The 25 best beaches in and around Puerto Plata

Very nice stretch of beach. There are some coral rocks in some areas, and a lot of seaweed washes up, but they rake it and keep it clean. The beach itself is quiet and stretches for quite a distance and encompasses several resorts.

We had a really enjoyable day at this beach and would absolutely return, but there are a few things that kept it from being a full five-star experience. What truly stood out was the experience— not just in what was available, but in the people. The beach had a lively, local charm with vendors walking by offering everything from handmade chachkes and sunglasses to snacks, drinks, and even photo ops with animals like parrots and iguanas. It made the beach feel vibrant and alive, and our kids loved the excitement. There were plenty of options for relaxing — cabanas, beach chairs, and umbrellas were available to rent, and a full-service beachfront restaurant was just steps away. While we appreciated the convenience, everything came at an added cost and most of the facilities, including the chairs, cabanas, restrooms, and changing areas, could really use a refresh. They worked, but they were definitely showing their age. The food was okay — nothing to rave about, but good enough to keep us going through a day in the sun. What made the meal more enjoyable was the service. Our favorite waiter, **Christian**, was kind, funny, and went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed. He really elevated the whole experience. There are also lots of little shops nearby if you want to browse or pick up souvenirs, and the waves were perfect for swimming and playing. Overall, this beach has character, color, and charm — and with a few upgrades, it could easily be five stars.

In December and January the water was quite full of algae. Maybe it’s the season, I don’t know. Not in all the parts it was full with algae, but anyway it was disturbing. So, sometimes we were going to Sosua beach as it was wonderful there….

Great beach, not to crowed at the end of july, good for relaxing and enjoy the area.

I recently visited this beautiful white sand beach, and I must say, it's impeccably maintained despite the numerous resorts nearby. Arriving with a tourist group, we were delighted to find a designated area with beach chairs and umbrellas exclusively for tourists. The availability of tap water for a refreshing post-beach bath was a thoughtful touch. Additionally, the convenience of having a restaurant nearby serving snacks and drinks added to the overall enjoyable experience. I highly recommend this beach for a relaxing getaway.

Great beach. Water was 85. Food & drinks were good. Fresh water showers to clean up.

Stunning beach that is only accessible for the resorts in the Playa Dorada gated complex. Technically, locals can access it if they enter on the west side of the public beach and walk a couple of kilometers, but that's not an issue for me. Pristince sandy beaches with beautiful warm blue water with waves to jump in. There are kiosks to rent jetskis, parasailing, snorkel tours, etc.

Nice people, English is good, Room is beautiful & comfortable, food is ok, clean environment, shuttle drivers very nice, got a grand tour of the VIP area very nice! Not willing to buy into the resort packages offered.

First come, first serve. I roomed the farthest from the beach, Crown suites. If you don't get there when it opens, 8am, you will not get prime cabanas vs the people who have rooms next door to beach. The beach is divided into 5 sections? So this beach serves everybody (visitors and members)!!! About 4 bars and one sushi stand. If that's not your bag, casablanca is about 2 flights up the hill. We alternated btw pool and beach because of the timing. It also was the closest gym to workout? Ying Yang spa. Didn't see Presidency. Overall still great. Always avoided Puerto Plata when I was younger, I now know that was a mistake. It is just as quiet here (jan). I RECOMMEND

Very hilly Tons of stairs and no elevator Room on third floor Maid service was excellent Food mediocre Weather good Don’t waste time on tour to porta plata all it was is a money. Making ploy to get people to buy rum and Lara mar jewelry which is very expensive ( tourist trap)

Minimal restaurant choices, one grocery store, beach is not clean and scammers everywhere. The only good thing there is Ocean World.

Lovely large and growing property. Beautiful beach. Grand pools.

As I write this I'm buzzed from my multiple mojitos from my all inclusive stay at Lifestyles. Beach is a good okay for being on the Atlantic Ocean side of Dominican Republic. The VIP treatment is top notch. Water is mostly clean and beach is cleaned daily to mitigate the seaweed and debris from the water. I have enjoyed my many visits to this beach.

Great beach. I snorkeled the whole bay. Better reefs are on left with many schools of fish.

The inside is full of typical pushy gift shops. But the outside is amazing. Great view!

