In cooperation with:
Photographer: Ivan Andrejic
WWW.SECRETSEDITION.COM
Discover Puerto Plata - the birthplace of tourism in the Dominican Republic The birthplace of tourism in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata continues to pack a mighty punch. Its spectacular, sprawling landscape combines sea, mountains, lush valleys, rivers, and a multitude of beaches. Its fertile soil grows cacao and coffee trees, while underneath rests the world’s clearest amber. Savvy explorer Christopher Columbus knew there was much to discover on this northern Atlantic coastline eventually finding gold deposits when he glimpsed it from his ship in 1492. Drawn by the sight of clouds shimmering over Mount Isabel de Torres and illuminating Puerto Plata’s vast blue shoreline, he named the area the “Silver Port” and settled at La Isabela with a mixed community of Tainos original inhabitants of the area and Spaniards, built the first church and his first home in the Americas. You can follow Columbus’s trail and tour these archeological ruins, now part of a national park.
Puerto Plata’s natural bounty continues to astound those who lay eyes on La Novia del Atlántico, or as locals call it, the Atlantic’s Darling. A bird’s eye view from the cable car–the only one in the Caribbean, taking passengers to Mount Isabel de Torres and its lush botanical gardens–reveals part of an Atlantic coastline with more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of beaches gracing multiple coastal villages, inland farming communities replete with rivers and falls, and hotels of all sizes to suit all tastes. To boot, Puerto Plata is home to colonial vestiges, including the largest collection of preserved 19th century Victorian-style houses in the Caribbean, the oldest amber fossils in the world on display at the Amber Museum, and one of the first colonial period fortresses in the region at Fortaleza San Felipe, dating back to 1577.
East and west along Puerto Plata’s coastline, steady trade winds, river systems, the vast Cordillera Septentrional mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean conspire to create a world of outdoor adventure, including beach towns renowned for water sports. Less than half an hour from the city, Sosúa was first settled by Jewish immigrants who fled Nazi Germany, boasting beautiful beaches where expats and locals coexist, and rich underwater sites. Nearby Cabarete is a world famous hub for windsurfing, surfing, and kiteboarding, and a favorite cosmopolitan hideout of snowbirds. Playa Dorada is for those who want to relax in style on golden stretches, with seaside activities near the city, from canyoning at 27 Charcos of Damajagua waterfalls to snorkeling at Cayo Arena, and relaxing at Ocean World Marina.
Nature aside, Puerto Plata’s multitude of vibrant villages translates into a host of cultural experiences. Home of community tourism, here is where you can hike family-owned cacao or coffee plantations, learn how to play and dance merengue from a family of musicians, or immerse in Dominican pelota at the Bartolo Colón stadium and museum. Along the way are a multitude of culinary experiences, from roadside snacks to beachside seafood, and gourmet international restaurants. Puerto Plata’s main points of entry include the Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP), located 15 minutes from the city center and Playa Dorada or Costa Dorada hotels, and the Amber Cove Cruise Center in Maimón.
Parque Independencia Parque Independencia–also known as Parque Central–is the centerpiece of Puerto Plata city, framed with royal palms and hugged on all four corners by pastel-colored Victorian-era architecture. The white Catedral del Apóstol San Felipe towers over the square, where Puerto Plateños relax throughout the day and night with friends and family. You’ll find a café, ice cream parlor, and restaurant around the square, while the city’s key museums are just a couple of blocks away.
City of culture and museums Puerto Plata is city of culture and many museums. Located across the city’s historical central park, Casa de La Cultura is one of the oldest intellectual hubs and cultural institutions in Puerto Plata, rebuilt at the turn of the 20th century and now hosting key art and cultural events, from exhibits to lectures. Take a tour of the three-story, Victorian-style wooden building, with a Spanish literature library and a second floor veranda with panoramic views over Puerto Plata’s central square. Puerto Plata’s Amber Museum, sitting smack in the heart of the city in a neo-classical style residence, displays some of the DR’s stunning amber stones on several floors, including samples containing animal fossils. Showcased in a room designed like a cave, you’ll view close-ups of stones containing a near 43-centimeter (17-inch) lizard, a scorpion, a centipede, wasp’s nests, and two beetles mating, all of which date back to 15 to 20 million years. There are also amber stones with butterflies, and flowers. One mosquito-encased amber gemstone was used in Steven Spielberg’s motion picture film Jurassic Park.
