Puerto Plata

The Puerto Plata cruise port is in the Dominican Republic and is home to two cruise terminals: Amber Cove and Taino Bay (pronounced Ty-ee-no) Bay. If you’re curious about which of the two your ship will visit during your cruise, you can often find this information on your detailed itinerary, provided by the cruise line. Both ports have spots with free WiFi and feature free activities for cruisers, and both provide a great FREE experience for cruisers who wish to save money. These ports are both so big that I have dedicated blog posts to them both, so be sure to check out the one that applies to where you will be docking. Taino Bay Port Guide Amber Cove Port Guide Are Amber Cove and Taino Bay Free? Amber Cove is primarily served by Carnival Cruise Line and its brands (Carnival, Holland, Princess, etc.) and the port is named in honor of the amber found on its shores. Taino Bay is the newer of the two ports and most non-CCL cruise lines berth here. What’s great about both Amber Cove and Taino Bay cruise ports is that they’re free… well, mostly. Use of the pool and its loungers at both is completely free, and cruisers do not have to pay any sort of admission fee to enter and use them. There are, however, additional amenities available for rent, and attractions for purchase. Taino Bay also has a lazy river, free for use by cruisers docking there. About the Roatán Cruise Ports A sign at Taino Bay, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic displays taxi fares to local attractions (click to enlarge). Free Things to Do in Puerto Plata Puerto Plata is a great cruise location because both ports, Amber Cove and Taino Bay, are chock full of free amenities. Cruisers wishing to explore outside of the port areas, however, can enjoy many other free or low-cost activities and sites. Puerto Plata Beaches The Cosita Rica Beach in Puerto Plata is an easy walk from Taino Bay Neither of the Puerto Plata ports provides direct ocean access, although both offer a free “beachfront” experience, so if you’re seeking to just soak in the sun and have your body in the sand, you can do so at no cost –- right there at port. If you wish to get in the water, swim, or snorkel, you’ll need to venture out. There are several beaches with free public access that are accessible via taxi. I have visited two of Puerto Plata’s public beaches: Cosita Rica, which is walkable from Taino Bay (about 15 minutes), and Playa del Pueblito, which is not walkable from either port. I would not recommend either of these beaches, though. They are both polluted, and the water is very murky and filled with seaweed. Historic Puerto Plata Cruisers wishing to venture outside of port often visit the historic district, another free option for cruisers. This area of Puerto Plata features the Paseo Dona Blanca, an Instagram-worthy Victorian pink alleyway, as well as the famous Umbrella Street. Both of the areas are Tourists crowd the Paseo Dona Blanca. chronically crowded, however, but great for a quick visit and photo opp, especially as they’re located so close to one another, and just a stone’s throw away from the center of the historic town district, known as Central Park, or Parque Central, where there are beautiful buildings, most notable of which being the eye-catching St. Philip the Apostle Cathedral. Locals often populate the square with buckets of bird seed and accept tips from travelers who wish to feed the flocks of pigeons that populate the area. Of all the things we did on a recent visit to Puerto Plata, feeding the pigeons and having them eat from her hand was the highlight for my 11-year-old kiddo. Ambar Museum It might be a smidge generous to call this a “museum”, as it’s more like a glorified gift shop that entices would-be shoppers into the stores under the guise of a free activity, but on a recent visit to the historic Central Park, I decided to stop by since it was so close. This specific location to which I’m referring is the “Ambar Mine Museum,” not to be confused with the Amber Museum, which is a different attraction that charges a nominal entry fee, and it was worth the stop — especially as it’s free. There’s a small “museum” section, where a guide will describe Puerto Plata’s history of amber mining, and after exploring this area, guests exit into a gift shop offering amber jewelry and other trinkets. Fortaleza de San Felipe Fortress History buffs will enjoy a stop at Fortaleza de San Felipe Fortress because of its history and the incredible sight of the coast, including views of the ships docked at Taino Bay. Exploring the exterior grounds on food is free, but entering the fortress requires an admission fee, although it is nominal. At just $2 per person, it’s a bargain. Like the historic district and its sites, this landmark is walkable from Taino Bay at under a mile, but is not accessible by foot from Amber Cove. Damajagua Falls Probably the most popular Puerto Plata excursion is Damajagua Falls, and there’s a lot to love about this attraction, but it’s important for cruisers to do their research on this one before booking. While Damajagua Falls offers an exhilarating adventure with stunning natural beauty and thrilling water activities, it requires a good level of physical fitness and the hike can be challenging for some visitors. It also can be a bit of a risk in terms of experiencing a physical injury. This one is definitely geared toward more active cruisers, as it requires a one-hour steep hike in the hot and humid rainforest. Related: Read about my Damajagua Falls adventure. MonkeyLand A popular Puerto Plata excursion is MonkeyLand, where visitors to interact with friendly, free-roaming squirrel monkeys in a lush, tropical environment. I bought this excursion on my first-ever visit to Puerto Plata and I loved it, but note that it’s located a bit far from the cruise ports, approximately 9.8 miles and 30