Essential guide to the top things to do in Puerto Plata on a cruise to Amber Cove: Waterfalls of Damajuagua, Cable Car, Beaches, Day-Passes, Off-track and more.
Besides all activities in the Amber Cove Cruise Center, which are great and many to enjoy, there is also a significant number of notable highlights close to the cruise port that cruisers should look into.
Most of what's to do in Amber Cove is typically offered on shore-excursions, but some attractions and highlights can only be discovered on your own.
Coronavirus advice for Amber Cove cruises
For updated coronavirus (Covid-19) information and travel advice to the Dominican Republic and Amber Cove visit the U.S. Embassy on the Dominican Republic website. For a more comprehensive Traveler's Health advice to the Dominican Republic see the CDC Website.
Contents
- Waterfalls of Damajuagua
- Ocean World Adventure Park
- Historical City of Puerto Plata
- Puerto Plata Cable Car (Teleferico)
- Dominican Outback Safari
- Country World Adventure Park
- Coconut Cove
- Monkey Jungle
- The 8 Best Beaches
- Day-Passes near Amber Cove
- Off the beaten track
Overview
Cruise visitors traveling with young ones shouldn't miss the opportunity to spend some time in the Ocean World Adventure Park or Monkey Jungle.
For those that enjoy sightseeing, the Puerto Plata Cable Car (Teleferico), the Dominican Outback Safari, or a Catamaran sail are ideal.
If adrenaline pumping is your thing, there are quite a few adventurous and thrilling activities in Puerto Plata like sliding down the Damajuga Waterfalls, riding buggies or ATVs, flying ziplines, deep-sea fishing, power snorkel, or horseback riding.
The Cruise Center in Amber Cove doesn't have a beach on the site but close by there is a considerable number of wonderful beaches and resorts offering day-passes.
Cruise travelers that enjoy discovering off the beaten track sites have the option to visit the Jewish Museum and Synagogue in 'Sosúa', travel to 'Chocal' to visit a chocolate factory or play golf in Playa Dorada.
Finally, for those that typically enjoy exploring historical sites, the colonial city center of Puerto Plata is a must-see. See all remarkable things to see and do in the historical city of Puerto Plata.
Top 8 highlights for cruisers to Amber Cove
- The Waterfalls of Damajuagua
- Ocean World Adventure Park
- Historical City of Puerto Plata
- Puerto Plata Cable Car (Teleferico)
- Dominican Outback Safari
- Country World Adventure Park
- Coconut Cove
- Monkey Jungle
To See and Do: Carved on limestone by mother nature's force, the Rio (River) Damajuaga has a succession of 27 waterfalls with as many pools. A memorable adventure to explore and a challenge to slide down with the help of a guide. Observe tropical plants and birds on the way. Advisable to pre-book a shore excursion onboard or with online tour guides. Distance from Port: 13.4 miles (21.6 km). Visiting Time: Around 30 minutes drive each way, between 3 and 6 hours depending on how many waterfalls you wish to explore. Tickets: Between US$9.00 and US$13.00.
Official Website: www.27charcos.com
To See and Do: Swim with a dolphin for 30 minutes. Feed and hug Sea Lions and Sharks. Bird Show. Snorkeling in the Tropical Reef Aquarium. Pirates Pool and Beach. Distance from Port: 4.2 miles (6.8 km). Visiting Time: Between 3 hours and full day. Tickets: US$ 69 (adults) for a day-pass including lunch, but advisable to book a shore-excursion with your cruise line.
Official Website: www.oceanworld.net
To See and Do: The unique Amber Museum, historic landmarks like the San Felipe Fort, the Cathedral and the Plaza Independencia (Parque Central). Visit a rum distillery, a cigar shop, savor genuine Dominican flavors in a colonial restaurant or taste the delicious coffee of the island. Distance from Port: 7.2 miles (11.5 km). Visiting Time: Between 2 and 4 hours, 1 hour extra for lunch. Read the review of the top things to see and do in the city of Puerto Plata.
To See and Do: 10-minute ride up 2,625 feet (800 meters) for spectacular views of the ocean, the city, and mountains. Tropical gardens, bird sanctuary, and hiking trails in the 'Isabel de Torres' mountain. Fort and statue of "Christ the Redeemer". Distance from Port: 5.9 miles (9.4 km). Opening Times: Daily from 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM. Visiting Time: Over 1 hour for the ride and at least 2 hours to explore fauna and flora. Tickets: $10.00 .
Official Website: telefericopuertoplata.com
To See and Do: Tour on an all-terrain truck through rivers and valleys to see laid-back villages, exotic rainforests, sugar cane fields, and how locals really live. Visiting Time: Around 6 hours. Tickets: Only possible to book with your cruise line as a shore-excursion.
Official Website: www.outbackadventuresdr.com
To See and Do: A family company, the Country World Adventure Park is a small delight located on 70 acres of fertile farmland. A fantastic site for an active and adventurous day in the Dominican countryside. Top activities include 8 zip lines, horseback riding, and off-road ATV four-wheel rides. The Adventure Park offers a VIP day-pass for cruise travelers including all activities, transfers from and to the port, lunch, and soft drinks. Distance from Port: 4.7 miles (7.6 km). Visiting Time: Between 2 and 6 hours. Tickets: $64.99 for Zip Lines. VIP pass: US$129.99.
Official Website: www.countryworldadventures.com
To See and Do: This private beach is also known both as Wild Play Adventures and Chukka Ocean Outpost. It has a restaurant, themed bars, a bird aviary and offers a couple of activities: zipline over the sea and power snorkel. Distance from Port: 10.9 miles (17.5 km). Visiting Time: Between 4 and 6 hours. Tickets: Only available as a shore-excursion offered by most cruise lines.
