Travel blog
Stories, guides and practical advice from our team on the ground in Puerto Plata.
The best time of year to visit Puerto Plata
Weather, crowds and prices month by month on the Dominican north coast.
Arriving at Puerto Plata airport: what to expect
Immigration, customs, the e-ticket and how to find your driver at POP.
Damajagua: how many waterfalls should you do?
Seven, twelve or twenty seven: choosing the right level at the north coast's most famous adventure.
Five Dominican dishes you have to try
La bandera, mofongo, sancocho, pescado frito and habichuelas con dulce explained.
A short history of Puerto Plata
From Columbus and pirates to amber, tobacco and the Victorian boom.
Sosúa or Cabarete: which beach town suits you?
Calm bay and snorkelling, or wind, waves and nightlife.
Merengue and bachata: the sound of the island
Where the two national rhythms come from and where to hear them live.
Amber and larimar: how to buy the real thing
Two gemstones found almost nowhere else, and how to avoid the fakes.
Whale season in Samaná: what you need to know
Thousands of humpbacks arrive every winter. Here is how to see them responsibly.
Getting around the north coast without a car
Guaguas, motoconchos, taxis and private transfers compared.
Dominican carnival: February on the north coast
Masks, whips and street parades in the most colourful month of the year.
Is Puerto Plata safe? An honest guide
Practical safety advice from people who live and work here.
Dominican rum: a beginner's guide
Brugal, Barceló, Bermúdez and how to drink them like a local.
Cabarete for beginners: learning to kitesurf
Why the world learns here and what your first three days look like.
Cayo Arena: the sandbank in the middle of the sea
A tiny coral island off Punta Rucia and the reef that surrounds it.
Dominican coffee and cacao explained
Two crops that grow in the mountains behind the beach.
Ten beaches on the north coast worth the drive
From busy Sosúa to empty Playa Preciosa, a beach for every mood.
Money in the Dominican Republic: pesos, cards and tipping
What to pay in cash, what to pay by card and how much to tip.
Private transfer or taxi? What makes sense at POP
Comparing cost, comfort and reliability for airport arrivals.
Cruise day in Amber Cove: how to spend it
Making the most of a few hours in port at Maimón.
Taino heritage: the island before Columbus
Petroglyphs, cassava and the words we still use every day.
Packing for the Dominican north coast
What to bring, what to leave at home and what to buy when you land.
Snorkelling on the north coast: where and when
The best reefs between Sosúa and Punta Rucia, and how to read the conditions.
A weekend in Puerto Plata: 48 hour itinerary
How to see the best of the city and coast in two days.
Travelling with children on the north coast
Which excursions work with kids, and how to keep everyone happy.
The Malecón of Puerto Plata: the city's living room
Where the city walks, eats, flirts and dances every evening.
Golf on the north coast
Playa Dorada, Playa Grande and a round with an ocean view.
Spanish phrases that make your trip easier
Twenty words and phrases that go a long way on the north coast.
Rainy day plans on the north coast
What to do when the tropical shower turns into a tropical day.
How to book excursions and transfers on WhatsApp
Why messaging is the fastest way to plan a day on the north coast.