Great Views in this place you can see Puerto Plata and the shore from here , great walk to see some local flora and fauna you can either walk go by car or take the lift i recommend the latter is over all a great experience

Breathtaking views. My first time in a Cable Car, AMAZING EXPERIENCE. Especially considering it was my first time out of the country. Definitely can’t wait to go back and visit again!! One of the highlights of my trip!

Amazing views. We ended up driving rather than taking the cable car. Steep road but rental car had no problems. Make sure to make time for the trails.

Very beautiful place

Amazing location for adventure and photos. Friendly staff and overall experience was breathtaking. Going up to the mountain, you will need a good vehicle with a big engine such as a 4X4 because the strain on the engine as the altitude increases.

The highest view I've been to in a while. The air was thin and it was cold but the view was amazing. Try and stop by one of the shops and get some of the Mamajuana!

Not only is the first interesting and historically significant, you should go there just for the history alone, but there's a beautiful view and a great breeze off the water to keep things cool and comfortable. It was about 100 pesos and worth the price to get to see the views from the turrets. There is parking and there are public bathrooms too, and souvenir stalls too if you like that kind of thing.

Well maintain, nice to walk and not feel like a tour is going to ask for a fee or approach you. Beautiful place from puerto plata and full of a lot of potential.

The San Felipe Fort was a stop on our private tour of Puerto Plata. If you’ve been to San Juan and seen the large fort there, this is much smaller, but very similar in age and stone composition. Over 450 years old, it is on a cliff next to ocean so there are plenty of great views. You can also buy tickets to go through it for a half hour tour.

A small fort with a deep history. A nice stop in a tour. The views are great from this spot. You can see the cruise ships from here too.

Nice site you can easily walk there

This place is really neat. It only cost $1.00 USD to get in and walk around. Nice views of the harbour and sea. Just a nice piece of history to enjoy for about 45 minutes or so. Lots of local peddlers around trying to sell their wares. I love chatting them up and buying a few trinkets.

Awesome fortress to visit if you like that sort of thing. One of my favorite places I visited in the DR.

Very quiet and nice beach. Lots of people to service you at the little palm huts 2 chairs under the hut 550 DOP. Plus they can bring you food and beers if you want

Una playa hermosa!! perfect for walking at the beach or just relaxing! there are at least 3 restaurants!!

I didn't like the beach because the water wasn't So clean and calm. The wave brings a lot of sand back and forward... And you have to keep an eye open for your kids, due to the wave.

Besides that you have to pay 300 pesos per chair and 100 pesos per person to change, I had a great experience. Beautiful beach with a good atmosphere

Nice beach, sandy with some seashells and shallow for a while. Water is decently clear, and there are some neat rocky areas that are cool to snorkel around. Found a conch shell 🐚

Nice beach, good drinks and food.

Great beach, have visited 3 times during November. The restaurants are good, I had breakfast at La Estrella del Mar.

The seafood restaurant is very good. A little pricey but the food will not disappoint.

It’s a nice little beach with free access that’s a short taxi drive if you’re getting off a celebrity cruise

This beach has so much potential but it is covered in trash. I find a lot of sea glass here but besides that there so so many better beaches to go to

This beach and coastline is very beautiful to watch from far. But going in water is bad experience. Water is polluted and contains lots of garbage. Most of patches are polluted either by tourists or locals. Locals needs to take up seriously to keep the area clean. Avoid going in for swim or fun.

Enjoyed the serene and clear water that day. Sat at the restaurant and enjoyed my fish with plantains...

Nice beach but today was very windy and the waves were too crazy to go in.

Beautiful clean, soft sand and crystal clear water. You can rent chairs and umbrellas, but do not have to.

Very nice beautiful beach. Not crowded and peaceful.

Beautiful beach! My family and I were taken there thanks to a Buggy company! It was super fun and family friendly! Really good stop after a fun dirty ride!!!

This beach was the highlight of my trip to Puerto Plata. I was staying at Playa Dorado and took a walk along the beach about 30 minutes later, we discovered this hidden gem. This is more my vibe, a free, public beach for locals. The music was blasting, locals and their family were cooking on the beach, dancing to Salsa. Elvis Restaurant had some of the best fried fish you will ever taste and the bar kept the drinks coming. If you want a local vibe and 🔥 seafood, this beach is where you want to spend a day.

