My son and his friend visited the Dominican Republic for a well-deserved vacation. Now, a visit to the DR is on my bucket list, but I would not have chosen Puerto Plata. I had been keeping up with the government’s investment in tourism. After all, they have created an infrastructure of beachfront properties that are a destination for American, Canadian, and European vacationers. But, I had been watching the development of Punta Cana, so when my son asked if I could recommend Puerto Plata, I had to put my narrowness aside and ask why he wanted to go to Puerto Plata. He informed me that he wasn’t going to visit the countryside. He just wanted to go somewhere he could be entertained onsite. Plus, Puerto Plata had great value. Every day when they hung out, they were either in a cabana or one of the bars.
Sounds and looks good to me!!!
Puerto Plata is in the province San Felipe de Puerto Plata, and again my vision of narrow winding roads with goats that owned them and holding onto a hand strap so you can stay in your seat because the scenery was going by faster than you could comprehend. They put that idea to rest. There is a fantastic road system that allows for excursions to the many historical places in a limited time. You can get a panoramic aerial view of the city and by riding on the Teleferico. This tramway takes you to Mount Isabel where there is a mountain botanical garden, a restaurant, souvenir shops, and a statue similar to Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.
So what are some of the activities that my folks could engage? How about river-rafting. Oh yes, they did that already in Georgia. For someone like me who hasn’t, you can go river-rafting in Jarabocoa on the longest river, the Yaque Del Norte River. You could go horseback riding in the foothills of Mount Isabel de Torres. I am sure that they have been on a horse. You could swim with the dolphins at Ocean World Adventure Park, Marina, and Casino. They did that at Atlantis when we were in Nassau. I can’t swim, so I had a fabulous spa day. They rode on dune buggies first on the property and then onto the street. They felt that it was more of an adventure driving on the highway because it was hectic, and you just had to “get in where you fit in.”
Now, I have not changed my mind about Punta Cana. I would still go there if I had the opportunity, but Puerto Plata has a better place in my travel bucket list.