Dominican Republic: which coast to choose for your holiday? Resorts on the Caribbean Sea

The original north of the Dominican Republic

Time flies! Every year, as we get to know one or another paradise on Earth, we become more and more convinced that the Dominican Republic has not come up with a better place for us. Since we want variety, for our fifth trip to the Dominican Republic our eyes fell on Puerto Plata. Moreover, the RIU hotel provided Pegasus with very preferential and interesting conditions, and a stream of “Russian tourists” rushed to the northern coast of the Dominican Republic.

I must say that many are disappointed purely because of laziness to understand the features of this resort. And the resort, I must say, is specific. There are both pros and cons. I will try to highlight my wife’s and my opinions in detail point by point, which, by the way, for the most part, did not coincide.

Path - road:

We have already become accustomed to the terribly economical Pegasus airline NordWind, although more than once we promised ourselves not to fly with them anymore. But this time too the company added negativity to us. And what kind! The whole trip almost ended. Or maybe it was the fault (sorry), fucking Sheremetyevo, with its terminals at different ends of the airport. We had a transfer from the NordWind flight St. Petersburg-Moscow to the NordWind flight Moscow-Puerto Plata. Both flights and the transfer were included in the package. The agency assured us that the departure would be from terminal D, and, accordingly, the arrival would also be at this terminal. In general, for the most part, we don’t care, but the crossing was a little over an hour, and we still had to go through customs and all these lines. We landed. We drove up to terminal D. They put us on a bus, and... they drove us for half an hour in a circle through the entire airfield to terminal C! Until now, no one has understood why they dragged us there. And the luggage was delivered there even later. As a result, we ended up at the other end of the airport 35-40 minutes before our plane departed. We are ten more families just like ours. And no one understands anything about what we should do. And no one really cares that 10 people miss the flight, and everyone knows that NordWind will fly away without us. No announcements, apologies, nothing! There is some kind of shuttle between the terminals, but no one knows how and when it runs, and even if it departs right now, you still won’t be on time. There was only one way out: take a taxi and drive to terminal D for 1000 rubles, which is what everyone did. That's the only way we managed to do it. But the nerves were spent through the roof. We already think that this is a conspiracy at the airport in order to additionally milk tourists. In St. Petersburg, I drove halfway through the city to the airport at night for 300 rubles. And in Moscow, to travel between terminals of the same airport, you had to pay a thousand.

Okay, we forgot, let's rest. But when we were flying back, another interesting situation occurred at Sheremetyevo. Here we had 5 hours, and we were in no hurry. Once again we were brought to the wrong terminal. We took the shuttle. It turned out that it takes 2.5 hours to get from one terminal to another using the shuttle! Well, okay, it doesn’t matter (only we are tired, we haven’t slept for almost a day), we go to registration, we got there first, and ask us to register together (we are a family, after all), and at the window. Let me remind you - we are the first. Empty plane. Russian-speaking idiot at registration. And he puts us in different rows in the aisle. Actually, it didn’t matter - the plane was one-third full, and everyone moved as they wanted. But still, how do they develop personnel at NordWind? Where does this nastiness come from in the soul of a person who says that it’s good, he heard us, and at the same time gives us the worst places. I have only one explanation: he wanted money, and when he didn’t get it, he gave us filthy places in revenge and edification. Do you think we are mistaken? What about selling your airline check-in in advance to your hotel? This is now legalized in NordWind! Pay 100 bucks (I think that’s how much) and we’ll reserve you the seat you specify!. What can I say? Those bastards! No company is humiliated like this

Puerto Plata Airport:

Nothing special. The building is a simple two-story building without any special features. It was immediately forgotten. Minimum personnel. Everything is fast both there and back. There are few shops. Less than in Punta Cana. The selection and prices are the same.

Puerto Plata

This is a very specific place, which has a lot of differences from the rest of the famous resort Dominican Republic. There are positive differences, there are negative differences, and there are differences that are not for everyone. First of all, it is a cheap holiday area. Among the locals, it is considered the poorest part, although this is not very noticeable. But it is noticeable that the local people here are a little concerned about petty mercantile problems. Merchants, a little more than everywhere else, want to sell you their goods, and at a higher price. The prices in the stalls here are just like airport prices! You need to know where to buy what. We'll advise you later.