We always have a great time in the dominican.

Horseback riding was wonderful, as always. The beach is lovely, just needs a little cleaning up.

Red Snapper is fantastic

Went horseback riding with Ramone. And ate by the beach. A fantastic time was had that day!!!

Excellent experience at Ocean World Adventure Park! Amazing Staff in every area (shout out Robin Santos with Guest Services and Yann with the Dolphin Swim). Park is well-maintained, clean and beautiful all around. The Dolphin Swim was super fun, interactive and overall, great experience! I would definitely visit again anytime. Great people, tasty food, nice ambience and spectacular views.

Great time all around. Do the experiences! Yes they cost a bit, but well worth it. And get the pictures too. Again, yes they are expensive but those are awesome memories. Staff was awesome and very friendly, helpful, funny, and personable. Skip the buffet though, totally not worth it. Definitely recommend the dolphin and sea lion experience.

There was a little misunderstanding at the reception — my husband thought that by paying for the dolphin encounter he would be able to take photos of us, but it turned out that phones were not allowed in the area at all. He was very upset, and the situation could have completely ruined our visit. Thankfully, supervisor Juan L. Rojas stepped in and handled everything with true professionalism, patience, and a sincere smile. Juan L. Rojas turned what could have been a disappointing experience into one of the highlights of our trip. He is a true professional who knows exactly how to treat guests and resolve issues with grace and respect. This is the kind of attitude that makes people want to come back again and again. Thanks to him, we left with wonderful memories, amazing photos, and a deep appreciation for the way he handled the situation. He truly deserves recognition and a well-earned bonus! 🌟

Great place to go if you are in Puarto Plata, just 10min away with taxi from Taino Bay. A bit expensive, if you are coming here as a cruise passenger. Anyhow nice place to relax by man made beach, or use the pools. Day pass includes lunch.

Visited as a part of a cruise excursion. The staff was pleasant and helpful. The facilities were clean. The animals appeared to be healthy and well treated. We did the swim with dolphins add-on and it was well worth the upcharge. Disappointed that the shark interaction was closed. Only wish we'd had more time.

Fantastic experience. Martin was a great guide and the trainers were knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and made the experiences so much fun. Dolphins, sea lions, sharks, birds and capybara!

Wow, wow, wow! Fantastic place play and to eat. The food was absolutely top-notch! The buffet is one time through, so fill up the plates! The rice amazing, veggies, fruit...wow! If you want to swim with dolphins, sting rays, sharks, snorkeling with tropical fish, or play at the private beach or water slides! You can also feed the birds and capybara's! So fun, safe, and delicious food and drinks. Johanny was absolutely amazing and so helpful, definitely sit in his section for vip treatment 🥰 The staff is so friendly while also keeping the little ones safe. Highly recommend! They have lockers and showers as well!

Nice beach and ocean view. A lot of small restaurants along the way. I gave four stars because it is a lot of trash, specially plastics and bottles (no trash cans by the beach just where the restaurants are). We need to save our planet.

Very dirty towards the left side. Did not swim there. Wouldn't go there again.

Lovely place to go take a walk or swim. Different places near by to grab a bite or even a coffee.

Beautiful beach! I wish they would invest in

My favorite place to puerto plata You need to visita there

Bar there nice, but along all seaside are a lot of garbages ! That's sad that people living there don't care about it, to see nice beach you have to go to cabarette or sosua 35' drive by car of puerto plata

Consider another beach. There was quite a bit of trash and glass however not many people. Excellent view that you can find on any beach here.

Only had a day pass here, so no room review. This property is immaculate. The beach was great, the pool was good, the staff was friendly, courteous, and energetic. The food was just OK but the cocktails were very good. Definitely worth the fee if you're in the Dominican Republic, we plan on returning.

We were at Sunscape from December 26th to January 3rd. It's a beautiful Resort. Very clean. Our housekeeper was amazing. We did find the buffet to be extremely repetitive. Food always cold. We found the staff in the buffet restaurant to not to be very friendly. Chase them down a couple of times to get a coffee in the morning. One time the lady told me to go back to my seat and somebody will come. Which they never did. Left the restaurant many times without even a coffee for breakfast. Specialty restaurants food was just okay. We spent most of are meals at the Pizzeria. I will give credit where do the pizza was amazing but extremely slow and the snack bar in the afternoon was good. I actually lost 3 lb while on vacation.

