What to See in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic

Puerto Plata is a municipality in the Dominican Republic located in the province with the same name. Puerto Plata is currently one of the most populated cities in the country. Its resources and lifestyle have made it one of the most frequented destinations for a fun holiday or for a day trip for those who decide to stay in another part of the island. Let’s discover everything Puerto Plata has to offer!

How to get to Puerto Plata

As one of the most important provinces both nationally and in terms of receiving international tourism, Puerto Plata is very well communicated.

By air, the Gregorio Luperon International Airport makes it easily accessible. But, if we want to get here from another point within the country, we can take a bus to reach our destination. From the capital, Santo Domingo, the journey will take approximately four and a half hours. From other important places, such as Playa Bávaro, the trip will take us about eight hours. As always, there is the option of hiring a taxi service or renting a vehicle. This makes the trip from Santo Domingo approximately two hours and forty minutes, or five hours from the Punta Cana area. The roads you’ll drive on to get here are a real pleasure for the eyes, since they’re either right by the coastline or surrounded by the exuberant vegetation of the inland part of the country.

Climate in Puerto Plata

It is very important to consider what the weather is like in Puerto Plata before travelling. It has a tropical climate, where the rainiest months are those between September and December. Temperatures are mild throughout the year, but it’s important to bring some warm clothing for when night falls.

What to see in Puerto Plata

Once you have reached your destination, you’ll see that you’re in a very elegant city, with a lot of life and movement. The city centre, with its narrow streets, will allow you to enjoy every inch of what this city has to offer.

These are the points of interest that you can’t miss on your visit to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic:

Puerto Plata cable car and Christ the Redeemer

In the southern part of the city is the Isabel de Torres mountain, 855 metres above sea level. At its top is the 16-metre high sculpture of Christ the Redeemer, which is reminiscent of the Christ the Redeemer on Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. This image was installed in 1971 and, since then, it has become one of the symbols of the city. To get to the top of the mountain and be able to admire it up close, you can take a cable car, which has been dubbed the Puerto Plata cable car. It was inaugurated in 1975 and is a real gem because it is the only cable car in the entire Caribbean. Don’t forget to take some photos of its beautiful Italian design, something you probably didn’t expect to find here. Its cars can fit 17 people and from there you can take in an incredible panoramic view of the city during the 8 minutes that the journey takes. Of course, it’s not a suitable option for those who have vertigo.

27 Puddles

This is a group of 27 waterfalls called “27 Puddles” or the “Puddles of Damajagua” and they are one of the main attractions in the area. They are located 20 kilometres from the city centre and form one of the most valuable natural complexes in the Dominican Republic. Here you can not only admire these natural pools, but also go for a refreshing swim. Most of the organised tours take you to see the main waterfalls, but if you want to see all 27 of them, you should know that some are reserved for only the most adventurous people in good physical shape, because there are some areas that are difficult to access. This is possibly the reason that makes it a perfectly preserved natural area that is reached only by a special few.

Plaza de la Independencia

This square is located in the city centre itself, surrounded by some of the most important buildings that have been witness to the history of Puerto Plata, such as the town hall. The square has very elegant elements that showcase its relevance, such as the Victorian-style kiosk that reminds us of the architecture that prevailed in the area at the end of the 19^th century.

Cathedral of San Felipe Apóstol

Puerto Plata has a beautiful cathedral. Its construction was completed in 1956, as part of the reconstruction of the previous wooden temple, destroyed by a fire in 1863. Its style is framed within the so-called “modern Victorian” and is the seat of the Diocese of Puerto Plata.

With everything we’ve just told you, have you been able to get a good idea of what Puerto Plata has to offer? You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit this special place.