Puerto Plata Highlights and Golden Beach Escape

Explore Best of Puerto Plata
Rated 4.9 out of 5
Read 34 Reviewsor
Excursion Highlights:
  • Experience the breathtaking contrasts of Puerto Plata city, from stunning mountains to golden sandy beaches
  • Enjoy the comfort of air-conditioned travel, starting right at the cruise center, with complimentary refreshments
  • Discover the rich history and culture of Puerto Plata and the Dominican Republic, guided by our knowledgeable excursion hosts
  • Take memorable photos at Puerto Plata's most iconic landmarks.
  • Relax at the stunning Playa Dorada, while enjoying a complimentary rum punch
Price: $59.00
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Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Small
Shore Excursion Type Beach
Shore Excursion Duration 4 Hours
Activity Level ? Easy
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? An approximately 5 to 10 minute walk from the cruise ship pier. Full details will be provided in your electronic ticket upon confirmation.
Food/Beverage Provided Bottled water, rum punch and fresh fruit
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing weather appropriate clothing over a swimsuit. Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and beach towel.
Restrictions Guests must be able to get in and out of transportation. This tour is not wheelchair or walker accessible, and cannot accommodate guests with mobility issues, or those who have difficulty walking or standing. The minimum age to participate is 6 years old and children younger than 6 years old will not be permitted to join the tour. Please note: To participate all guests are required to sign a waiver on the day of the tour after meeting the local representative.

Puerto Plata Highlights and Golden Beach Escape

You will be met directly at the cruise center, outside of the main gates of the port, with a refreshing bottle of water then whisked away in air-conditioned comfort to paradise.

At the feet of the beautiful Isabel de Torres Mountain and the majestic Atlantic Ocean, Puerto Plata city is located on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, full of considerable contrasts of mountains, beaches and exuberant landscapes, but also with great historical and entertainment values. As you drive through the bustling city of Puerto Plata, your excursion host will provide you with interesting information regarding the history and culture of Puerto Plata and the Dominican Republic. There will be brief photo stops along the way to Playa Dorada (Golden Beach).

Make a stop at Fort San Felipe for photos and narration on the fort grounds, then continue along the Malecon Beach area, a boardwalk on the Atlantic running alongside of the beach, where you can see the statue of Neptune positioned on a small island. Make your way next to Parque Independencia for a brief history of the Victorian era architecture and for photos. You will enter the Cathedral and also be provided with some free time to explore on your own.

Only a short ride from the historic town is the region's most popular beach. Born as the first tourist destination in the country, Playa Dorada is located on the north coast of the country, surrounded by many interesting and diverse attractions. The coastline is one of the most beautiful in the entire Atlantic Coast, meeting all environmental requirements necessary to merit the recognition of quality, both locally and internationally.

Once at the beach you will be greeted with a complimentary rum punch and warm hospitality. Secluded and romantic, Playa Dorada promises an unforgettable day of swimming or relaxing on the golden sandy beaches along the "Blue Riviera." Beach loungers will be reserved for your convenience while beach beds are on a first come, first serve basis. Additional beverages or a bite to eat are available at the beach bar and restaurant (at an additional charge).

After this relaxing time away at the beach you will return to the cruise center in comfort.

Please note: To participate all guests are required to sign a waiver on the day of the tour after meeting the local representative.