Next, the most important thing is the climate. It is due to the fact that it is mountainous, which means there are a bunch of small rivers and rivulets coming down from the mountains and flowing into big water, like everywhere else in the tropics where there are mountains. The consequence of this is humidity, clouds, rain. And another consequence is fresh water flowing into the salty sea - runoff from fields, microorganisms, algae, in general - a muddy sea, with the exception of certain special places where they are taken for money. On the way from the airport to the hotel, I counted that we crossed the beds of about 15 rivers and streams. Mountains are, of course, beautiful and majestic. Clouds in small quantities are also beautiful. All this pleases the eye. The camera lens too. But the body is not very happy, because the clouds - heavenly wanderers - block the life-giving rays of the sun and prevent the water from heating to the state of fresh milk, as at the same time the water is heating up along the entire Caribbean coast, as well as on the beaches of Punta Cana, where there are fewer waves. In addition, snow-white sand, obtained by natural grinding of pieces of dead white corals, is actively mixed with ground mountain soil, which has a different color, mainly black, and such gray beaches are obtained. Using Photoshop, you can get a snow-white beach in your photos, but don’t let that fool you. This gray color of sand is essentially no worse than snow-white, since it still does not heat up so much as to burn your feet. But the color of coastal water directly depends on the background on which the water is located. Against a white background, the water is very beautiful - blue - almost blue, just turquoise, you can’t take your eyes off it. And against a gray background, accordingly, ... it’s simply beautiful, that’s all. Moreover, it’s a little unclear. The water itself also has its own color, and it is different from the Caribbean color. And the color of the water is also affected by the angle of incidence of the sun's rays. Sunsets and sunrises in Puerto Plata can only be observed from the land side, which is not very beneficial for the color of the water and for melancholy thoughts during the pleasant contemplation of sunsets or sunrises.

So, draw your own conclusions. In my opinion, it is best to start getting acquainted with the Dominican Republic from this area.

Hotel RIU MERENGUE

Decent hotel. Very harmonious price-quality ratio. As far as I understand, due to the fact that this hotel has a fairly high population density. So, the hotel absorbed more than 300 Russians at a time, and no one even noticed. But it's not too noticeable. Every piece of territory is used wisely. You feel overcrowded only at the pools, where older couples like to hang out, and in the evening, in places of scenic entertainment. Of course, there are disadvantages, but, in our general opinion, there are more advantages, and we are now ready to visit other hotels in this chain. Why not this one - only because we don't return to the same places. Well, maybe in many years...

Placement.

Everyone writes about the amazing speed with which new arrivals are accommodated. Indeed, this is something!!!. All hotels around the world should organize an experience exchange tour here. Such a conveyor was organized - one treated us to a cocktail, another gave us a questionnaire and a pen, the third looked for an envelope ALREADY READY IN ADVANCE with documents and keys, the fourth took the questionnaire, the fifth put on bracelets, the sixth attached a number to the luggage for the porter, and showed us the direction where we should go. By the way, the porter managed to bring our suitcase in 2 minutes. In short, half an hour, and 300 people were accommodated. And this is early in the morning, before breakfast. And the rooms are all ready for occupancy. This, I tell you, is very pleasant and unexpected, and very useful after a difficult and long flight. By the way, we received the exact number we wanted, which we requested via email. mail to the reception. We received, like everyone else, the standard answer that, they say, they don’t guarantee anything, everything is possible. I don’t know whether they granted our request, or whether it was a coincidence, but we got what we wanted.