Just got back, and i was a bit disappointed. There wasn’t too much going on and it felt like there was a lot of lost potential/they stopped caring. The rooms were decent although the pillows were extremely uncomfortable and we rarely had hot water. The bartenders at most of the bars gave off very cold and annoyed vibes and the staff at the snack bar almost acted like we were ruining their day by just existing. I would go out of my way not to inconvenience the staff by asking too much, but even asking for a drink to be non alcoholic would seem like an annoying request to them. My experience at the restaurant called Windows was always great. The staff in there were always super friendly and the food was wonderful. If you are looking for a true 4 star resort, I would keep looking. This was more of a 3 star.

Great value for the price. Buffet is good, lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, rice and beans, pizza . Coco cafe had almond milk for cappuccinos. Beach is great. Terrible wifi so if that is important then bring your own. Rooms are tired but the beds are comfortable, mini fridge is stocked with beer and water. Hot water tends to run out at peak times. If you aren't picky it's a great place. Many returning visitors. I would go back

This Resort is a little outdated. I’ve heard that they are turning it into condominiums and the chain is building a new resort nearby. It is small. The buffet has limited options. They have theme restaurants for which you don’t need a reservation which is nice. There’s only one big pool and a smaller one. the setup of this resort is not conducive to visiting the beach. As a matter of fact, they recommend you to enjoy the pool instead of the beach. The service received at all restaurants, the bartenders, the front desk, the cleaning staff was great. Unfortunately though, I don’t think I will be going back to the resort. I was impressed.

Recent reviews are accurate. As a side note; whole place smells awful. You either get hit by the scent of raw sewage, or Sulfur. Pools close at 6, absolutely awful. No scheduled events No itinerary Inaccurate time frames. Food was awful However, service was fantastic. Resort workers are absolutely A++, very kind and courteous. Generous with drinks!

I don't even know where to start.... I went there with my family to celebrate my old grandfather's birthday, which was probably his last, so we planned something special. That's why the disappointment is all the greater. My first thought when I arrived was, how can this hotel have 4 stars!!! And where do all the good reviews come from, did they pay people to write them? I really don't get it... the check in situation was terrible, it took about 1 hour, the internet didn't work well, the food was definitely not worth 4 stars and I don't even want to write about the bar. They didn't have any original alcohol brands, you basically got pure disinfection drinks in plastic cups. Food and drinks were the biggest disappointment!!! You can eat better at any place outside. The only nice thing was the beach, but there are many other much better hotels! Don't waste your money here if you like quality, we wish we had known that before.

Puerto Plata, we had such high hopes after seeing beautiful stuff online. Unfortunately it turned out to be a bitter disappointment. The supposedly beautiful Malecon with its beautiful beaches is nothing more than a very long walk past a landfill they call a shoreline. The beaches are literally miles of garbage. The few exceptions are the spots where people have a beachbar. From the grass right next to the pathway untill the water, over almost the entire length of the Malecon is filled with trash It's heartbreaking because the nature and the sights are so beautiful. If the authorities manage to solve this, it can be one of the most beautiful spots in the DR. But for now it's just a sad reminder of the wastfullness of man and the ongoing environmental problems they have created.

Great place to walk but a lot of garbage on the sides. It is all locals who party along here most nights but busiest day is Sunday. They just throw their bottles and styrofoam packages all over the beach and sides of roads and don’t care. I want to cry when I see such a beautiful walkway and view and see nothing but garbage everywhere. Very surprising considering the many tour ships they get there. It is a common thing that Dominicans accept all over the country. The President should give refunds for all bottles and eliminate styrofoam packaging on the island. They should also have many more garbage cans on the Malecon. The many poor people would be happy to pick it all up and receive some compensation and the island would be beautiful again. The many washrooms are all closed and in bad shape and cannot be used. Many of the restaurants do not have washrooms so be careful if you have any issues.

Great view towards ocean from shore, however nearby you can find lot's of garbage on the seashore....

Went for lunch and had some cervezas and tacos, hard and soft shells. Service and atmosphere were great. Nice views of the water and roadway, but the traffic was a little noisy. There's a pier across the street and a nice boardwalk where you can walk off your libations.

