing, Cabarete offers body boarding, tennis, golf, mountain biking and horseback riding and serves as a point of departure for numerous ecotourism excursions.

Restaurants

Casa del Pescador	Cabarete	(809) 571-076
An upscale restaurant located directly on the beach. Serving a variety of creative seafood entrées. Proper dress required, reservations recommended. Open daily for dinner.
Bar Fly	Cabarete	(809) 571-0529
Popular restaurant serving an eclectic combination of international foods, barbecued fish, and fondue. Reservations recommended. Open daily for dinner.
Tipico Mercedes	Cabarete	(809) 571-0247
Located on the outskirts of Cabarete. Serving authentic Dominican food and various seafood dishes at reasonable prices. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Blue Paradise	Cabarete	(809) 571-0525
French-Canadian restaurant serving fast food and traditional breakfasts. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Vento	Cabarete	(809) 571-0977
Formal beachfront restaurant serving seafood, lamb and veal, and outstanding pasta. Proper dress required, reservations recommended. Open daily for dinner.
Las Brisas	Cabarete	(809) 571-0614
Open air beachfront restaurant serving Italian dishes and nightly specials. Buffet-style dinging options are also available. Open daily for dinner.
Restaurante Chino	Cabarete	(809) 571-0972
Popular restaurant serving an unique combination of Chinese and Indonesian cuisine. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Miros	Cabarete	(809) 571-0888
Gourmet beachfront restaurant serving excellent seafood and French-inspired cuisine. Proper dress required, reservations recommended. Open daily for dinner.

Gift Shops

The Rainbow Gift Shop

Low price Hotels on the North Coast

Back to begin

Back Next