When visiting this Dominican Republic town, most will actually stay in one of the all-inclusive resorts in nearby Playa Dorada. The usual water sports are available in Puerto Plata, although the beaches are better at Dorada. Travelers will enjoy the Amber Museum, the 16th-century San Felipe Fortress, the cable car to the peak of Mount Isabel de Torres and the fresh produce and handicrafts at a market geared more for locals than tourists. Be aware that winter brings rain, so plan accordingly.
San Felipe de Puerto Plata, often referred to as simply Puerto Plata, is the capital of the Dominican province Puerto Plata. It has a population of 130,000.
The city is famous for resorts such as Playa Dorada and Costa Dorada, located east of San Filipe de Puerto Plata. There are a total of 100,000 hotel beds in the city.
The only aerial tramway in the Caribbean is located in Puerto Plata. With it, one can ride up to Pico Isabel de Torres, a 793 meter high mountain within the city. The top of the mountain features a botanical garden and a replica of Christ the Redeemer, the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro.
Yasika Adventures
Pioneers in Zip-line Adventures in the north coast of the Dominican Republic, we are geared towards nature preservation as well as safety. The park is located within a 30 minute scenic drive from Puerto Plata, which along the way you can enjoy spectacular views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean. Our highly trained staff received their training by technicians from Costa Rica, where the zip lining tour idea originated. Our goal is to make each participant'€™s experience unique.
“Trainer for A Day Program - INCREDIBLE--Truly once in a lifetime”
Ocean World Adventure Park, Marina and Casino
When I booked a vacation to Puerto Plata, one of the reasons was to participate in the Dolphin Swim. It is a 30 minute program at Ocean World and costs about $ 165,00 US which included general admission into the park. Then I read about the Trainer for a Day program. For $ 250.00 for a full 8 hour day, I worked directly with the most incredible dolphin trainer, Robinson. I participated in the Dolphin Encounter along with spending time in the water with 4 different dolphins. I learned to check the dolphin's exterior, learned commands that I used, was in the water with the dolphins, prepared food for them and got to brush the teeth of Boomer, the largest male dolphin. I cannot put into words what the day was like. Robinson, the trainer walked me through all of the other animal exhibits and allowed me to asked questions of EACH of the trainers for the sea lions, sharks, birds, and Bengal tigers. Each of the trainers took a great deal of time with me and they answered every question I asked. I cannot really express what the full day experience was, but it was a 15 on a scale of 1 to 10. In addition to the experience itself, the cost included an Ocean Trainer shirt and hat, lunch at the buffet which was delicious ( and the food was actually much better than the resort where I was staying), and two pictures that were taken by their photographer. If you have a full day to spend at the park and you would like a much more hands on role with the dolphins, the Trainer for a Day program is a MUST. It is an experience I will never forget.
