Puerto Plata, Playa Dorada, Cofresí, Maimón & Luperón

Puerto Plata is for those seeking an attractively-priced R&R vacation with the option of lots of places to visit in the vicinity. Choose Puerto Plata if you like to explore. Playa Dorada, Cofresí, Maimón, and Luperon are the main tourism enclaves located near Puerto Plata city.

Playa Dorada, 10 minutes to the east of Puerto Plata, concentrates the largest number of hotel rooms in the North. This vacation compound includes 14 low rise resorts built in a “U” shape and sharing a common gold sand beach and the Playa Dorada Golf Course, an 18 hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones. Meet guests from other hotels during evening outings at the casinos and night spots which are open to all guests. During the day visit the shopping center, the Playa Dorada Plaza, with its stores and movie theatre. Walking is safe and easy, either on the beach or the sidewalk that connects all hotels. And because all the hotels are close together, this is a great choice for spring break travel.

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Cofresí is located West of Puerto Plata City and is also an enclave of several smaller hotels that use the same Cofresí beach facility.

Maimón is located about five minutes from the highway entrance to Cofresí and its beach is dotted with new all-inclusive resorts that used to cater to Europeans but are now attracting large numbers of North Americans as well. Maimón is for those seeking rest and relaxation, with the main attractions being the beach and other comforts provided by the hotel.

Luperón is about an hour’s drive west of Puerto Plata. Luperon Beach Resort is quite isolated and has its own beach. Perfect for those who want to get far away from it all but still enjoy luxury. Nearby is the La Isabela National Park, complete with a small museum that showcases items related to the first European settlement in the New World.

What else is nearby
To the East, about 15 and 25 minutes away are the beach towns of Sosua and Cabarete and beyond that Playa Grande and Rio San Juan. The second largest city in the Dominican Republic, Santiago, is less than an hour away and to the south.

How to get there
From abroad, the best way to get there is by flying into the Gregorio Luperon International Airport located west of Puerto Plata. This places you just 15 minutes from Playa Dorada.

Getting around
Within Playa Dorada, bicycle tours are available to visit the other hotels in the compound. Note that everyone wears bracelets to identify the resort where they are staying and whether within that resort they are an all inclusive guest or not. Some hotels may restrict admission to those with the correct bracelet only. Hotels that are not located on the beach will offer shuttles to the beach and back several times a day.

But for the most part, the entire complex is walkable. At night, the casinos will pay for your taxi ride to the casino but not back to the hotel. To leave the Playa Dorada complex, request a taxi or inquire if your hotel has a free shuttle bus to the town. At the highway entrance to the complex, you can catch a public bus or guagua in either direction, east or west.

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Attractions

There are many attractions aside from the beach and golf course at Playa Dorada complex. Outside the complex, visit the Columbus Water Park, less than 10 minutes away. And the Fun City Action Park (Go Kart and Bumper Car Park), also 10 minutes away. In Puerto Plata City, note the Victorian architecture in Central Park and the gingerbread motifs, wooden lace filigree and pastel colors of its houses and public buildings. On the waterfront, visit the San Felipe Fort built by the Spaniards in the 16th Century to fend off pirates. Visit the Brugal Rum Factory, the largest in the Dominican Republic; the Amber Museum (Calle Duarte 61); and the Taino Art Museum (Arawak Plaza, Calle Beller).

For a spectacular view, take the cable car up to Isabela de Torres, the peak overlooking Puerto Plata… you’ll find a gorgeous Botanical Garden at the top.

Plan to dine at several of the city's fine restaurants in the evening. They are small, so reservations are recommended.

Festivals Puerto Plata Jazz Festival 2002, October. Christmas Dreams 2002 in December Puerto Plata Carnival in March 2002 Merengue Festival, Malecon, October.

Excursions/Must See & Do

Go East to Sosua Beach, Cabarete Beach, Playa Grande-Rio San Juan - excursions may be offered. But these are all places that can be seen by forming a group and taking a taxi, or town minibus, or even by renting a car for the day.
Go West to La Isabela Park, near Luperon or visit Cofresí Beach, only 20 minutes from Playa Dorada.

Monster truck, jeep safari trips and four wheel bike adventures are offered by several companies. See the rural countryside and the lifestyle of its people. Visit undeveloped beach areas, springs and rivers in all their lush tropical splendor, far from the touristy areas.

Catamaran boat rides. Feel the ocean breeze and salt spray while speeding through tropical shades of blue on the way to and from secluded beaches.

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One to two hours away

Santiago cigar tours to the E. Leon Jimenes Marlboro cigarette and Aurora cigar factory. Also visit the Tomas Morel Folk Art Museum with its collection of winning masks from the Santiago Carnival. Museo del Tabaco (Calles 30 de marzo and 16 de Agosto)

Baseball games at the Cibao Ball Park in Santiago. Befriend a taxi driver and have him come with you to Santiago for a ball game during the October-January winter professional baseball season. Big names from the Major League may be playing. Go early, have dinner in Santiago, visit the city's large Nacional or Pola supermarkets to stock up on the best Dominican rum (Brugal, Bermudez or Barcelo brands), Santo Domingo or Café Santiago coffee, Bon tropical fruit juices and marmalade to take home.

River-rafting or mountain climbing in Jarabacoa, in the center of the island. Unforgettable thrills but only for those over 14 years old.

Four hours away

Whale Watching Samana (whale-watching 15 January to 7 March), Santo Domingo (city tour).

Dining outside the hotel
There is a good restaurant selection in Cofresí, Playa Dorada Plaza and especially in Puerto Plata. Reservations should be made as most restaurants are small.

Nightlife outside the hotel
Puerto Plata nighttime activities range from merengue and salsa music clubs, which mainly attract locals and tourists who want to meet locals. And the resort and beach town discos.

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Golf
Guests have the option of playing golf at the Playa Dorada 18 hole Robert Trent Jones golf course or the Los Mangos nine hole golf course. Serious golfers should also look into playing at the Playa Grande Golf Course, considered one of the best in the Caribbean. Playa Grande is about an hour and a half drive from Puerto Plata.

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Scuba Diving
Divers of all levels can enjoy shallow reefs, shipwrecks, freshwater cave diving, deep water diving and possible encounters with humpback whales and other large creatures. Summer air temperatures can hit the mid 90s, while winter temperatures drop to the 70s. Water temperatures range from the high 70s to low 80s, and visibility ranges from 70 to 100 feet. Serious divers should look into dives in the Monte Cristi area, to the west.

Fishing
The hotel staff or tour representatives can help book a deep sea fishing excursion.

Horseback Riding
Ranches are plentiful on the North Coast. Again, your hotel or tour rep can provide information on the options in your area.