THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · PUERTO PLATA
The 15 best tours & day trips in Puerto Plata you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Ride from Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cabarete, Playa Dorada, or Imbert to Monkeyland, where staff bring monkeys close for supervised feeding and photos. Then visit a countryside home for coffee, hot chocolate, cocoa, and local traditions. Guides such as Delmis, Berny, Carlos, and Floricel may lead the tour.
“Definitely an enjoyable and recommended experience. Wish we could have spent some more time with the monkeys, as they were the highlight.”
See Puerto Plata’s key sights in about four hours with guides such as Edwin, Francisco, or Virgilio. Visit a rum museum, chocolate maker, cigar factory, amber shop, central park, cathedral, Malecon, and San Felipe Fortress. Pickup, bottled water, Wi-Fi, and an air-conditioned vehicle are included.
“Incredible tour. Cruise ship wouldn’t allow us on our excursion because we had a 6 month old. Found this tour 30 minutes before docking which had a similar itinerary but even more! They accommodated us without hesitation and saved the day!”
From Puerto Plata, ride in an air-conditioned vehicle to Damajagua, eat a Dominican buffet, then hike uphill through the forest to a chain of waterfalls. With helmets and life jackets, you can swim, slide, and jump through the falls. Guides such as Sammy, Felix, Werbe, and Jordan help manage the route, while optional photographers capture the action.
“It was worth the hike up the mountain! An exhilarating refreshing experience that stimulates your your mind, body, & spirit!”
Spend three to four hours seeing Puerto Plata by air-conditioned vehicle with a local guide such as Aribel, Yeury, or Junior. Visit Macorix House of Rum, Umbrella Street, San Felipe Cathedral, pink Doña Blanca Alley, a hilltop viewpoint, cigar and jewelry shops, Del Oro Chocolate Factory, and the Malecón. Hotel pickup, bottled water, and soda are included.
“Comfortable van, safe driver, saw everything we wanted to and kept on time. Very friendly people everywhere we went.”
From Puerto Plata, you’ll ride to Cabarete’s Chocó region for nearly 2 kilometers of ziplining, two suspension bridges, and a guided visit with squirrel monkeys. Guides such as Mario, Matias, Usher, and Dara have helped make this outing memorable. Expect safety training, fruit feeding, local coffee and cacao demonstrations, transportation, and a buffet lunch on some departures.
“Me and my husband had an AMAZING time! Our monkeyland guide Mario was amazing and we got an up close experience with the monkeys. Our tour guide for both excursions, Matias, was also amazing and very informative. The helRead more”
See Puerto Plata by private air-conditioned vehicle with guides such as Rigo, Augustine, Jose, or Marleny. In about four hours, visit San Felipe Fortress, Central Park, colorful streets, a rum factory, cigar and chocolate shops, and an amber museum. Tastings, photos, and flexible stops are included, but many factory visits are mainly sales-oriented.
“Our tour guide listened to our needs and customized the tour to suit our needs. He was very helpful, professional and patient with two women. We would ask for Edward again when we return.”
Spend about four hours with Ismael Transfer Tours in a private, air-conditioned van with Wi-Fi. Your guide, often Ismael, Elvin, Elias, or Gelson, can shape the route around your interests, from the local market and Dominican lunch to rum, chocolate, cigars, amber, Fort San Felipe, and the old city streets.
“Ismael provided the most professional, fun, and historic excursion. He took us to all the touristic places but also to the local market to drink fresh juice and to an amazing local lunch. You cannot go wrong booking him. He can accommodate Read more”
Leave Amber Cove or Taino Bay for a three-hour guided buggy ride through Maimon’s countryside. Expect dust, mud, water crossings, a local stop for coffee, organic cocoa, cigars, and Mamajuana, plus time at a beach. Helmets, goggles, water, transport, showers, and changing space are provided.
“It’s was a BLAST! Bring a Walmart Poncho & a waterproof bag for phone, wallet & anything you don’t want to get wet! Also wear old clothes you don’t care about!!”