We were completely satisfied with it. Although, it is noticeable that everything is so old, it does not cause any unpleasant sensations. The TV is decent, there is one Russian channel that shows some crap, and that’s good. There's no point in flying halfway around the world to sit in front of a TV set. Of particular interest is the alcoholic beverage dispenser located in the room. I have repeatedly heard conversations that it is now convenient to steal directly from the room. Let no one be under any delusion; in a cheap hotel they will not put high-quality alcohol in your room. In general, the company "TREMOLS" is the cheapest company that produces fake surrogate fakes, and in this issue you will find the cheapest options from this swill. The only digestible use for these liquids is to use them in cocktails in small quantities. As for the rest of the contents of the minibar, or rather the refrigerator: everything is as usual. Two colas, two Schweppes, two cans of beer (not bad), and two bottles of still drinking water. Sometimes it's a sprite. The refrigerator works rather poorly - it is clogged in a confined space and the evaporator is poorly ventilated. The air conditioner also works so-so, and is still a little noisy. But acceptable. It was worse, and it was rarely better with the economy option. The room had only the bare essentials to a minimum. No hair dryer, no iron. The only detergents are soap and shampoo in bags. Everything is more or less clean. The bed is huge, not creaky, the illumination is varied, the sockets work for the most part, the water pressure is normal, both cold and hot, and the bathroom is not slippery. You can live.

To be fair, I want to say that not all rooms are equally comfortable. There are places where there is constant noise from operating service mechanisms such as laundries and pumps. It’s unpleasant to even walk there; I don’t know how they live there. But you shouldn’t be afraid of noise from evening animation or daytime bustle by the pools. We have not noticed any buildings where this would interfere.

Territory

I won't repeat myself. In general, there is one promenade for three hotels, along the beach. It goes to all the hotel's attractions. The first thing to do is walk on it. And all questions regarding the territory will be clear. At the end of this promenade there is a climb to this cape with a gazebo, from where you can see the docked ocean liners.

The only interesting thing I want to tell you is to talk about a very interesting corner of the hotel, where not everyone wanders. And it's not on the diagram. You need to walk to the cape, then turn left, go down to that second small beach overlooking the port, walk along this entire beach, and at the end of the beach walk along the short asphalt path to the left. Local young barkers are sitting there and inviting you to go there, to their shops. Agree. There are many stalls there, and the prices in some are much cheaper than on that central path of the hotel. But that is not all. There is a small mangrove reserve behind these stalls. A crowd of turtles, ducks, fish, birds are swimming - very interesting. And everything is on the territory of the hotel. No one knows. The next interesting and long route through the territory is a promenade along the surf line along the beach.

A curious place. It is curious that the shadow over the couches is not created by special umbrellas - fungi, or even palm trees, but by specific trees with thick round leaves of different colors. By the way, the shade turns out quite well. I would be grateful if anyone could tell me their name. Small yellow birds frolic among these leaves, which creates a good atmosphere. The beach is equally good along its entire length. And the sea is the cleanest and most transparent, all other things being equal (slight waves), in the middle of the beach and further, to the left, closer to the gazebo. There the sea is not so deep, this makes the waves and undercurrents quieter, and the bottom is easier to see with a mask. The right side, on the contrary, is more muddy, but you can frolic and swim calmly without touching the bottom almost immediately from the shore to the buoys. The mask and snorkel came in handy a couple of times, but the fins never came in handy, not counting diving. We chose the right wing of the beach because it is closer to the habitats. Plus, it's a little more interesting. A clean, transparent stream flows along the border of the hotel and flows into the sea. In this stream you can see fish, crabs, and the most interesting thing is that in the coastal mud a crab claw sticks out from every hole. If you don’t move for 20-40 seconds, then all this will move. On the other side of the river, a dozen local Dominicans sit quietly, waiting to earn money - a massage, a hair curler, whatever. They sit there quietly. They were prohibited from imposing services and crossing the river. But we, the guests, can. But not recommended. They frightened you with all sorts of passions - faces like that the locals can do whatever they want to you outside the territory, and the police won’t even look into it... It’s beneficial for them (Pegasus) to set people up in such a way that people take more excursions. But in reality, it's not all that scary. Everyone walks, one at a time, and in groups, for a long time, and far. Naturally, there, to the right, across the river to a wild beach. First there is a series of local, pathetic market-type stalls. Then an endless wild beach with large boulders, a little reminiscent of the Seychelles. You can arrange a very interesting photo session. There is also an option from this wild beach to go deeper into the territory, around these two low characteristic mountains, similar to an overgrown ruined castle. But there was no company. I saw that young guys from Moscow sent a drone-quadcopter there from a wild beach with the goal of finding nests of large birds of prey there, which fly around in large numbers. If you find their recordings on YouTube, it’s amazing how interesting it is! Just don't put it down!

