Things to do in  Puerto Plata

Due to the pandemic and the seasonal timing of there being a drought which closed half the park, we were able to experience around half of the waterfalls as a solo couple. The vendors catered to us, providing a delicious meal and plenty of rum and coke. There was a cool and affordable souvenir shop as well. Of all the excursions we did in Puerto Plata, this is the one we would we do over and over again.

This tour was amazing. The guides were very friendly and funny. The waterfalls and hiking trails are beautiful and of all the excursions we took in Puerto Plata this was the best. I would definitely recommend this trip and we would do this one over and over again.

This trip was so exhilarating!!! The waterfalls were beautiful and jumping off a 25ft waterfall was amazing! The zip lines were a ton of fun! Lunch was also fantastic! If we were to return to Puerto Plata we would for sure do this again!

On arriving at Amber Cove we had a little bit of difficulty trying to find where to get the taxi, because I did not get the email telling me where to go for the lack of internet on board ship. When we got the taxi we were introduced to a very pleasant young man who spoke really good English and he took us on a very informative tour Puerto Plata. We think the tour was very good value for the price we paid.

Must do while in Amber Cove/Puerto plata region. Hike was fun, scenic, and great exercise to the falls. Then jumping and sliding down so many unique and scenic falls was just exhilarating. Raul was an amazing lead tour guide, very knowledgeable, courteous, and very mindful of keeping everyone safe. His other assistant tour guides were great as well, didn't catch their names, but one in particular was very funny through whole tour. And they were also very attentive to all of us. Great tour!

Victor led an excellent excursion around Puerto Plata, taking us to the mountain top, followed by an exciting cable car ride down the mountain. Historic Ft. San Felipe was a very interesting piece of history. Downtown Puerto Plata provided a shopping opportunity for those interested in doing that. I can';t sing Victor's praises enough. We had a half dozen French-speaking guests with very limited English capabilities. Victor contacted one of his friends who spoke French, picked him up, and the French guests had a very worthwhile excursion. Victor is a true ambassador for Amber Cove Adventures. My wife and I will repeat this tour in March with other friends. It was that good!

For our day at Amber Cove, we prebooked this tour to see the area. It worked out fine and gave a nice view around the countryside and city sites. Otherwise Amber Cove is a cruiseline-created shopping stop that shows you nothing of the Dominican Republic. You do have to walk a distance out of the port to meet the driver and van, but it is safe and easy. Our driver/guide Victor was great. We saw real life in the D.R. as we drove up the winding road to the mountaintop. The views were great, and he stopped for photos. At the top you see the Christ statue and sweeping views across Puerto Plata, then a fun ride down on the nice cable car. Around the city you see some interesting sights and then a full tour of the old fort. We had a brief shopping stop in case you want to buy amber. Victor had a cooler of tasty punch and sodas or beer as you like. It was a good way to see and learn about this lush tropical area of the Caribbean.

The Damajagua excursion is definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Well worth a day of your vacation if you are in the Puerto Plata area. Make sure you call to confirm your reservation the day before your trip. You are picked up from your hotel lobby at an agreed upon time in an open air truck with bench seating. From there you drive to the waterfalls site and pick up your helmets and life jackets. As a women, I would recommend wearing your bathing suit with work out shorts and a tank top over it and water shoes. The life jacket you will be wearing will be damp, if not wet when you receive it. The tank helps with any chafing and the shorts will be practical for the hike. Leave behind jewelry and sunglasses. Your personal belongings will be locked in the cab of the truck while you are out on your excursion. The hike is about 45 minutes and mostly uphill to the 12 waterfalls. There are two big jumps and a couple of chutes that you will go down. You always have the option to climb down instead of jumping, however I would not recommend this trip to anyone not used to strenuous activity, people with major fears of water/heights, or children under the age of 13. The whole trip is very beautiful and scenic and the guides are AMAZING. TIP THEM! Afterwards you have a buffet lunch with booze, take a short trip though the city and to a local stone carver and then back to the hotel. My only complaints were that we were picked up a half hour late from our hotel and while the city/stone carvers trip was educational, by that time we were wet, cold, and tired and just wanted to get back to the hotel. Make sure you purchase the zip drive of photos for 45. It is well worth it. They send you photos and video of the whole trip.

We unfortunately could only do the 12 waterfalls as there wasn't enough water for the 27 waterfalls tour but they told us right away and gave us a refund. The hike was about 25 minutes into the waterfalls, had some uphill parts but everyone was able to manage. The guides were so helpful and very knowledgeable about the area. (Raul, David, Jordan and Omega) They showed us where to jump or slide. It was awesome, if you didn't want to do the jumps you could walk around. I would definitely recommend wearing shorts and a t-shirt, especially for women. The water is a little cool but very refreshing after the hike into it. The lunch that was provided after was good, buffet style with typical Dominican food. Definitely a must do if you're going to Puerto Plata!

Out of all the things to do in Puerto Plata, this was my favorite! However, I would not recommended it for small children or individuals with a handicap, or a significant health problem such as a heart condition. The path is rugged, and well, it's quite a workout. The scenery is lush and beautiful. Some people wore just their swimsuits while others wore shorts and t-shirts. Make sure you wear good footwear as the path is wet and slippery. Some people wore water shoes, I chose my running shoes. The staff are very helpful and provided helmets and lifejackets-they also directed you where to jump. Leave your cameras behind unless you bring a water proof bag to carry it down in. Great fun!