Neat malecón with views of ocean and mountains all the way down. However, the 4 lane road is very scary to cross, especially with speeding drivers and few and inadequate crosswalks.

Beautiful place. It is a shame authorities don't take responsibility to keep it clean.

Beautiful place to visit

The beginning of the beach is extremely dirty and we almost turned around. What a waste of such beautiful space. I understand that trash washes up from the ocean but i dont understand why the city isnt investing in cleaning the beaches as it must be one of their biggest selling points. If you keep walking, there are some bars and restaurants renting out chairs and umbrellas and i guess those people keep that bit of beach clean so we ended up renting a chair there. Glad we had some drinks and snacks with us because the beach bar there charges about 8 USD for a beer. If you walk past the chair area there is a piece of clean beach where some locals are chilling in the shade of the trees bordering on the Malecon. You could lay down a towel there but not a lot of shade. Honestly i dont understand why people are raving about this beach or the Malecon. The Malecon is a main road with lots of busy traffic and tons and tons of waste in the treeline beside the walkway.

This is a great chill beach! There are several surf shops with lessons and a couple of cool cafes to eat at. Parking and entrance are free.

Didn't stay on the resort but visited the beach, near where the cruise ships dock. It is very nice. Very loud music. Very full beach

Where to begin....Firstly this is not a 4 star resort as they advertise. This was our 2nd and likely lat time there. There are too many contradictions to make it a 4 star resort. Here are the good points. The buffet vastly improved over the two visits (4 years apart) . The resort conceriege is absolutely massively helpful . They helped me out with a nasty tour issue and were great. The tours are a lot of fun yoo. Recommend a taxi tour while there.The bech front layout is incredible. Here's the problem. The rooms are (at least in our case) in rough shape. Beds are small, there were small black bugs in the bathroom. Beware the outlets ...your cords won't fit..I have posted a picture so you have a heads up. Cleaning service is inconsistent at best Oh yes. No hot water...anywhere. frigid the first night or two then tepid for the rest of our stay Power went out 3 times resort wideBreaker went off if the a/c was on. We moved our room from the noisy side..(we do appreciate that party goers were there..we just prefer quiet) Going back to a positive, the Italian restaurant was great. And all the staff in the bars, buffet and restaurants are wonderful. We are keeping in touch with one we hope for many years to come. She was awesom So yes inconsistent. Funny part, the potential for a true 4 star is clearly there If you go, go with your eyes wide open.

The area around this beach possesses ample establishments for dining, entertainment, and recreation. The "Malecón" has everything you need to make a memorable day by the sea

Great beach to lounge all day! 500rd for rwo chairs and an umbrella.

Super dirty. Some locals bathed there I did not want to.

My wife and I took a 5.5 mile walk from the cruise ship to Playa Acapulco park. Most of the sidewalk was wide and easy to walk on. After leaving the port area you walk down a section that was really skinny but with tour buses parked along that section so it felt safe. Once past the skinny sidewalk the rest of our walk was on a wide sidewalk that is mostly in good shape. We passed a lot of locals sitting along the sidewalk eating lunch or just hanging out. You could see the water most of the way to Playa Acapulco park. It’s kinda hard to know exactly where the park starts or ends but I think there are two main parts of the park. One is a small grass peninsula that is high up above the water. This area was wet and muddy from the rain the night before. The other part is a beautiful beach that had one lifeguard chair on it but not a lifeguard being March. There was one other group on the beach when we were there. You have a great view of King Neptune which is located just off shore on a small island. Other reviews said it was dirty and not worth a visit but we found it clean with a beautiful sandy beach to enjoy. I understand those reviews as you will find trash along the sidewalk and like all of DR it could use some money to clean things up and repair things.

Beautiful little beach, sand, rocks, clear water. Some trash yes. In the water and near the entrance sometimes. Unfortunate but not uncommon if there isn’t a business there to keep it clean. Only takes a few people mindlessly litter. Thats said the beach is beautiful, free and conveniently located. I walk out here or up the shore from here almost every day i am in the DR Often i do my exercises at the end of the beach. The air is fresh, the water is pleasant, the scenic aesthetic is pleasing, the sounds are calming. You can lay in the sand or find shade under a tree. The people are super friendly and welcoming. The food selection across the street is plentiful. Catching a motorbike to or from is simple and easy. Just wave. (I always walk) Crossing the street is not hard if you know the way. Make sure you’re seen but dominican driving style is smoove, fluid and accommodating. So don’t stress. Something pops up coming at you, all you have to do is keep walking, the will time it and go behind you. If you panic and stop….you mess everything up. Lol no joke. Car, or motorcycle coming at you don’t stop moving. They are not going to hit you. I mean don take your time but just dont stop in the way. Have an open mind and enjoy the beauty, peace, and sunshine.