I hasten to say that this was the most organized diving of all where I was lucky enough to dive. And in comparison with other Dominican places, I’ll say this: it’s about the same as diving from Bavaro beach, Uvero Alto, and other places close to Punta Cana. Of course, it doesn’t reach the Caribbean coast at all. But it’s nice that the equipment did not break down, the boat is specialized for divers - with ladders and a canopy, the instructors are qualified and friendly, they try to do everything themselves and without a sour face. They even filled out my dive log! Groups are not overloaded and do not go out in bad weather. In general, everything is with soul. And there are more than enough clients in the hotel! You won't get there right away the next day. They will say that the group is full. The price is the same as everywhere else - two dives - 98 bucks. I recommend. You will not regret.

This is a big and bold plus for the hotel. Tasty, varied, no queues. I can’t even imagine how it’s possible to organize food for such a crowd of people. I won’t repeat myself and list everything. I will only tell you the differences. I was especially pleased with the organization of drinking. You can serve whatever you want for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And beer, and wine (3 types), and tea, and a coffee machine right there, and hot and cold milk, and all kinds of lemonades (Pepsi, Sprite, etc.), and juices like improved yuppies, whatever your heart desires. No restrictions. Lovely! In the morning, still crushed fruits and vegetables in a blender with ice (fresh juices). The baked goods, to my discerning taste, are so-so. Not bad. It can be better. There are a lot of different fruits. The pineapples were especially pleasing. So hard to put down that even all my gums were almost dissolved until they bled with these pineapples! I had to take breaks, and this was a big test of my will. Try it yourself and you will understand. You won’t taste such tender and aromatic pineapples in Russia.

It is noticeable that this hotel is designed in such a way that fat travelers do not bother themselves with long trips for food and long breaks. You can crack from breakfast almost continuously until dinner. Lunches, in addition to the main restaurant, are organized directly at the pools next to the bars, and they are open all day. Eat - I don’t want to! And, you know, there by the pool among the Canadians I felt like a slender cypress! My stomach lay next to me separately, but I was glad that it did not hang from the lounger to the ground on both sides, like many of my neighbors.

Swimming pools

Clean. But cold, until the sea warms up too. The pools are boring and small. There are sun loungers densely packed next to them. But you can always find a place. Seats are taken in advance. But there are always empty seats. Especially in the heat of the moment.

PegasTours

Having read negative reviews about the guides (I think Katya and Evgenia, I don’t remember, I didn’t want to stir up old reviews again), we decided not to listen to anyone and not to take excursions. But the company prudently changed the lecturer, and some young, literate man spoke so skillfully about all the excursions that we almost ordered something! Just some kind of zombie! But they resisted, and are very happy. Nobody NOBODY!!! Of those who bought them, they were not satisfied. Very bad organization. And overpriced. In general, if you really, really want to go somewhere...

And one more thing that Pegasus Tour got was paid early booking of seats on the plane for the return trip. For me, this is blatant robbery and deception. Moreover, there were cases when places were paid for and not received. Okay, I'm tired of this topic.

For children:

There is nothing. Or almost nothing. The hotel is not designed for this. In general, dragging small children halfway around the world is adult selfishness towards the child and others, and great stupidity. It's just useless to talk about it. Everyone who has intelligence understands this themselves. And the rest don't care. And the health of your child, and the spoiled vacation of those around you.

I don't know what else to write. Please ask questions

Overall, I liked the holiday, but my wife not so much. We spent the entire vacation arguing about this – who likes/dislikes what. So, study, read, ask.

About country " "

Nature

About the resort ""

Nature

Food (restaurants, cafes)

Shopping (shops, markets)

Cost/quality ratio

About the hotel “Playabachata Resort 5*”

Hotel location (distance from the airport, sea, mountains, etc.)

