Tourists flock to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic to relax at one of the large resorts and take in the sun, the beach and the calm waters. Although you may want to do nothing but sit by the side of the pool for the first few days, once you get your strength back, you really do need to see what other things this Caribbean location has to offer to visitors.
Puerto Plata is the site of the oldest fort built in the New World by the Spanish Fort San Felipe. This fort dates back to 1564. It took 33 years to complete the construction with walls that are 6.5 feet thick. The Spanish had sharpened swords around the top to prevent invaders from climbing over the walls. The doors are also shorter than normal at 3.5 feet in height. This fort lay in ruins for some time until it was restored in the early 1970s. Today it is one of the most popular attractions of the area.
For the best panoramic view of the countryside, you just have to visit the Isabel de Torres observation tower. At the top you are over 2500 feet above sea level. A cable car will take you to the top a trip of only ten minutes. There are 3 hectares of botanical gardens at the top. It is best if you check at the front desk of your hotel to make sure the cable car is running before you head out to this attraction.
Rare amber specimens are on display at the Museum of Dominican Amber. This museum is located near Central Park in Puerto Plata and is open from Monday to Friday from 8 to 6 and on Saturday from 9 to 5. Guided tours are available in English.
Another main tourist attraction in Puerto Plata is the shopping destinations. Just next to the Museum of Dominican Amber you will find a dense collection of boutiques. There are about 80 stores in the Plaza Turisol Complex, which is the largest shopping mall on the northern coast of the island. However, if you are looking for handmade crafts to take back home with you, the best shopping destination for these products would be Playa Dorado Plaza where you will find about 80 shops specializing in these items.
Puerto Plata has become the vacation mecca for many tourists from Canada and the United States looking to escape the cold winter climate for a short period of time. As such, the town is geared up for tourists during this peak season, but the attractions and shopping venues are open all year long.
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