Is Puerto Plata safe? An honest guide

Puerto Plata is a working city and, like any city, it rewards common sense. Most visitors have no problems at all. Keep valuables in the hotel safe and carry only the cash you need for the day. Avoid displaying expensive phones and jewellery on the street or on public beaches. Use ATMs inside banks or hotels during daylight. At night, stick to well lit areas, use a taxi or a prebooked driver rather than walking long distances, and avoid unlit stretches of beach. On the road, be careful crossing: traffic does not always stop and motorbikes come from every direction. If you rent a car, avoid driving between towns at night. Water at resorts is treated, but stick to bottled water elsewhere. Sun and dehydration cause more ruined holidays here than anything else, so drink more than you think you need. Working with an established local operator for tours and transfers removes most of the remaining risk, because you always know who is driving you and where you are going.