Hotel area (size, arrangement)

Hotel building (condition)

Have you heard a lot of good reviews about these resorts and are now choosing between Puerto Plata or Punta Cana? They are indeed two quite different regions within the Dominican Republic, although they are often confused with each other.

Since both of these resorts are popular vacation destinations, there is often confusion between the two areas. Some people mistakenly think Puerto Plata and Punta Cana are similar and interchangeable, but they are actually two distinct Dominican paradises.

Let's start with Puerto Plata.

Puerto Plata is generally considered "older" than Punta Cana in terms of hotels. That is, the hotels there are older, but this does not mean that they are bad. Accommodation prices in Puerto Plata are also slightly lower than in Punta Cana. However, Puerto Plata can offer you first-class resorts, including: Casa Colonial Beach and Spa, Barcelo Puerto Plata and Victoria Golf & Beach Resort.

Along the northern coast of Puerto Plata there are a number of small reefs that create good conditions for diving. Windsurfing is also a popular sport along the northern coast, especially in Cabarete.

The undoubted advantage of Puerto Plata is that local attractions are very close, no more than half an hour away. For example, just take a taxi from the hotel, and in 10 minutes you will already be in the city itself, where shopping, numerous museums and excursions are at your service.

The resorts of Sosua and Cabarete, located very close to Playa Dorada, are actually very different in terms of entertainment, lifestyle and recreation. Thus, a quick and easy change of environment is guaranteed to you. It is unlikely that anywhere in the Dominican Republic this can be done as easily as here.

Now let's talk about Punta Cana.

In Punta Cana there is no such compactness; you will have to spend much more time moving around. Sights are accessible mainly through excursions (read our review of excursions in Punta Cana). And the resorts in this area are not so different from each other. And this area itself was built and exists only for the sake of and for tourists. Therefore, of course, there can be no talk of any local flavor here; you won’t see the “real” Dominican Republic here. And there is no city itself here - just a chain of hotels.

Punta Cana is a newer tourist destination than Puerto Plata, as hotel chains have appeared there relatively recently. Given the relative newness of the hotels, prices for holidays there are usually higher than in Puerto Plata.
Unlike Puerto Plata, where the sea under the influence of the Atlantic Ocean is not always calm (no wonder they actively windsurf there), the waters of the Caribbean Sea surrounding Punta Cana are much calmer.

This may appeal to someone looking for a relaxing beach holiday or vacationing with children. However, on the beaches of Playa Dorada in Puerto Plata the sea is quite calm, and on the beaches of Punta Cana you will have access to many active water activities. For more detailed information you can read our article

If you want to spend a vacation in paradise, then you should go to the resorts of the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean Sea. No matter where you choose - La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana or any other - you will be greeted by palm-lined beaches, gorgeous underwater tropical gardens, smiling dark-skinned locals and gentle breezes. The main wealth of Dominican resorts is the warm sea and sandy beaches. The best hotels in the world operating on the All Inclusive principle are located here. The average annual air temperature varies between +28 and +31 degrees. Travelers will forever remember the enchanting tropical forests, coral reefs and stunning waterfalls.

General characteristics of the resorts

The resorts of the Dominican Republic are in extraordinary demand among tourists today, as they offer complete relaxation with the highest level of comfort organized and constant sunny weather. The most popular type of recreation is luxury. Incredibly beautiful, one might even say fabulous, play an important role in it. Tourist vacations here are combined with national Caribbean events, fiery carnivals and expressive dances.

If you briefly describe the resorts of the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean Sea, you will get the impression that they are a real paradise, located in a stunning tropical forest. Holidays at any of the resorts will take place in the shade of coconut trees. The beach recreation areas filled with golden and crystal white sand impress with their well-groomed appearance and inviting warmth; they will give you a complete feeling of relaxation and absolute safety.

One of the most popular resorts

One of the most popular Dominican resorts is Punta Cana. It is located on the Caribbean Sea, or more precisely, on one of its shores, and its snow-white beaches stretch for 30 kilometers. It arose in the early 80s of the last century on a deserted sea coast. The resort includes several large tourist complexes. They are intended for family vacations or couples' vacations. Only in the spring can you meet only students here who come to have fun among the youth crowd.

