Amber Cove Cruise Center Port Guide: Review 2023
Table Of Content
You’ll find plenty of shops within Taino Bay, but there’s a wider selection downtown. Taxis are plentiful, and some drivers may offer you their services for the whole day, in which case, negotiate a price in advance. Local minivan “buses” are called guaguas and will stop when you flag them down and drop you where you say you want to disembark. Slightly more comfortable but operating on the same basis are carritos, or shared sedan cars, as opposed to vans. Car rental is also available, but be prepared to negotiate busy roads crammed with motorbikes. Do the DR — i.e., the Dominican Republic — on a Caribbean cruise with Holland America Line.
The Best Caribbean Islands to Visit This Summer, From Antigua to St Croix
Will Cruise Ships Avoid Haiti Due to State of Emergency? - Cruise Hive
Will Cruise Ships Avoid Haiti Due to State of Emergency?.
Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The Galerías at Puntacana Village is a popular outdoor retail spot, while the upscale Palma Real Shopping Village carries high-end international brands. Get your camera ready to take the ultimate selfie atop Montaña Redonda, the best viewpoint on the island. The summit area not only offers 360-degree mountain and sea panoramas, but also has shops and a restaurant— local guides will even take you paragliding off the mountain, if you dare. Taino Bay is visited by a number of cruise lines, including Norwegian, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean, among others. Your cruise ship will dock on a 1280 feet (ca. 390 meters) L-shaped pier, parallel to the coast, with quays for 2 ships to berth.
Find Cruises to Dominican Republic
The city of Puerto Plata as we know it today was founded by Nicolás de Ovando in 1502. However, due to the growing threat from English pirates and privateers, Spain’s King Philip III ordered the city to be abandoned and destroyed in 1605. It lay in ruins for a century before being repopulated in the 18th century, mainly by Canary Islanders who migrated there and cultivated coffee, tobacco, bananas, and sugar cane.
Related Cruises
This 1,500-acre private protected forest is home to 12 freshwater swimming lagoons, cultural exhibits, a petting zoo, an iguana habitat, and native endangered animal species. Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net. For updated coronavirus (Covid-19) information and travel advice to the Dominican Republic and Amber Cove visit the U.S. For a more comprehensive Traveler's Health advice to the Dominican Republic see the CDC Website.
Stroll Santo Domingo’s Old Town, the Americas’ first city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; or venture beyond to taste Ron Barceló rums. Renting a car is fun way to go beyond Punta Cana into other parts of the island during your cruise to the Dominican Republic. It can be expensive, and you’ll have to quickly acclimate to the hurried driving style of the city.
Look for majestic manatees as you drift through tranquil mangroves on a paddleboard or kayak at the Sanctuary of Estero Hondo, near Puerto Plata. There’s a healthy population of more than 40 of these gentle sea cows here, as well as colorful birds, crustaceans, and sea turtles. Manatees are both endangered and protected, so it’s a real joy to spot one feeding as you paddle around. Local guides will point out the different vegetation and wildlife, making this a wonderful experience. The historic center of Puerto Plata is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its collection of fine Victorian buildings clustered around the pretty Parque Central. Admire the San Felipe Apóstol Cathedral and colorful “Umbrella Street”, shaded by dozens of umbrellas strung overhead.
You can take a taxi from the pier into the city center, and taxis are readily available when you’re in the city. Hop on a boat for a ride to the secluded, mostly uninhabited Saona Island on the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic. It’s 12 miles from the mainland, and the island could easily be described as paradise. As part of a protected national park, Saona Island is a haven for wildlife where endangered sea turtles nest. Tours and excursions via catamaran are the most popular way to reach the island. Dolphin Discovery is one dolphin encounter provider on Punta Cana, and they will organize your experience to the nines.
Don’t miss a photo opportunity at Umbrella Street–a narrow alley shaded by colorful umbrellas–or the hot pink alley at the Paseo de Doña Blanca. The main attraction in the Centro Histórico is Independence Square, a public plaza surrounded by colonial architecture, including the city’s famous St. Philip the Apostle Cathedral. If you’d prefer to spend the day sipping mojitos, you’ll have 7 bars to choose from in Taíno Bay. Alternatively, stay hydrated at the coconut stand with fresh coconut water. In addition to these sit-down restaurants, visitors can enjoy coffee and desserts from the Cortaito coffee shop. Shops in malls will display prices, which are regarded as fixed, but if you’re shopping in markets, a little polite haggling is appropriate.
The Dominican Republic has a strong culinary culture with plenty of dishes to try during your visit. Bandera is the national dish, combining red beans with stewed meat, fried green plantains, and rice. It presides over the bay and the Malecón, with sweeping views along the coast. The fortress was built by the Spaniards in 1577 to defend the north coast of the Dominican Republic from pirates and British and Dutch hopefuls who coveted the gold and silver deposits here. It previously served as a prison, but today is an atmospheric museum displaying the original cannons and old weapons.
The historical city center in Puerto Plata may be small, but it’s a charming place to explore for a few hours while in port. Puerto Plata is located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. Known as the Amber Coast due to the area’s large deposits of amber, this region is famous for its white sand beaches, abundance of waterfalls, and colonial architecture.
Many cruisers arriving in Puerto Plata are visiting for the very first time, and like any cruise port, it’s helpful to have a general idea of what to expect. Whether you’re interested in laying on the beach all day or hanging out at the port’s complimentary pool, here’s everything you should know about the Puerto Plata cruise port. Whether you're seeking sun-soaked beaches, enriching cultural experiences, or action-packed adventures, the Dominican Republic has something special in store for you. Dive in and let Holland America guide you through some of the most captivating shore excursions this tropical paradise has to offer. Popular Playa Dorada, the original and most famous beach of Puerto Plata, is a sweep of pale golden sand that extends for more than a mile.
The outside grounds of the fort are complimentary and offer walking paths and wonderful views of the nearby scenery. Discovered by tourists in the 1990s, the Damajagua waterfalls are a collection of cascading falls located a half hour from Puerto Plata. Once at the top, you’ll find a variety of hiking trails, gorgeous viewing areas, and a Christ the Redeemer statue.
Comments
Post a Comment