Check Carnival excursions.
To See and Do: Conveniently located in a 5-acre park with over 20+ free-roaming squirrel monkeys that love visitors and enjoy to sit passively on top of shoulders and heads, and be fed peacefully for a great photo op. The Monkey Jungle is also home to a Zip Line adventure. Distance from Port: 31.1 miles (50 km). Visiting Time: Tour takes around 40 minutes. Tickets: US$28.00 (adults 12+) US$20.00 (children 3-11).
Official Website: monkeyjungledr.com
Adventure, thrilling and fun activities
- Outback Buggy rides
- ATV rides
- Deep-Sea Fishing
- Power Snorkel
- Horseback Riding
- Catamaran Sailing
- Bamboo River Rafting
- River Tubing
The 8 best beaches near Amber Cove
The following beaches are ordered by distance (closest) to Amber Cove cruise port. With the exception of Coconut Cove, all others can be explored on your own or with day-passes (more about these in the next paragraphs).
- Maimón Beach
- Playa Cofresi
- Playa Grande
- Playa de Long Beach
- Coconut Cove and Wild Play Adventure Park
- Playa Dorada (Golden) Beach
- Playa Sosúa Beach
- Cabarete Beach
To See and Do: Small off-track beach with services like beach loungers for rent, bar and liquor store, cigar shop, restaurant, massages, gift shop (Larimar and Amber). Distance from Port: 0.5 mile (800 meters), 15 to 20 minutes walk. Visiting Time: As long as you feel like.
Website: www.maimonbeach.com
Distance from Port: 3.5 miles (5.6 km). Around 10-minute drive.
Distance from Port: 5.8 miles (9.4 km). Around 15-minute drive.
Distance from Port: 9 miles (14.5 km). Around 20-minute drive.
Distance from port: 10 miles (7 km). Only available as a shore-excursion. Check this Carnival shore excursion
Distance from Port: 10.6 miles (17.1 km). Around 30-minute drive.
Distance from Port: 22.3 miles (35.8 km). Around 46-minute drive.
Website: www.sosuabeachdr.com
Distance from Port: 30.5 miles (49.1 km). Around 1-hour drive.
Website: www.cabaretebeachdr.com
Day-Passes near Amber Cove
Beach and resorts day passes are offered by your cruise ship and also by different shore excursion services like Shore Excursioneer, Resort for a Day or Viator.
- Playa Bachata Resort
- Cabarete Beach
- La Casa En la Playa
- Casa Colonial Beach and Spa
- Serenity Resort
- Emotions Resort
- Sunscape
- Playa Dorada
Where:0.7 mile (1.6km) from the cruise port. What's included: Unlimited drinks, snacks, and lunch in an all-inclusive resort. How much: US$64.99. Check this shore excursion.
Where: 30.5 miles (49.1 km). What's included: Lunch, drinks, and a tour of Puerto Plata City. How much: US$58.99. Check this Carnival shore excursion.
Where: Close to the port. What's included: Full amenities on a private beach house with a terrace, buffet lunch, full open bar, beach chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, paddleboard and snorkeling. How much: US$89.99 Check this Carnival shore excursion.
Where: 10.6 miles (17.1 km) from cruise port. What's included: Sandy beaches, pool, 3-course lunch. Beverages are not included. How much: US$99.99 Check this Carnival shore excursion.
Where: 4.1 miles (6.5 km) from the cruise port. What's included: Cocktails, drinks and food (buffet lunch). How much: US$79.99 Check this Carnival shore excursion.
Where: 10.8 miles (17.4 km) from the cruise port. What's included: Round trip transportation, open bar, buffet lunch, snorkel equipment. How much: US$82.99 Check this day-pass offered by Shore Excursioneer.
Where: 11.1 miles (17.8 km) from the cruise port. What's included: Unlimited food and open bar. However, transportation is NOT included - taxi will cost approximately $35 each way for 1-4 guests.. How much: US$59.00 Check this day-pass offered by Resort for a Day.
Where: 10.6 miles (17.1 km) from the cruise port. What's included: Pickup and drop-off at your cruise ship. Complimentary lounger on the beach at the resort. Drinks and food are NOT included. How much: US$33.15 Check this Viator day-pass.
Off the beaten track
- Jewish Museum and Sosúa Synagogue
- Playa Dorada Golf Course
- Chocolate factory in Chocal
- Castillo Mundo King Museum in Sosua
To See and Do: Active Synagogue with historical museum commemorating the 600 Jewish refugees who fled NAZI Germany in the 1940s. Distance from Port: 23.5 miles (37.8 km). Visiting Time: Under 1 hour. 1-hour drive from Amber Cove. Tickets: Free.
Official Website: en.turismojudaico.com
To See and Do: Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and ranked on Top 100 in the World, Playa Dorada Golf is an 18-hole, par 72 championship course. Distance from Port: 10.9 miles (17.5 km). Visiting Time: Half day. Tickets: From $35 in low season, $50 in high season for 9 holes.
Official Website: www.playadoradagolf.com
Around 16.1 miles (25.9 km) south of the cruise port, up in the mountains, a family-run chocolate factory is a site to enjoy a rare learning experience. Visiting Time: Half-day including 30 to 45 minutes scenic drive each way. The chocolate factory is typically offered on shore-excursions.
To See and Do: A very unusual small museum exhibiting Haitian paintings and sculptures, sci-fi futuristic objects, and Caribbean naive art collected by a German ex-pat. Distance from Port: 23.9 miles (38.5 km). Visiting Time: Between x and y hours, extra z hour if additional in-site. Tickets: US$6.00
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