The Punta Cana resort is known all over the world. And this is not surprising, because the best hotels on the coast are located here, historical and cultural attractions are concentrated, and only here there is a lot of interesting and educational things. At this resort, even those travelers who place the highest demands on their holiday will satisfy their needs. In Punta Cana, guests are surrounded by peacocks, rare species of flowers, mangroves and flamingos. Things that are unusual for Europeans will seem quite natural here.

Quiet and relaxing resort

La Romana (Dominican Republic) is a wonderful resort, which is the capital of the province of the same name. It was founded at the very beginning of the 16th century. On the coast of the modern resort there is a huge hotel complex, included in the list of the most respectable places in the world. This chic tourist center is the main attraction of La Romana.

The resort of La Romana (Dominican Republic) has dozens of luxury cottages and hundreds of luxurious villas. This place is recommended for visiting by young married couples who prefer a calm, quiet vacation on the seashore. Athletes, both professional and beginners, can have a wonderful time here. There are several sports complexes for them. In La Romana you can go underwater fishing and the most popular sports are horse riding and tennis, and you can do them right in the La Romana resort.

Resort on the island of Haiti

The wonderful resort of Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) is located on the island. It has more than ten hotels, including two-star and five-star establishments. The hotels offer guests a variety of entertainment for every taste: there is a club right on the beach, everyone will be taught diving and snorkeling, and you can also take part in sports games and competitions. In you have the opportunity to enjoy endless white beaches and the warm Dominican sun.

There are not as many people in the resort of Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) as in other resorts in the republic. Here you can always find an incredibly beautiful but secluded place for a relaxing holiday. The small Puerto Plata warmly welcomes all its guests - it is designed in such a way that everyone who arrives here can feel calm and comfortable. There is lush greenery and an unrivaled beach, and magnificent nature surrounds both on land and in the underwater world.

Favorite resort of Dominicans

Juan Dolio is a Dominican Republic resort located in the southeastern part of the island. It is loved by many travelers, but it has earned special recognition among local residents. Those who like the delights of the underwater world come here: near the shores of this particular resort there is a magical coral reef, which you can explore for days on end. Juan Dolio has more than ten upscale hotels, chic restaurants, clubs, discos and casinos.

It is almost impossible to imagine the Dominican Republic without the Juan Dolio resort. The beautiful town, which is located near the capital, is filled with interesting places, it is characterized by luxurious nature and an interesting history. There are many museums, small churches and chapels that you can visit at any time. Resort life here proceeds slowly, but this only benefits everyone here.

The most vibrant resort in the Dominican Republic

Many Dominican Republic resorts on the Caribbean Sea resemble a real fairy tale. One of these places was the Boca Chica resort, located in a lagoon protected by reefs. The resort is located in the suburbs of the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. Boca Chica was founded by wealthy industrialist Juan Visini in the first half of the last century. And the resort development of this place dates back to the 50s of the twentieth century. This happened after dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo ordered the construction of the modern Hamaca Hotel, which today is called Hamaca Coral By Hilton.

Modern Boca Chica is the busiest resort on the southeast coast. Life here flows to the rhythm of the merengue, the sounds of which spread from the numerous restaurants located on the beach. Here you can try tropical drinks and dishes from different cuisines of the world. The most popular in Boca Chica are fish delicacies, especially those that are grilled. The main advantage of the resort is the natural five-hundred-meter coral barrier.

Resort capital of the Dominican Republic

The best resorts were founded during the Middle Ages. For example, the now popular Santo Domingo was founded back in 1496 by Bartolomeo Columbus, the brother of that same Christopher Columbus. He named the city New Isabella, but then the resort was renamed Santo Domingo, which translates from Spanish as Holy Sunday.

The Osama River flows into Santo Domingo, dividing it into two parts. The western region is the cultural and business center of the city, and the eastern region is the historical one. The most interesting regions for travelers will be the colonial zone and Gazcue. In the center of the western part of Santo Domingo is the “commercial” heart of the capital. The best shops and restaurants in the city are concentrated here.