Hike through rainforest to seven Damajagua waterfalls, then descend by swimming, sliding, and jumping under guide supervision. Pickup is available from select hotels and cruise ports. Guides such as Santos, Luis, Alfredo, Felix, and Giovanni are praised for safety and humor. Expect a strenuous uphill walk, slippery rocks, crowds, and optional photos.
“The hike to get there was a lot of stairs and steep incline. It was rough but I kept telling myself it would be worth it and it was! The air was so humid that it was hard to get a good breath. But once we got to the water, it was exhilarating! Beware that the rocks are slippery and ground is uneven. My daughter and I went on this excursion together and I'm glad we did! Our driver to the falls and back to the port was so nice! He stopped at a roadside market to buy us a few mangos. He washed them, and peeled them for us…”
Drive a two-person buggy from Montellano through muddy back roads and coastal scenery to Playa Bergantin. Guides such as Hector, Frank, Pepo, Lotta, and Zaza have been praised for friendly safety help, while Mario and other staff take photos. Helmets, water, transport, showers, and lockers are available, but bring clothes you can sacrifice.
“We had a blast ! This was our favorite excursion of the trip! We liked the stop by the beach as well to cool off even more and the chocolate cigar rolling in the hills and the mama wanna tasting !”
Spend about six and a half hours on a 75-foot catamaran from Puerto Plata, with snorkeling at two Sosua Bay sites, buffet lunch, drinks, music, and crew-led entertainment. Pickup and drop-off are included. Crew members such as Alex, Andrew, Alain, and Sonia have been praised for friendly service, though boat capacity and reef quality can vary.
“This cruise was amazing!! The crew was an absolute blast! Very helpful, very entertaining, and super organized. Food and drinks were awesome too! We would do this again, and again! It exceeded our expections, and so glad we chose Tip Top, because it is "Tip Top" in my book! Loved it!! Don't miss out! If you're looking for an excursion, this it it!! Met lots of nice folks aboard too, and I didn't see anyone that was not having the time of their life! Thanks again, and next time we're down in DR, we'll be back on board!! :)”
Spend about six and a half hours traveling from Puerto Plata or Cabarete to Sosua, then cruise aboard the 75-foot TipTop catamaran toward Ocean World Marina. You get two snorkel stops, equipment, lunch, bottled water, and an open bar. Crew members including Papo and Alain help beginners feel safe, while music, dancing, and coastal views keep the ride lively.
“Papo and the whole crew were very friendly. Had a great time on the boat. Beautiful fish while snorkeling.”
Hike into Damajagua’s tropical canyon with English or Spanish guides such as Mara, Monkey, and Luis. Swim, slide, and jump through natural pools, then enjoy a Dominican buffet with rice, beans, chicken, and salad. Round-trip port transport, helmets, life jackets, water, and Coca-Cola are included.
“The waterfalls are mesmerising. Our tour guide Maicol was fantastic, he explained to us all trees and nature we were seeing and explained us how to jump and how to slide safely. Besides, the driver left us at the spot we requested and the buffet lunch was really good!”
Spend about seven hours reaching Damajagua’s rainforest waterfalls from Puerto Plata. After a safety briefing and uphill walk, you’ll swim, jump, and slide through natural limestone pools. Guides such as Ottoniel Otto and driver Amauri have helped make the outing run smoothly, with lunch, drinks, equipment, and hotel transfers included.
“This is the best tour of our stay in DR. The tour guide was very cheerful and funny. We definitely recommend everyone who is adventurous enough to give this a try!”
Ride an ATV or dune buggy through Puerto Plata’s countryside with guides such as Gabriel, Manuel, Anderson, and Mario. Stop at a Dominican home for coffee and local insight, then relax at Coconut Cove with a private beach, non-motorized watersports, and ocean views. Hotel pickup is included.
“We had an amazing time! Totally worth the drive out if you’re considering trust me it’s worth it!! Anderson was our guide for the dune buggies and it was sooo much fun! The mofungo at the restaurant was SO GOOD! Beach was beautiful! My only regret is that we didn’t have time for the Zipline over the ocean 😭 we must return just for that 😍😍😍”
Pick an island, a reef or a road.
