Itineraries — Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata and the North is the Dominican Republic's third tourist region and probably the least known to French travellers — wrongly, because it offers a balanced mix between classic Caribbean beaches, world-class water sports and preserved Dominican authenticity, more accessible than Samaná and less formatted than Punta Cana. The north Atlantic coast, washed by constant trade winds from the Atlantic, stretches 100 km from the western tip (Monte Cristi, agricultural) to the eastern borders of the Samaná peninsula. The tourist heart concentrates over 30 km between Puerto Plata (west) and Cabarete (east).

The region takes its historic name from the Amber Coast — the mines of the Cordillera Septentrional supply Dominican blue amber, one of the world's rarest fossil resins (the Dominican Republic and Burma are the only two global sources). The Amber Museums at Puerto Plata and Santiago display spectacular specimens (insect, feather and leaf inclusions) dating back 15-40 million years. It's the national semi-precious stone, alongside larimar (a turquoise blue pectolite variety, also a Dominican exclusive).

The region is organised around three complementary tourist hubs with distinct personalities. Puerto Plata (historic city, 320,000 inhabitants with metro area) is the cultural hub — founded in 1502 by Nicolás de Ovando, it preserves a colonial historic centre with pastel Victorian houses (legacy of the 19th-century English Antillean and North American community), the Fortaleza San Felipe (1577, 2nd oldest military fort in the Americas), and above all the Pico Isabel de Torres cable car — the Caribbean's only one, spectacular ride to the 793 m altitude jungle-covered summit. The Playa Dorada hotel zone (6 km east of centre) groups some thirty 3-4 star all-inclusive resorts in a gated complex with golf.

Sosúa (20 km east of Puerto Plata, former village founded in 1940 by European Jewish refugees) is today a charming cosmopolitan beach resort around its crescent beach — 1 km of white sand in a lagoon protected by capes, ideal swimming, snorkelling from shore. Varied restaurants, lively nightlife, international atmosphere. Beware of historically present sex tourism at night.

Cabarete (30 km east of Puerto Plata) has been the world capital of kitesurfing, windsurfing and wing-foiling since the 1990s. The bay benefits from exceptional wind conditions (constant 15-25 knot trade winds in the afternoon, warm water, protected beach). Over 30 professional kite schools, international expat community (Germans, Argentinians, French, Brazilians), hippie-chic and sporty atmosphere unique to the country. It's also a surf hub (Encuentro Beach, 1-3 m waves), international cuisine and yoga.