Not as dirty as other beaches close by, still not worth visting. You are not missing out on anything. Also close to side walk it is pretty dirty

Not a clean beach. Locals tend to throw their bottles and styrofoam packaging all around this beach. Some people use the beach and swim there, but no guard and the restaurant across the 4 lane highway can be hard to get to if you want something.

Beautiful quite beach. Cozy!

Perfect for beach days. Be careful of the waves though.

Nice beach primarily with friendly locals and their children. Great spot to avoid other tourists!

I stayed there for a whole week. She is less communicative though

(Translated by Google) The little town of golden beach is quiet and safe. The people who live and work there are friendly and very kind. The apartment is a few steps from El Chaparral beach. (Original) El pueblito de playa dorada es tranquilo y seguro. La gente que vive y trabaja alli es amistosa y muy amable. El departamento esta a unos pasos de la playa el chaparral.

(Translated by Google) very calm and safe (Original) muy tranquilo y seguro

(Translated by Google) Very good, lots of attention (Original) Muy bien muchas atenciones

(Translated by Google) Excellent (Original) Excelent

THIS CABLE CAR SERVICE IS CLOSED. Don’t know why it still says it is opened on Google Maps. The people there told that it will not be operational for the next 2.5 years. There is bus service that takes you to the mountains which cost us around 20 USD for one person. The ride is good but you won’t get much time to spend on the mountain near the statue. The price of the souvenir was little high in the stores near the statue.

The place is beautiful, but beware of the famous Tour guides, they tell they work for the park and blah blah, they have uniforms and everything but theyxare not employees they are locals looking to make and extra buck. The machine is been down for a long time. Honestly google the mountain for directions no need of a tour guide. They see you as a tourist and they jacked up the prices. Do not buy in the souvenirs stores they are not worth it.

Still closed. I went to a tourist spot and asked the teller. She advised it’s been closed a year because people don’t want to pay to use the cable car. She said probably for two more years. Her English was good and my Spanish is dreadful but I relayed on what I was told. I drove up to the gate at about 3pm on a Wednesday and took the below photo.

Nice affordable activity to do with your family. Once at the top, there is a spectacular view and you can walk along the paths through the gardens and to the caves and lagoon. I gave 4 stars because the directions to these sites are really not very specific. It took us a while and many wrong turns before we got to the caves 🙃🙃🙃

Views are amazing if you are driving a rental or coming you dont need any person in a green polo taking you up. You are good with just taking yourself up. At the top there is a hike on the top that takes you around the area to show you the water falls, typical Dominican house of the past, and natural areas as well. Also the shops at the top way over charge like 20+ dollars for things that are worth 3 dollars else where. Always bargain.

Amazing ride to top! Beautiful tropical area with lots of paths, a traditional kitchen, pond, and observation areas. We spent 2.5 hours exploring the area. A lot cheaper to buy tickets on-site versus with a tour.

Nice cable car ride to high peak where Puerto Plata city and ocean can be seen. Beautiful walk to see gardens. Vendors thought are slick, so be careful. Price is $10 US per person.

All a bit contrived and manufactured for me, it really is a 'made for' the cruise terminal and cruise guests, not really the real Puerto Plata or the Dominican Republic. Yes it's all very clean, lots of tourist boutiques, bars and restaurants but it's not the real Dominican Republic. The whole area is enclosed by large fences, and unlike the other islands that we visited on our Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise (not that we'd ever go with NCL again) you can't freely walk out into the local area and town,unless you're going on an organised tour. When we go on holiday and visit a new country, a new city or region, we like to see 👀 the local area, taste the local food, drink the local wine or enjoy a local beer, see local people and, if only for a day, see what life is like locally - we just didn't get to see any of that here. Yes it's very clean, the level of services are good but we could have been anywhere, at any theme park anywhere else in the world. It really felt like a Disney or Warner Bros theme park. But that's just my perception. Is it somewhere we'd return or visit again? We'll not the cruise terminal or port, but yes the Dominican Republic, we saw very little but what we saw was just enough to wet our appetite. Level 10 Google reviewer with over 1,200 reviews with 2 million views plus 14,000 photos with more than 60 million views and still going strong 💪. Check out my other reviews 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟.

