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| The Gateway City 12 Good reasons to visit the north coast |
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Business Listing: Banks |
The gateway city to the Dominican Republic's north coast
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The City of Puerto Plata is the largest city, the business center and the gateway for the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Life here revolves around tourism, agriculture and duty-free manufacturing. There is an active harbor and a modern international airport that handles an annual 600,000-plus tourists. The city population is about 150,000, Spanish speaking, and there is a large foreigners community of retirees and people working in local industry.
This city is the gateway to many unique holiday towns and along the spectacular northern coast. On the outskirts of town is an important development called Playa Dorada a large complex of low-rise hotels in a country club setting of gardens, golf course and beach.
Puerto Plata’s city center is characterized by narrow, bustling streets, century-old Victorian gingerbread and a wide, palm-lined oceanfront boulevard that runs the length of the city and ends at the harbor at a restored Spanish fortress built in the early 1500’s.
Downtown Puerto Plata is a business and shopping district. Most tourism activity goes on in the outlying towns and resorts. However many visitors enjoy a day’s visit to town just to look around, shop and get a feel for local activity.
2. Beaches that don't quit. Most of the north coast is beach and most of the beaches are unspoiled and undeveloped.
3. Friendly people, and good looking, too. Almost all visitors comment on how Dominicans are the friendliest people they have ever met when travelling.
4. Lively Latin culture, counterbalanced by familiar faces and flavors provided by the many Europeans and North Americans who have relocated here
5. Raw nature, but you don't have to rough it. You can be four-wheeling through jungle roads by day and, at night, be sipping sipping French wine and eating lobster in your cottons beside the beach
6. All-inclusive resorts. There are dozens of all-inclusive beach resorts, where food, drinks, beach equipment and a long list of amenities are all part of a one-price package including airfare conveniently organized out of major European, American and Canadian centers. This is a highly competitive business and there are lots of great deals available.
7. Adventure Travel. Dozens of specialty vacations are being offered by people who came as tourists and then moved back to set up shop because they discovered that this place is great for... horseback riding in the mountains (several excellent ranches), getting scuba diving certification (one of the least expensive places to get it), windsurfing (excellent schools for learning and all services for pros), white water rafting, whale watching (the largest Atlantic ocean gathering of humpback whales spawning January to March in Samana Bay), hiking trips (the tallest mountain in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte, 10,000 ft, with guides and mules available), mountain biking (bikes and guided tours for all levels), motocross and four-wheeling (dirt bikes and jeeps for rent and you’ll find endless, unmapped backroads). There are plenty of guided day trips and excursions that make it easy to have a tropical or third world adventure and get back to the comfort of your hotel by the end of the day.
8. Backpackers. Lots of pensions and cheap hotel rooms and inexpensive public transportation. Easy hops from place to place with something different to experience at each one.
9. Luxury. This is not a high gloss destination yet it attracts many very well heeled people who want to get away from all that. You won't find Marriott or Sheraton but you do find some very exclusive and comfortable owner-operated small hotels and you can also rent million-dollar villas by the week. Most of the large resorts are predominantly filled with economy travelers on all-inclusive vacations; a handful are four-star. Meanwhile, you can get just about anything you want, from private car and driver to helicopters and yachts.
10. Good Overall Value. No matter your style of travel, you encounter relatively good value. With few exceptions, dinner costs US$5-$10 and drinks are about $2 apiece. Typically prices in the Caribbean are 30- to 50% higher than at home: this only holds true here when you are engaging services like private planes and purchasing imported goods. Virtually all local services and supplies are as cheap or cheaper than at home.
11. Easy to get to. Daily American Airline flights from Miami (2 hrs), New York (3 hrs), Puerto Rico (1 hr), weekly charters from dozens of Canadian and European cities.
12. Relocating and Investing. Thousands of people have come… and stayed. As one of our friends says, "my cost of living is equivalent to my tax and utilities budget back home." People looking for a place to retire, or who simply dream of living in the Caribbean will find that there are a lot of good reasons. price and friendly people being the main ones, to consider this part of the Caribbean.
One of the neatest vacations you could ever hope to have is to fly into Puerto Plata International Airport, rent a car, pull out of the airport and just go bopping down the coast from place to place. You would find yourself cruising along a well-maintained, two-lane highway that follows the coast alongside spectacular beaches, through typical Dominican villages in and out of breathtaking, ever-changing tropical countryside. You stop at a beach here, explore a Dominican town there and otherwise take your time checking out whatever catches your fancy.
The best thing about exploring this wilderness highway is that you're not stuck out in the wilderness, because the road interconnects runs from oasis to oasis of civilization. You can stop for lobster lunch in one town, then carry on down the road for an hour or so and find a quaint little hotel with a neat bar on a good beach. Maybe you meet some people you like so you decide to hang out for a few days. Once you've had enough, you move on to the next place.
