Puerto Plata
One of the most iconic cities in the Dominican Republic, this beautiful piece of paradise enjoys perfect weather all year long, and a very varied landscape of mountains, rivers, golden sand beaches and forests. It is the place where Christopher Columbus first set foot back in October 12th, 1492, effectively establishing the first Spanish settlement in the Americas. Its past colonial influence can still be seen in the main city center where gingerbread homes of Victorian style grace the city with an old charm that attracts tourists and locals alike. Its beach towns of Sosua, Cabarete, Cofresi and Costambar are major tourist destinations that offer a complete set of amenities, tours, hotels, luxury villa rentals and prime real estate.
The History
After the Spanish conquistadores left the island, the Dominican Republic underwent a series of invasions and dictatorships, including a civil war in 1965 that ended with democratic elections one year later. During the early 1980`s tourism became a major export for the island, and it all started in Puerto Plata, specifically at the Playa Dorada resort. Sosua beach and later Cabarete beach were added to the tours. In the late 1990`s tourism moved to Punta Cana and Bavaro on the East side of the island, neglecting Puerto Plata for over a decade.
Today, Puerto Plata is recovering to get back to its feet and reclaim its title as the main tourist destination in the Dominican Republic. Large residential villa projects have been developing the North Coast for more than 10 years, and the DR government headed by President Danilo Medina has shown more interest than previous administrations in creating and restoring infrastructure that helps develop the area even further. Recently, the opening of a new Cruise ship port by Carnival Cruise Lines in Maimon Bay, Puerto Plata is helping bring thousands of cruise passengers into town each week, and over a million per year.
There are several interesting videos filmed by local tourism boards, travelers and local organizations where the best of Puerto Plata is shown to the world. We are showing here a few, and a larger selection taken from the YouTube of Sosua Beach, in this video gallery.