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Amber Coast
Punta Plata beach
The Amber Coast, named for its rich deposits of lustrous semi-precious amber found throughout the region, runs along the northern Atlantic coast from Cofresi to Nagua and boasts an assortment of seaside towns and resorts. Forests, mountains and miles of golden beach provide a playground for adventure sports seekers with activities such as mountain biking and horse riding available, as well as a host of watersports like diving, windsurfing and kitesurfing.

The port city of Puerta Plata is the region's capital and the main tourism enclave. On the outskirts of Puerto Plata is the major Playa Dorada complex of low-rise hotels in a country club setting of gardens and beautiful beaches, centred on the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones designed golf course. Seaside towns and communities that are also popular with visitors include Sosua and Cabarete to the east of Puerto Plata, and Cofresi to the west.



Resorts

See our separate guides to the following Amber Coast holiday resorts: Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cofresi and Cabarete


Attractions

Amber Museum

Amber Museum

An attractive Victorian building in the centre of Puerto Plata on Duarte Street houses the Amber Museum, showcasing a unique collection of valuable Dominican amber. According to experts the amber found in this region is the most transparent, and therefore the most valued, in...  see full details



Brugal rum factory

Brugal Rum Factory

No visit to the Dominican Republic north coast is complete without savouring the local drink of choice, which is Brugal rum. In Puerto Plata visitors can enjoy a brief tour of the distiller’s bottling operation (actual production takes place elsewhere) and end the experience...  see full details



Fuerte San Felipe

Fuerte San Felipe

Puerto Plata's only remnant of its Spanish Colonial past is a small fort, situated on a small peninsula in Puerto Plata Bay. The fort, featuring a moat, and a collection of historical artefacts in a small museum, was built by Columbus after his...  see full details



Mount Isabel

Mount Isabel de Torres

Towering over the city of Puerto Plata is the 2,600ft (792m) Mount Isabel de Torres, itself a popular tourist attraction in its own right. Visitors can take a seven-minute cable car ride up the mountainside to explore the summit, which offers a botanical...  see full details



Excursions


Samana Peninsula

Jutting out into the Atlantic like a finger, is the beautiful Samana Peninsula to the east of the island, a remote area with deserted white sand beaches, palm forests and clear, calm waters. Hidden towns and fishing villages, brightly painted Dominican homes, and a...  see full details
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