Fortaleza San Felipe and La Puntilla A key piece of Puerto Plata’s history, Fortaleza San Felipe was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend the north coast of the Dominican Republic from the British and Dutch, and from French pirates in search of the area’s abundant gold and silver. Considered one of the most important colonial military structures in the Caribbean, it was completed in 1577 and later served as a prison from the 19th century through the Trujillo years. Now a museum, touring the fort reveals the original canons facing the Atlantic, ancient weapons, and numerous hidden chambers. The panoramic views over the Puerto Plata coastline are impressive. Catching the sunset at the foot of the fort, beside La Puntilla park, is a daily Puerto Plateño activity. Inaugurated in April 2017, Puerto Plata’s newest outdoor venue, La Puntilla, is a stunning 2,062 square meter (22,200 square foot) outdoor Grecian amphitheater facing the Atlantic Ocean, with a capacity of over 4,000 spectators. Flanked by the San Felipe Fort on one side, and a verdant La Puntilla park, concerts, dance performances, and other artistic events are occasionally held here, featuring Dominican and international artists.
Nature of Puerto Plata Beside diverse culture and history Puerto Plata is home of the best beaches but also mountains, eco tourism possibilities and among all of them beautiful waterfalls. Puerto Plata’s crown jewel attraction, the 27 Charcos of Damajagua waterfalls offer a day of hiking through thick forest, crossing footbridges and passing numerous flora before eventually reaching a rocky hilltop where you’ll begin making your way down by jumping or sliding down a series of waterfalls–helmets and safety gear on–as you slide down water-cushioned chutes or jump into deep turquoise pools. Most excursions take you only through seven falls, as reaching the 27th is reserved for the most active and physically fit adventurers. Run by local guides who live within the community, the park entrance fees benefit all of its residents, making it a win for all. The park is located approximately an hour from Puerto Plata city. Make it through the 27 Charcos de Damajagua and you can face any other adventure in the Dominican Republic.
Costa Dorada Just ten minutes east of downtown Puerto Plata, these reef-protected beaches face the two main resort areas that draw the majority of the area’s visitors. Sections of these stunning, wide golden stretches are Blue Flag certified for their water quality and services. You’ll find extensive options for water sports from kitesurfing to banana boat tubing, as well as restaurants and bars.
Discover Paradise beach Off these northwestern shores, boats depart to the offshore Cayo Arena–also known as Cayo Paraíso–offering exceptional diving for beginner levels, starting at five meters. Schools of tropical fish can also easily be seen in shallow turquoise waters, making this spot a paradise for snorkeling fans. This area boasts some of the most abundant marine life in the DR, with corals and sponges that surround the caye, where octopuses, crabs, schools of surgeonfish, sergeant majors, damselfish, angelfish, and yellowtail snappers all swim around your feet. This tiny sandbank is also a dreamy spot to relax and take plenty of beach selfies.
Sosúa and Jewish museum Sosúa has a very interesting history. Welcomed by the Dominican government in 1940, Sosúa served as a refuge and home for Jewish families fleeing Europe due to the Nazi persecutions. Today you can learn about their story in the Jewish Museum in this charming town. Learn about the industrious Europeans who fled Nazi Europe–after being granted visas from then-Dominican leader and dictator Rafael Trujillo–and started their life anew as cattle ranchers and farmers in Sosúa, on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic in the 1940s. Through the use of black and white photographs, letters, and historical displays, the Jewish Museum recounts and commemorates the lives and times of the DR’s Jewish community, and its major role in the area’s thriving meat and dairy industry.
