Uncovering Puerto Plata: Free Things to Do Near the Cruise Ports
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.
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.
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
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 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 to 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic and road conditions.
If cavorting with monkeys is your thing and you’re docking at Taino Bay, consider saving the money on transportation or an excursion and paying the $25 per person to just enjoy Monkey Island, which is conveniently located on site at Taino Bay (although it is not as large of a facility as Monkeyland).
If you’re visiting Amber Cove, however, and want a “play with monkeys” experience, you’ll have to visit MonkeyLand.
Taxis in Puerto Plata
Taxis are readily available at both Amber Cove and Taino Bay taxi stands, but in my opinion, the pricing is obscene. At a 2024 visit to Puerto Plata, the taxi fare round trip for 1-5 people to Damajagua Falls was $120 from the cruise port, although prices are somewhat negotiable. If you’re visiting Puerto Plata and not staying at port or participating in an excursion where transportation is included, I highly recommend hiring a private driver. You’ll get personalized, private service, often for less cost (or the same price) than taxis.
Private Drivers in Puerto Plata
While there is plenty to do and see at and outside of the port at no cost, Puerto Plata has many great attractions that cost and/or are a good distance from cruise ports. While I ordinarily prefer to explore on my own and take transportation to attractions on my own, Puerto Plata is the exception, given the outrageous cost of taxis.
When visiting Puerto Plata, I hire a private driver. If you wish to see multiple Puerto Plata locations, hiring a driver can be a far more economical choice, and give you the benefit of doing what you want, when you want, and how you want. When booking a private driver, always be certain to verify their licensure and credentials (don’t be afraid to ask to see them and even photograph them!) and vet them in advance by reading reviews or getting recommendations from fellow cruisers.
As for my personal recommendation, I booked Happy Driver Dominican on two occasions and had an outstanding experience both times with Angel, who is fluent in English. Most private drivers in the Dominican do not book online through sites like Viator or even have websites (due to the cost), but rather operate by word-of-mouth business and through Facebook.
Puerto Plata Cruise Port Ship Schedules
The Puerto Plata cruise port schedule for Amber Cove and Taino Bay can be found here.
Dominican Republic’s Time Zone
Keeping track of time zones can get complicated when cruising, especially for itineraries where there can be multiple time zone changes on one sailing. Your captain will make announcements during the cruise to update you on these changes, but it’s good to be aware of these differences ahead of time when making plans for your stop at the port, especially for excursions.
Most cruise lines operate on “ship time” set to the time of the departing port, so for sailings off the eastern coast of the US, this is Eastern Standard Time (EST). Dominican Republic’s time zone is Atlantic Standard Time (AST), and they do not observe Daylight Saving Time, so the AST time zone may differ from EST — or it may be the same — depending on the time of year.
Language and Currency
The official Dominican Republic language is Spanish, but visitors will find that most employees at the touristic areas at and near the ports are also fluent in English. The official currency is the Dominican Peso (DOP), although US dollars and credit and debit cards are accepted in most tourist centers. I’ve visited Puerto Plata many times, and have never had an issue communicating in English, nor in paying with USD, so I don’t think converting currency prior to cruising here is necessary.
Top Free Things to Do in Puerto Plata
Clothes featured in photos: Two-piece floral pant set