34 Ratings
4.9out of 5 stars
27 Customer Photos
Submitted by Thomas H
1-10 of 34 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Mar 20, 2025
Pleasant morning with some sightseeing and beach time.
We thoroughly enjoyed the excursion. Finding the start point to get on the bus was easy. The coach was comfortable and the driver and guide were top-notch, with enough banter and historical highlights to keep it interesting. The stops in town were fine—a coffee/chocolate shop and a jewelry store with a few things to see in the area around them. No pressure to buy. The beautiful beach was outstanding—nice water with gentle waves made for great swimming. There were shops, bars, and restaurants there if you wanted, or solitude if you desired. Chairs and umbrellas were provided. We were back at the cruise port by noon. Overall, a good way to get a little feel for the area along with a beach break.
Thomas S
Rated 5 out of 5
Mar 18, 2025
Great tour and beach
Great tour and beautiful beach! Loved seeing the sights and hearing about the area. The beach was very relaxing and perfect amount of time before heading back to the beach!
Barbara W
Rated 5 out of 5
Mar 13, 2025
Beautiful day in the sun
Nice walking tour of the city and great photo opportunities. A taste of local goods and beach time at a local resort with drinks available and opportunities to purchase from local vendors.
Janet B
Rated 5 out of 5
Mar 3, 2025
great excursion
We loved this excursion. We had a great tour of downtown Puerto Plata and then were taken to the beach. The beach area was great!! The beach had lots of comfortable places to sit, in the sun and in the shade. We loved it.
Sara M
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 21, 2025
A Great Tour! Lovely Beach Time
We arrived at the meeting site and were welcomed by our cheerful guides. It is a bit of a walk through the port to get to the meeting area so be sure to leave enough time. We boarded a very nice, clean bus. The tour was as described. We had visited Puerto Plata before and taken a similar tour, but this was a great way to revisit the island and see a few more new things. We especially liked the beach. The use of the beach chairs is part of the tour. There was another guide at the beach to help us find chairs and get comfortable. There is a little outdoor food station right there which was very handy. We were pleasantly surprised at how very reasonably priced the drinks and menu items were. (We suggest the fish & chips-a very generous amount of fresh fried grouper and fries. ) A great day overall! Give it a try & have fun!
Javier P
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 17, 2025
So Glad We Got Out of the Port Area
While many cruisers chose to stay in Taino Bay's immediate locale, we smartly picked this combo tour from SEG. You have to walk quite a distance to where the tour vans are, but they had the A/C running for us while waiting for the rest of the group. Got started late because the woman in charge of telling us which van to walk to did not explain to another couple that two tours had been combined. It took a long time to sort it out and ultimately worked very well, but it should have been explained better even to our driver and guide. Once underway, the van took us to town central and the entire group explored on foot many sights within easy walking distance. Cannot remember our guide's name because I've misplaced the paper I wrote it on, but he was fantastic. We learned so much about town history and the country's culture. He's the one talking with his hands in one of the photos! He even offered to take the photo of us in front of Pink Street. A few minutes later, he saved us from embarrassment over a local wanting to charge us for photos that he took of us using our phone. After the city center exploration, the van took us to a beautiful beach where we actually had an upscale beach lounger included. Waiters were on hand to bring us the drinks we purchased. The tour company had a rep there as well because our guide continued the tour into the countryside with the ladies on the alternate tour. After the relax on the beach, the van returned for us at the appointed time and brought us safely back to the cruise port well before deadline. In short, we highly recommend this tour.
GregMichele E
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 15, 2025
Excellent Tour for the Price Paid!
Great value for the money!! Half the price of Norwegian’s excursion! Had an excellent tour of Puerto Plata and time at the beach! It was a walk to find the meeting spot, once off the boat, but there were shops and a water park to look at along the way. Any one we asked, assisted us with directions (even though, they were good on the paperwork) Beach was beautiful and lounge chairs/umbrellas were free!
Joanne M
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 12, 2025
Loved the tour and history lesson of Puerto Plata and the beautiful beach 🏝️
Donetta S
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 12, 2025
Lovely day
Excellent day in Puerto Plata. I enjoyed the small group and the combination of sight seeing with beach time. The walking tour and bus tour were informative and interesting. The beach was beautiful.... loungers and umbrellas were in great shape and well spaced. Wish we had a little more time on the beach, but was very happy with the excursion overall.
Heather S
Rated 5 out of 5
Jan 26, 2025
Great Excursion!
Enjoyed a tour of the town! Our tour guide Winston was great! Very knowledgeable and took us to a beautiful beach! Then we all enjoyed a Rum Punch! I do have a suggestion. They need to carry a portable two step stool on the van, so older people can get into the van easier. There is a bit of walking on uneven surfaces, something to keep in mind for people with walking issues. The price of this tour was well worth it!
Kathy