Cabarete The Caribbean’s hub for windsurfing, kiteboarding, and laser sailing, Playa Cabarete–also known as “Kite Beach” on the western side–is where you can learn and practice wind water sports all year round. On weekends, especially in the summer, the sails and kites are all out on the water, which makes for dreamy photographs. There’s plenty of space for swimming and relaxing as well, facing the many restaurants, bars, shops, and lounges on the eastern side of the beach. Located between a bay and a lagoon, Cabarete is well known for its charming ambience and combination of relaxed and adventurous lifestyles. Its daytime cafe scene, nighttime club scene, and huge, windswept beaches that have made it a world capital for kite surfing, as well as a popular place for windsurfing and traditional surfing, making it the favorite site for professional kite competitions such as “Master of the Ocean” - an elite international sporting event that combine the practice of surfing, windsurfing, kite boarding and paddle boarding. Playa Encuentro is considered as one of the most popular surf beaches in the Caribbean.
Travel the world with Eurowings Discover A time for travelling, a time for seeing something different. We are all waiting with bated breath to take a holiday and finally relax a little after the strain of the pandemic. Eurowings Discover takes you to the world’s most beautiful and popular holiday destinations so you can enjoy true pleasure. Eurowings Discover draws on the expertise and experience of the Lufthansa Group, one of the world’s leading airline corporations. This includes Lufthansa’s network of feeder flights, which provides you with seamless transfers and convenient booking. As a young start-up airline, Eurowings Discover also brings fresh ideas and a great deal of passion. Eurowings Discover passengers can look forward to a number of surprises and new services.
Eurowings Discover is the Lufthansa Group’s new vacation airline that takes travelers from Frankfurt am Main and from summer 2022 also from Munich - to the world’s most beautiful short-, medium- and long-haul destinations. The mission of Eurowings Discover is to tailor the travel experience to the guests’ individual needs and to make the flight a special experience. Since Eurowings Discover is part of the Lufthansa network, travelers can benefit from direct connections to and from all German and European Lufthansa destinations, as well as an end-to-end booking process and seamless transfer. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the airline can draw on the expertise and experience of one of the world’s leading aviation companies. Flights can be booked on lufthansa.com and eurowings.com. Quality and sustainability play a crucial role. For instance, you can compensate for the emissions made by your flights with voluntary carbon offsets, thanks to the partnership with Compensaid. On board Eurowings Discover also makes a point of using sustainable products with a focus on consistent reusability and recycled materials. What’s more, travellers on Eurowings Discover flights can use the Miles & More frequent flyer programme. Eurowings Discover flies you to the most beautiful vacation destinations in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, Africa, North America and Europe.
Eurowings Discover offers a unique travel experience in 3 travel classes: Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class. In Economy Class, guests can look forward to a special and high-quality travel experience, with all meals and non-alcoholic beverages included in the price. In addition, there is a diverse Buy-on-Board offering from which travelers can select further snacks and alcoholic beverages The Premium Economy Class offers travelers comfortable, 115-cm-wide seats. Increased seat spacing, footrests and large monitors also contribute to the feel-good factor on board. In Premium Economy Class all meals and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the price. In addition, there is a complimentary selection of beer and wine. In Business Class, guests enjoy the highest level of comfort. At the touch of a button, the 165 cm wide seats transform into full-size beds with 200 cm of reclining space. High-quality menus and the wide selection of drinks - all included in the price – accomplish the feel-good program above the clouds.
Eurowings Discover connects Frankfurt in Germany with beautiful Puerto Plata (POP) in the Dominican Republic by two weekly flights. The Dominican Republic is one of the top destinations of the young Lufthansa Group leisure airline and especially Puerto Plata is a wonderful addition in the dreamlike Caribbean. Eurowings Discover further serves the route from Frankfurt to Punta Cana up to seven times a week and from Munich to Punta Cana twice a week.