Given that this route is very rich, we advise you to allocate at least two days to it in order to visit all the points leisurely and get maximum enjoyment from the attractions.
Puerto Plata - a city founded in 1496, has a name that can be translated as "Silver Port." Walking along its promenade at sunset, you will understand where this name came from. Simply, when the sun hides behind the horizon, the shoreline acquires a soft silver shade. The city is popular among lovers of water sports. For instance, it houses popular diving centers and diving spots.
- Travel time from Bávaro/Punta Cana ~ 5 hours and 30 minutes to Puerto Plata
- Toll road cost - 380 pesos
- Recommended visiting time - always
We advise to visit:
▪ Ocean World Adventure Park - it is an amusement park that includes both a zoo and a marine park. Visitors can enjoy the world's largest dolphin lagoon, a shark interaction pool, and also a tiger and bird feeding area. This place is perfect for families with children (ticket cost starts from $30).
▪ Fort San Felipe - this is an ancient Spanish military fortification, located on a high hill on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, and was built to protect Puerto Plata from attacks by pirate sailors (visiting cost 150 pesos). Coral reefs protected it from the ocean side, not allowing pirate ships to get too close. The fort was named after King Philip II, who is considered its founder.
▪ Cable Car - leads from the city center to the top of Mount Isabel de Torres (793m) and the national park of the same name. Here, you are awaited by breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding area and the ocean. The park is famous for being the location for the shooting of the science fiction film by American director Steven Spielberg - "Jurassic Park."
▪ Playa Grande Beach - it is a public and well-maintained beach. It has everything needed for comfortable beach relaxation - changing rooms, toilets, showers, and services like massages, for instance. According to the rating of "Conde Nast Travel" magazine, Playa Grande is listed among the ten most picturesque beaches in the world.
▪ Cabarete - this town is famous for its beaches, perfect for surfing and windsurfing. However, the most favorable conditions here are for kitesurfing. Therefore, alongside Tarifa in Spain and Mui Ne in Vietnam, this place is rightfully called the "Mecca of kitesurfers." The World Windsurfing Championship and the Cabarete Race Week competition are held here annually, featuring leading athletes from around the world. It's the perfect place for you to try any of these water sports as well.
The roads in the Dominican Republic are in excellent condition, in part because most of the country's main highways are toll roads. We advise keeping cash in pesos on hand to pay the tolls. The sun is intense in the country, so it’s advisable to always use sunscreen with 50-percent protection and headgear. Also, remember that you are on a tropical island; towels, swimsuits, and flip-flops will never be superfluous.
Be sure to write to us and get a free guide to the most interesting places in the Dominican Republic!
Points on the map:
▪ Puerto Plata - Puerto Plata
▪ Ocean World Adventure Park - Ocean World Adventure Park, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
▪ Playa Grande Beach - Playa Grande
▪ Fort San Felipe - Fortaleza de San Felipe
▪ Cable Car - Puerto Plata Cable Car
▪ Cabarete - Cabarete