Taino Bay was a nice relaxing location to stop at and enjoy the scenic port and the different shops, eateries and beautiful beaches. Everyone were very welcoming and enjoy you spending money at there different businesses They have a large variety of gifts and other things to choose from and also a duty free shop

Taino Bay is absolutely breathtaking, a tropical paradise that blends natural beauty with vibrant culture. The turquoise waters sparkle under the sun, perfectly matched by soft sandy beaches and lush greenery. Its stunning views create a peaceful escape, while the port itself is beautifully designed, welcoming, and filled with charm. Whether relaxing by the shore or exploring the scenic surroundings, Taino Bay captures the essence of Caribbean beauty, making every moment there feel unforgettable.

We visited Taino Bay on our Virgin Voyages cruise and were immediately greeted by the warmth and hospitality of the people of Puerto Plata. From the moment we stepped off the ship, we were met with big smiles, lively dancers, and a truly festive atmosphere. Yes, there are locals offering excursions, but they’re very respectful and will politely move along if you’re not interested, which made the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. Taino Bay itself is huge and conveniently located right at the pier, so you don’t have to walk far at all. The port area offers so much to do: bars, shops, swimming pools, a lazy river, and even a monkey and bird exhibit (with a small extra fee). It feels more like a resort than just a port stop! The staff throughout the port were attentive, friendly, and went out of their way to make sure we had a great time. The drinks were fantastic, highly recommend the fresh pineapple piña coladas and coconuts for a true tropical treat. All in all, Taino Bay was one of our favorite stops. Beautiful setting, excellent amenities, and genuine hospitality. We had an amazing time and would love to come back!

We came to Taino Bay through a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise. We got off the boat, and I saw the Taino Bay sign and a couple of others later down the road. This one had a couple of indigenous figures next to it. The area is very beautiful, as you'll see in the pictures. Taino Bay was full of stores and smiling staff at each store, not to mention the pool in the middle of the facility. It was a real nice area to be in.

It is a wonderful,beautiful port to visit. However the very aggressive woman who literally walked across the path to try to hand me a sample was unpleasant. Also the fact that as I walked around she continued to attempt to approach me. Cantina Latina served a drink in a glass that was cracked. The server brought it to the bar where I observed it just poured into another glass,this could have been a hazard. The second glass was so dirty on the bottom I could not drink it ,as was my fork. The pork was extremely tough rice very dry. Not a great experience.

Great place to spend the day when your ship docks in Puerto Plata, DR. Free entry, two pools, lazy river float, and plenty od shopping, food and drink available. Just a short walk from your ship. And free wifi!

Beautiful, relaxing beach experience. The service on the beach was superb. 10/10

Besides Costambar beach, this is a very good beach as well and much nicer then Long Beach or Costa Rica Beach. The beer and food are more expensive for some reason. $150 for el Presidente in town and $250 at El Publiquo for some reason. Food is all about 2o% more. Service is good and the chairs and lounges are in better shape. They didn’t charge for chair and umbrella if you ate there and that helps. It’s usually $500 pesos for two chairs and umbrella. Food was ok. I had a cheeseburger at Azuls and it was excellent except the bun melted away to slush half way through. The nachos were a big disappointment and should be avoided. Very little toppings and cheese was a squirted on from a bottle.

Loved this beach, not crowded, shopping and food available.

This is a great locals beach on Costa Dorada in the DR. A short cab ride from the Amber Cove cruise port (~$20 pp round-trip, but the driver stays with you all day to make sure you don't miss the boat!) and never crowded. A couple of loungers and an umbrella set you back $20 and 1L Presidente beers (yes, larger than a 750 ml bottle of wine) cost $5 (not a typo). There is a small market (called the Orange Market if your cabbie needs a landmark), with only a few pushy folks (Mr. Cheap will remind you of his name every time he sees you), a couple of small restaurants (neither of which is noteworthy) and fairly modern bathroom facilities. We go here every time we cruise to Amber Cove! UPDATE: 2 loungers and an umbrella is now only $15, but the infamous 1L Presidentes are gone (a 750ml from Victor at the Orange Market will only set you back $4 USD). If you are feeling a little boujee, there is a new, fancier beach bar just next to the Orange Market, but I doubt beers are $4! Still our go-to beach when in Puerta Plata!