Port city of Barahona

We described all the popular resorts of the Dominican Republic above. But there is one more, on the Caribbean Sea, which is not very popular with tourists, but is no less wonderful - this is the port city of Barahona. It is hidden in a bay surrounded by mountain ranges. The pride of Barahona is the picturesque lakes scattered throughout the village. The resort offers tourists a wide variety of excursions.

Travelers can visit Las Caritasma, an archaeological site located in the northern part of Lake Enriquillo. This pond is home to pink flamingos, iguanas and crocodiles. Magnetic Hills is the most remarkable place in the Barahona resort. And if you have a passion for reptiles, you can visit Cabritos Island.

Holidays on the peninsula

The amazing country of the Dominican Republic. Which resort to choose for your vacation is a question that sometimes confuses many travelers. There is another place in the Dominican Republic on the Caribbean Sea that fascinates with its beauty. This is the Samana Peninsula.

In the 18th century, King Ferdinand VI of Spain ordered the founding of the city of Santa Barbara de Samana. Every year in February, a carnival is held here, which opens with the “ambula” dance. It is attended exclusively by male representatives, dressed in multi-colored masks.

The Cordillera mountain range crosses the peninsula from east to west. The ridge has become a natural feature between the island and the Samana conservation area. Samana Bay is a true tropical paradise. It has small islands. The bay is 11 kilometers wide, and its length reaches as much as 54 kilometers.

The resort called Puerto Plata is located in the north of the Dominican Republic, on the Atlantic coast and is very different from the popular and crowded Punta Cana. Puerto Plata should be chosen by those people who do not like crowds, are not interested in vibrant nightlife and want a calm, measured holiday in silence. There are not very many hotels here, the beaches are often deserted, and sometimes there was not a soul on the beaches where we were.

As mentioned earlier, there is no vibrant nightlife in Puerto Plata, of course, there are a couple of bars, but it is difficult to find a disco there. Despite this, the resort has many cafes and restaurants to suit every taste and budget - you can go to inexpensive cafes on the coast, which mainly serve local cuisine, there is an inexpensive German restaurant owned by a German (this restaurant is located about 15 - 20 km from Puerto Plata itself), there is a rather expensive and beautiful Italian restaurant that also offers Mexican cuisine. Food lovers will find a restaurant there to suit their taste.

Those wishing to go to Puerto Plata should keep in mind that the resort is located on the Atlantic coast and on the vast majority of beaches the ocean is choppy, there are medium and even large waves. Those who like to swim calmly are unlikely to like this, but the resort is ideal for surfers, especially since there are surfing schools where they will teach you how to properly catch a wave with a board.

The rest of the entertainment at the resort is mainly closely related to nature - not far from the city... read more

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Weather in Puerto Plata by months:

The slopes of Mount Isabel de Torres are rich in flora - about eight thousand species of plants grow here, almost a thousand of which can be found only on Dominican lands. Many of these species have been existing for several million years; such long-livers include, for example, a three-meter fern, whose dense thickets perfectly contributed to the atmosphere in the famous movie epic about dinosaurs.

The summit of Isabel de Torres is crowned by a statue of Jesus Christ with outstretched arms, located at an altitude of 2600 meters. This monument almost completely copies the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer from Rio de Janeiro - except that it is smaller in size. You can get to the observation deck at the foot of the statue by funicular; the view of the northern coast of the Dominican Republic from there will be an excellent basis for many bright photographs!

Beaches of Puerto Plata

Once upon a time, Puerto Plata lived on smuggling, and its inhabitants were so successful in aiding the pirates that the Spanish king ordered this hotbed of evil to be wiped off the face of the earth. It was only in 1742 that colonists from the Canary Islands repopulated the area, building a city that to this day is full of unique charm thanks to its peculiar mixture of colonial spirit and Victorianism.

