Visit the North Coast of the Dominican Republic for fun-filled attractions on land and at sea. Discover gorgeous white-sand beaches, try your hand at watersports and delight in encounters with aquatic animals. Hang out at the waterfront promenades of the North Coast resorts, tee off at scenic golf courses and visit historic port towns.
Puerto Plata sits in the foothills of the Cordillera Septentrional mountains. Spend lazy days at Dorada Beach, swim with dolphins and sharks at Ocean World Adventure Park and play 18-holes at Playa Dorada Golf Course. Stroll past the lively bars of the Malecon de Puerto Plata, which leads to the 16th-century Fort San Felipe. The Puerto Plata Cable Car travels up to Mount Isabel de Torres, where panoramic bird’s-eye views await.
Travel west to La Isabela, where Christopher Columbus first settled on the island in 1494. To the east, Sosua is the jumping off point for diving and whale watching around Sousa Bay. Join thrill-seekers for kiteboarding, surfing and windsurfing in Cabarete. Go snorkeling at Gri Gri Lagoon and surfing at Playa Grande in the fishing village of Rio San Juan.
Vibrant seaside resorts, such as Las Terrenas, spread around the Samana Peninsula. In Samana you can spot humpbacks in winter and learn about whales at the Whale Museum. Escape the crowds at Playa El Valle and Playa Rincon. Catch a boat to Cayo Levantado, a luxury all-inclusive and adult-only island resort.
Historical and naturally majestic Monte Cristi sits perched on the island’s north-westernmost corner. Browse exhibits about Jose Marti and Maximo Gomez’s plan to liberate Cuba at the Maximo Gomez House Museum. Hike amid banana plantations, limestone cliffs and rice fields in Monte Cristi National Park. Other natural wonders in the region are the 27 Charcos and El Salto de Limon waterfalls.
Puerto Plata’s Gregorio Luperon International Airport is the main hub for air travel on the North Coast. Take advantage of airport transfers to hotels and rent a car to travel to the region’s remote areas.