Nice in the eye and insta photos. In reality it is super filthy full with plastic everywhere. If you go on a Saturday it is disgusting. Food quality poor and prices very expensive

Such a beautiful beach in the Dominican Republic

I had a great time! Water was great and it was clean all around. I would definitely go back.

We decided to keep walking towards puerto plata beach as Acapulco is very small and there was a lot of trash. Almost no spot to lay down a towel and chill. Such a waste. The beginning of the other beach was even worse though. At some point there is a part where they rent out beach chairs under umbrellas and there are some bars/restaurants. I guess those people clean up that bit of the beach. If you walk past the chairs there is a clean strand where we saw some locals chilling under the treeline. But we decided to rent some of the chairs. Glad we brought some drinks and snacks ourselves because the beach bar charges about 8 USD for a beer.

This place could be so nice but it’s not because of all the trash there on the beach it’s so bad unfortunately

Nice Beach, Kinda trashy. Beautiful views

Small peace of heaven

Nice hidden gem 💎

Beautiful! Clean, no rocks, minimal waves, crystal clear water. It's a bit of a challenge because of the rocky steps, but worth it if you can make it!

White sands, warm seas water 30° Celsius, closed to residential area, quite safe

This is my favorite beach in Puerto Plata, secluded, barely anybody, more foreigners than locasl, that helps it keep it clean. Sometimes it gets very windy, otherwise great for family with kids and non swimmers. Shallow spots all throughout the stretch. You have local vendors selling coconut water, dominican sweets (dulce de coco, almendra, cajuil, jalao). There's 1 main restaurant (Carey) looks fancy. A couple of bars and a couple of other smaller food vending places. They need someone selling queso de hoja with crackers though....highly recommended.

Definitely the nicest beach around Puerto Plata and the cleanest. The beaches in the City are quite dirty with glass and bottles everywhere. There are two restaurants that do a good job on Long beach and rake the sand everyday. But the rest of the 2 KM walk is really sad. Also the city does not take care of any of the washrooms aling the Malacon. Don’t even attempt to walk in them. Definitely go to Costambar if you want a clean beach. We also found many expats live around there and English is spoken much more. The beach staff are great including Mr. Canada. You won’t miss his shirt and friendly attitude.

Very relaxing and enjoyable beach.

Beautiful beach! Very calm and tranquil and not super crowded.

Beautiful beach. Clean . Therr aren't vendors that bother you, good selection restaurants

Probably the best beach in Puerta Plata

Linda

Dirty and filled with trash and broken glass. Stay away its disgusting.

Good

Bella

(Translated by Google) The beach is beautiful. Super calm. There are few people. It even lends itself to enjoying some intimate moment in a discreet way. (Original) La playa es hermosa . Súper tranquila . Van poca persona . Se presta hasta para disfrutar algún momento íntimo de manera discreta .

(Translated by Google) Excellent beach, sand, charming landscape. Good to go as a family, as a couple or alone. The locals are very hospitable and decent. Definitely worth returning. (Original) Excelente playa, la arena, el paisaje encantador. Buena para ir en familia, en pareja o solo. Los locales son muy hospitalarios y decentes. Sin duda vale la pena volver.

(Translated by Google) The beach is beautiful. Super calm. There are few people. It even lends itself to enjoying some intimate moment in a discreet way. The negative is the road, more than 10km long, in poor condition. It is recommended not to go by car. (Original) La playa es hermosa . Súper tranquila . Van poca persona . Se presta hasta para disfrutar algún momento íntimo de manera discreta . Lo negativo es el camino más de 10km de carrerea en malas condiciones. Recomendable no ir en carro .

(Translated by Google) It's a beautiful, clean, and quiet beach. Ideal if you want to enjoy a beautiful sunset. (Original) Es una playa muy linda, limpia y tranquila. Ideal si quieres disfrutar de una hermosa puesta de sol.