This journey is made all that much more colorful by the collection of offbeat foreigners who have taken up residence along this coastline. They herald from places like Vienna and Amsterdam and Sicily and Montreal and they run restaurants and bars and b&b's. They organize activities and ways to discover unusual and fascinating things hidden away in the mountains and along the beaches. They take you mountain biking, cave exploring, whitewater rafting, whale watching and otherwise live out their passions by making it possible for visitors to experience them too.Whether you're looking to travel around, or for place to just relax for a week, this web site will help you find what you're looking for. Whichever way you choose to travel, the combination of friendly Dominicans, lively Latin culture, offbeat expatriates, beautiful beaches and unspoiled countryside all combine to make this one of the most unusual, fun, fascinating and safe places for a Caribbean vacation.
The north coastal highway puts towns and resorts within easy access with the airport. Situated within a half hour ride from the airport are:
Puerto Plata City is the center of regional commerce, a port city and the capital of the Province of Puerto Plata (pop. +/- 150,000). The city is characterized by busy, narrow streets, quaint colonial gingerbread architecture and a wide oceanfront boulevard ending at a historical Spanish fortress.
Playa Dorada: the region's most important resort complex, 15 low-rise hotels in a lush garden setting surrounded by beach and golf course in country club style. A popular charter travel destination where all hotels operate as all-inclusive. Several casinos, late-night discos and the biggest shopping center on the north coast: Playa Dorada Plaza
Cofresi & Costambar: adjacent communities occupying the two of the nicest beaches on the outskirts of Puerto Plata City, popular with retired expatriates, many villas and condos available for rent by owners.
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Sosua: a bustling Latin village centered around a magnificent beach and bay. Lots of foreigners running small hotels, bars and discos, and plenty of interaction with local Dominicans.
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Cabarete: a town that spung up on a beautiful beach once it was discovered to be one of the best places in the world to windsurf. Hotels, restaurants, bars and windsurfing centers mostly centered along a single beachfront strip.
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Further down the coast yet still easily accessible are other popular destinations :
Luperon: Luperon Bay is a large multi-fingered estuary with narrow access to the open water that makes it the best hurricane hole on the north coast. The town is growing around servicing boaters and there are a handful of interesting watering holes and restaurants.
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La Isabela: The first permanent settlement built by Christopher Columbus on his maiden voyage in 1492, now a historical point of interest.
Rio San Juan & Playa Grande: a coastal town popular for boat rides through a mangrove-choked lagoon. Just outside of town is Playa Grande, a beautiful beach and excellent golf course being developed for resorts.
Cabrera: a serene, agricultural region that is attracting well-to-do foreigners who are building luxurious countryside estates far from the madding crowd.
At the eastern extreme of the north coastal highway lies the Samana Peninsula, a region of spectacular hills that feature a vast forest of coconut palms. Places like the town of Samana, Las Galeras and Las Terrenas are Dominican towns that have been developed into charming, cosmopolitan villages by foreigners who have moved in and set up shop.
At the western extreme lies the border of Haiti and the towns of Dajabón, Manzanillo and Montecristi. These are authentically Dominican towns with little or no tourism influence. Beyond the border lies another world, Haiti, definitely worth a visit by way of overnight excursions organized out of Puerto Plata.
on packaged vacations
You may have found a great hotel package deal, but keep in mind that the Dominican Republic has a lot more to offer than your hotel does. You may be coming with the simple expectation of being transported to a warm beach for a week. But… you’re spending your money to travel to a different part of the world. Some people pay through the nose and travel halfway around the world to visit exotic destinations that don’t offer half as much as the Dominican Republic does. Why not take advantage of the millions of fascinating things you can do and see here. Our suggestion: invest a few hundred extra dollars and you will transform your sun escape into a world class, world travel experience.
Within 24 hours of checking in to your hotel, your travel representative will hold a briefing to help you get oriented and to offer you a variety of optional excursions and activities. Two of the most popular activities are jeep safaris and horseback riding. There are also some very popular boating activities you can take advantage of. Most of these activities take up most of a day and cost US$50 to $60. Reading through this web site will help you get a feel for what is available and most travel companies have well-organized itineraries that make these options easily accessible.
Meanwhile, keep in mind that if you don’t have a lot of extra cash, there are many things to do that don’t cost a lot of money. Some tour reps tell their passengers that it isn’t safe to go outside your hotel property. That is simply not true. Puerto Plata and the region is about the safest place you can visit in the entire Caribbean… you are more likely to meet someone who will invite you into their house for coffee than a purse snatcher. Common sense is the key: dress modestly, avoid dark empty streets, don’t leave your valuables on the beach, etc. Overall, you’re likely safer here than in your own city. So, check out the different sections on this web site, Exploring the Northern Coast, Day Trippers and Night Crawlers Guide, Excursions, etc., and get ready for one of the best vacations of your life.
Puerto Plata City: Day Trippers and Night Crawlers Guide
Central Park. New Yorkers laugh when they see the size of our tiny Central Park, it should be called Central Square. It is typical of all towns in the country, a traditional social gathering place surrounded by the City Hall, the Palace of Justice and other government office buildings – and of course, the obligatory ice cream parlor. Puerto Plata’s central square is a good starting place for any sightseeing stroll in town: it’s easy to hail a cab and say "Parque Central, por favor."
