Puerto Plata was the Dominican Republic's first resort coast, and Punta Cana took the crown. What is left is cheaper, rougher and more Dominican, and whether that is worth it depends on what you came for.
The short verdict#
| You want | Worth it? |
|---|---|
| Waterfalls, a cable car, a real town, low prices | Yes |
| Kitesurfing, wind, beach bars (Cabarete) | Yes, the best in the Caribbean |
| A calm bay to swim (Sosúa) | Yes |
| A cruise day from Amber Cove or Taino Bay | Yes |
| Punta Cana's white sand and polished all-inclusives | No, Punta Cana vs Puerto Plata |
What makes it worth it#
The 27 Charcos of Damajagua, jumping and sliding down a river of waterfalls, the best single thing to do on the coast. The cable car to Isabel de Torres and its Christ statue above the bay. The old town, Victorian wooden houses, the Fortaleza San Felipe, the Malecón. Sosúa, twenty minutes east, the calmest bay on the coast. Cabarete, thirty minutes, wind, kitesurfing and beach bars, the most fun on the coast if you are under about forty (Cabarete guide). And the price: hotels, food and taxis well below Punta Cana. The north coast guide, things to do in Puerto Plata in Spanish.
What makes it not worth it#
The beaches are browner and the sea rougher than Punta Cana's. It rains more, especially from October to January. The resorts at Playa Dorada are older. Sosúa's nightlife district is an adult scene that is not for everyone. If the trip is a perfect beach and a new all-inclusive, book Punta Cana.
Cruise days#
Amber Cove and Taino Bay are both close to town: the old town and the cable car in a morning, the waterfalls as a half-day tour. Puerto Plata cruise port.
How long and when#
Three to five days: Puerto Plata for the sights, Sosúa or Cabarete for the beach. December to April is driest, with November the shoulder and the wettest months October to January. Airport transfers for the arrival.
Safety#
Fine in the visited places with ordinary care. Is Puerto Plata safe?
With a Dominican#
A few Local Friends live on the north coast, and the right one knows which waterfall tour, which beach bar and which Sosúa street to skip. Local Friends in Puerto Plata, rent a friend in Puerto Plata, how rent a friend works in the DR.
Next door: is Sosúa worth visiting?, honestly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puerto Plata worth visiting?
Yes if you want the north coast: the 27 waterfalls, the cable car, Sosúa and Cabarete, a real town and low prices. No if you want Punta Cana's white sand and all-inclusives; Puerto Plata is cheaper, wetter and rougher, and better for people who leave the hotel.Is Puerto Plata worth it on a cruise day?
Yes. From Amber Cove or Taino Bay the old town, the cable car and the fort are close, and the 27 waterfalls are a half-day tour. Puerto Plata cruise port has the plan.Is Puerto Plata safe?
The tourist areas, Sosúa, Cabarete and the old town by day are fine with ordinary care. Sosúa's nightlife district is an adult scene some people want to avoid. Is Puerto Plata safe has the detail.Why is Puerto Plata so cheap?
It was the Dominican Republic's first resort coast and was overtaken by Punta Cana, so its hotels are older, its beaches less perfect and its prices lower. That is the trade: less polish, more country, less money.
