A favorite Caribbean port of mine is Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. It’s known for its beautiful beaches, natural wonders, and rich history. Of course, I loved its history the best, but also greatly enjoyed Puerto Plata’s culture where I met lovely people, imbibed in the local drink—Mama Juana, and roamed around taking in all the street art and sites of the city.
We docked at the Taíno Bay cruise port. This port is located in the heart of Puerto Plata, so you’re within walking distance of the city’s historic district. The port has several shops, restaurants, pools, a lazy river, animal adventures, and other things to explore, but to get a real sense of the Dominican Republic head out of the port into the city itself. There is also another port nearby, Amber Cove, which is located in Maimon Bay, but I was very happy to be so close to the Puerto Plata. Once we got through the port, the city was right at our feet and it took us only ten minutes to get to places like Umbrella Street.
Puerto Plata History
Before Europeans colonized the island, the area that is now Puerto Plata was inhabited by the Taíno people, an indigenous group that lived throughout the Caribbean. The Taínos were peaceful agriculturalists and fishermen, so Puerto Plata with its water resources and fertile soil was likely home to many settlements.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic during his first voyage to the Americas. He named the area Puerto Plata, meaning “Silver Port.” While there was no actual silver, the name stuck. See my YouTube video below for an interesting mural describing the history of Spanish conquistadores and their effect on the people and the land.
In 1502, the Spanish governor of Hispaniola (the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Nicholas de Ovando, conquered the area by force. Indigenous people were subjected to the encomienda system, which was a Spanish labor system that rewarded conquerors with the labor of the people they conquered. Puerto Plata’s location on the north coast made it a key port for the Spanish, particularly for exporting gold and other important resources back to Spain.
During the Spanish colonial period, Puerto Plata was as an important military and commercial port, providing a gateway for trade between Spain and its colonies. You can visit the fort to this day.
After the Haitian Revolution, Hispaniola became Haiti, including the area now considered the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic declared independence from Haiti in 1844 and Puerto Plata had an important role in the nation’s early history. In the late 1800s, Puerto Plata grew and became the home of cable car that still runs up Isabel de Torres Mountain, providing breathtaking views. In the 1900s, Puerto Plata’s economy shifted from sugar to tourism, which dominates it today.
My Favorite Things to Do in Puerto Plata
- Fortaleza de San Felipe—Fort San Felipe (Fuerte San Felipe) is Puerto Plata’s only remaining colonial structure and one of the first European forts constructed in the Americas. The Fort was built between 1564 and 1577 to defend against colonists from other European countries, as well as pirates looking for silver and gold.
- Umbrella Street—technically San Felipe Street but you can find it under “Umbrella Street” on maps. This street is just as it sounds—a street with umbrellas hanging down. It’s whimsical, colorful, and brought a huge smile to my face.
- Amber Museum—Amber is the Dominican Republic’s natural gemstone. At this museum, you can see amber mined in and around Puerto Plata.
- Paseo de Dona Blanca (Pink Street)—this pink will make you feel like you’re wearing rose-colored glasses. It will make for interesting photos.
- Parque Central Independencia (Central Park)—good starting point to exploring the city. The cathedral is on this square, as are many shops. Nearby is a museum dedicated to the life of Dominican Republic president—General Gregorio Luperon.
- Catedral San Felipe—built in the mid-1900s over the ashes of an older structure, this charming church has an interesting architectural style and beautiful windows.
- Malecon Puerto Plata—to view the waterfront in an accessible way, walk along the three-kilometer paved pathway that winds along the coastline. The pathway (Malecon) starts at the San Felipe Fortress and runs under tall palm trees before ending at Long Beach. Along the way, you’ll pass various art installations, pretty views, and many restaurants.
- Wandering around the city looking for art—Puerto Plata has many amazing murals and shops selling art. Roam around and find your own favorite parts of the city.
Accessibility of Puerto Plata
We actually found the city of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic fairly accessible. The Taíno Bay port was a nuisance since the man-made cobble stones made travel throughout the port bumpy, but the city itself was fairly navigable. There were some areas without curb cuts or where hubby had to use the road instead of the sidewalk but, overall, we found the city pretty smooth and fairly easy to get around. It is uphill to get to the church and places like Umbrella Street and Pink Street, so if you don’t have a motorized mobility aid it will be infinitely more challenging.
I hope you enjoy Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Please tell me about your time there in the comments below. Here are some of my recommended tours. Happy travels!
Tours
Shore Excursions Group offers tours that fit your cruise’s itinerary exactly. Some that caught my eye: http://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1634209&[email protected]
- Damajagua Waterfalls Adventure
- Ziplines and Horseback Ride
- Puerto Plata’s Historic Town and Dominican Countryside Culture from Taíno Bay
- Explore the Best of Puerto Plata
- Escape to Golden Beach
- Playa Dorada Beach Day
- Puerto Plata Sightseeing and Riding Adventure
- Tropical Forest Nature Trek
Please use the Roaming Historian Shore Excursions Group link when booking: ***
Viator also has many adventures for both Taíno Bay and Amber Cove. Check them out with our affiliate link: https://www.viator.com/Puerto-Plata/d795-ttd?pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector
My YouTube videos from my time in Puerto Plata:
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