Victorian Architecture. Many colonial style homes adorned with gingerbread architecture, in various states of repair, hail from the turn of the century. Many of these buildings are being renovated and restored.
The Malecon. Another typical characteristic of Latin American ocean side cities is a wide boulevard running along the shore called the Malecon. In Puerto Plata it runs for about six kilometers from Long Beach to the San Feline Fortress. At sunup and sundown it becomes the community sports center with bikers and joggers and walkers and shadow boxers all working out. During holidays and carnival, it’s a big party and the main showcase for parades. On Sunday’s people drive up and down and show off their cars. All in all it makes for an interesting, breezy stroll alongside the ocean.
The San Felipe Fortress. Built in the early 1500’s by Bartolome Colon, it successfully defended the harbor against numerous pirate attacks. Walk-through visits cost about 20 pesos.
The Market. About ten minutes walk from Central Park (ask for El Mercado), vendors at the market sell fresh produce and many handicrafts.
The Amber Museum. The stuff of Jurassic Park, Dominican amber is a semi-precious gem that is clear, hardened tree sap about 30 million years old, often containing trapped insects and bits of vegetation. The Amber Museum is a fascinating exhibition of this interesting stone. Just two blocks from Central Park.
Walking the Streets. Most of the fun comes from just walking around, going from store to store and taking in the sights on the busy bustling noisy streets of the city.
Lunch. Within three blocks from Central Park, try Sam’s Bar & Grill in a historical hotel near central park, Café Cito, a quiet courtyard with lots of plants, jazz music, Caribbean grill and Greek specialties, Roma II Pizzeria with air conditioning, The Jewelry Café for sandwiches, cold beer, a longtime American owner and a good variety of jewelry at manufacturer’s prices, Barco's on the Malecon (Beach way) with a gentle terrace and great pizzas.
Local Hangouts. After three or four days of hotel food and seeing the same tourists around the bar, It’s quite common for many people to start getting itchy feet and start longing to explore a little of the local lore without having to get on an excursion bus. One of the most interesting aspects of visiting any Caribbean town is discovering the local hangouts where you’re likely to meet a character of an owner or bartender who speaks your language and who can fill you in on all kinds of things. The patrons are mostly people living and working in the area. For the most part, local hangouts are among the most educational and entertaining places to discover, thus we have created a symbol to identify these places in this section. Important to note is that they are all places for which you can simply jump in a cab and go there with the assurance of arriving in a safe place where they speak your language, and, depending on your people skills, you’ll find out a whole bunch of things you will never hear about in your hotel lobby bar.
Business Listings & Classifieds Our Area Code is 809
Bank of Nova Scotia
Banco Nacional de Credito
Banco del Progreso
Banco Mercantil
Russin Vecchi Heredia Boneti
De Marchena & Asociados
EPS. Private mail service provides personal PO Box in Miami and daily delivery by air to Puerto Plata via Santo Domingo. Maintain a stateside address and ensure delivery of your mail. Plaza Turisol, Puerto Plata. Tel. 586-7185.
UPS
Federal Express
DHL
Air Santo Domingo. Daily shuttle flights connecting with Santo Domingo, Samana, Punta Cana, La Romana
American Airlines. Daily direct flights connecting with San Juan, Puerto Rico, Miami, New York
The Puerto Plata Chamber of Commerce.
Rotary Club
Lion’s Club
Real Estate. Read Relocating in Puerto Plata
Cargin, S.A.
West Indies Real Estate
Re/Max
Star Hills
Costambar
Britain
Canada
San Felipe No. 29
Puerto Plata
Tim Hall, Honorary Consul
Open Mon-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Tel.: (809) 586-5761
Fax: (809) 586-5762
E-Mail: timhall@codetel.net.do
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
United States
Hola Tours:
e-mail: holatours@codetel.net.do
Turissimo
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Santiago is the Dominican republic's second city and
a quite change from the mayhem of the capital. The romantic sounding, 'St James of the
thirty noblemen' is set on the banks of a river gorge, inland where it was less vulnerable
to attack, and it has a stately and confident air. There are some grand town-houses from
the last century, when cibao agriculture was the engine of the Dominican economy.
The city is generally by-passed by tourists, but a traveler may enjoy the pace of life
here after the capital, before rejoining the fray on the north coast. You will not be
pestered by hustlers in Santiago.
A 200 ft obelisk stands above the town, commemorating the heroes of the Restoration of
1844, when the Dominican republic forced out the Haitian occupation (It was originally
built by Trujillo in honor of himself). There is a fantastic view from the top. The Museo
del Tabaco, on Calle 30 de Marzo, shows the processing of tabacco from the
cultivation to cigars (available for sale). In the town center Museo de Arte
Folklorico, set in an elegant old town-house, exhibits local arts and crafts as well
as the 'lechones', the mischievous imps of the Santiago Carnival. Ruins fans will enjoy
the old colonial ruins at Jacagua in the north of the city.
As you head northwest among the Cibao from Santiago towards the Haitian border the land
becomes steadily drier. The town of Monte Cristi is known as 'estamos muriendo de sed' (we
die of thirst), because it is so windswept and desert-like.