Tropical greenery, a wonderful climate and soft winds have created ideal conditions here for relaxation from the hustle and bustle. There are three independently developed resort centers here. Playa Dorada, 5 kilometers from Puerto Plata, is a resort complex of 13 hotels that have their own oceanfront club with a golf course, restaurants, beaches, and horseback riding. The small town of Sosua, 19 kilometers from Puerto Plata, offers a wide selection of souvenir shops, bars and all kinds of entertainment. Cabarete is a place for young people and water sports enthusiasts.

The “Amber Coast” of Puerto Plata, or, as it is also called, the “Amber Coast”, is widely known, where black amber - ambergris - is often found. By the way, here you can visit the Amber Museum, and also Fort St. Philip, Independence Park, St. Philip's Cathedral, a botanical garden, rum and chocolate factories, and see a huge bronze statue of Christ. From the top of Monte Isabel de Toros, there is a breathtaking view of the ocean and the city.

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Cabarete Beach

Cabarete Beach is a continuous line 6 kilometers long, with pure golden sand, clear sea and tall palm trees.

Cabarete Bay is 2 kilometers long. In the Cabarete area there are also the beaches of Perla Marina, Seahorse Ranch, Encuentro, Punta Goleta, Kite Beach, and Playa Laguna.

The beaches of Cabarete are among the top ten beaches in the world ranking.

There is an excellent infrastructure for water sports: surfing, kiting and windsurfing, so many young people who prefer active recreation come here. The most significant month for tourists who enjoy water sports or just watching is February, when the National Open Windsurfing Championship takes place.

Playa Grande beach is one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic. It is located in the north of the island in the resort area of ​​Playa Rio San Juan. According to Conde Nast Travel magazine, this beach is one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world.

Thanks to the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, this place is very popular among fans of windsurfing and sailing. Divers will also love the beach - there are underwater caves, coral reefs and even sunken ships.

There is a restaurant right on the beach where, if you wish, they will serve you a table right on the shore. Here you can try parrot fish, delicious shrimp, the freshest oysters and enjoy cocktails made right inside a pineapple or coconut.

Cofresi Bay

Cofresí Bay is one of the bays of the Caribbean. The bay was named after Roberto Cofresi, a pirate who buried his treasure in the area.

The bay has a wide but small beach with fine golden sand. This area is considered elite and is called Hacienda resort. The area has clear water, beautiful hills and coconut palm forests, which attract a large number of tourists to the bay. Currently, about one hundred villas have been built on the banks of Cofresí. Visitors to the bay can purchase one of the houses or rent it for a while.

Weekly in Cofresí, parties with fireworks and various show programs are organized for vacationers.

The Ocean World water park is located next to the bay. In Cofresí Bay you can enjoy not only clean water and a wonderful view of the bay, but also visit cafes and restaurants offering to taste national cuisine. Ginger cakes and crab claws are popular dishes in Cofresí Pirate Bay.

El Dudu Cave

The El Dudu karst cave is a round lake, which is connected to another open body of water through two underwater rock passages.

The bottom of the lake is at a depth of 16 meters and is completely littered with tree trunks that have fallen from the slopes. It is interesting that the trees do not rot, but only become stronger over time - thanks to the fresh water saturated with limestone.

One of the passages is 50 meters long: it ends with an air pocket in which you can float. On the other side of the reservoir there are a couple of other underwater caves, 90 and 110 meters long - they come to the surface in a second lake called Lily.

All the numerous branches of the caves have long been studied by scuba divers, who like to dive in one lake and emerge in another. Freedivers also like to come here (diving underwater without scuba gear - holding their breath).

Village of Punta Rucia

Punta Rucia is a fishing village located in a picturesque bay, protected from the sea by reefs. Near it there is an uninhabited island where tourists often sail. In Spanish, Rucia means “gray”, and Punta means “tip”, “nose”, which means that the sea in the village is gray due to small ripples. Near the village there is a lagoon where sea cows live, as well as caves with drawings of ancient Indians.

The village is famous for its seafood, so tourists here will definitely try freshly caught fish and other seafood.

The climate in the village, located near the border of Haiti, is special: here, they say, there are almost 360 sunny days a year and only here cacti and trees reminiscent of the African savannah grow.

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