No excursion? No problem! Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic is one of the best (and easiest!) ports to stop it with no plans at all. And the best part of all? It’s all free! Grab your swimsuit and get ready for a perfect port day in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic!
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Puerto Plata vs Amber Cove
If your cruise itinerary shows Puerto Plata as a stop, be advised that there are two different ports in the city. The first is Amber Cove, which is used primarily by Carnival. Taino Bay is the other, and is used by the majority of the other lines (and is definitely the better of the two!). The two ports are located in the city of Puerto Plata, but are about 8 miles apart. If you wanted to get from one to the other, you’re definitely looking at a cab ride across town. Both ports have pools and resort-like amenities, but I feel like the win is definitely in Taino Bay’s column!
Getting to Taino Bay
Getting to Taino Bay from the cruise ship could not be easier. Once you walk off the ship, simply make your way down the pier to the main entrance. The pier is not long, but there are free tuk tuk rides available (just be sure to tip your driver). The walk down the pier didn’t take us more than 5 minutes. Taino Bay is a resort area that is walled off from the public and is only available to cruise passengers. When you reach the end of the pier, you’re greeted by an open-air welcome center with fountains, locals dressed in traditional Dominican outfits, and maps of the property. After a quick walk through the Duty Free, you’re in! Oh, and did I mention the best part? This entire property is free to enter and use!
Taino Bay
The property at Taino Bay is really impressive, and has something for everyone! My favorite part was, unsurprisingly, the massive pools that are very well maintained and free to use. There are tons of deck chairs, loungers, and day beds that are available (first-come, first-serve) that surround the pools. And knowing that only cruise ship passengers had access to this area, I felt pretty secure leaving my belongings at the chair while I took a dip. In the pools, there are several hammocks for a relaxing lay, and even a free lazy river! While there is no beach here with water access, there is an area where you can walk on golden sand and sit in a beach chair under a palm tree. We even passed a surf simulator and an area with tropical birds like parrots and macaws to see!
There are also plenty of shops and restaurants inside (which of course are an additional cost). You’ll find penty of sit-down restaurants, grab-and-go stations, and even a swim-up pool bar. There are also a few dozen stalls where you can pick up a souvenir or local art. We opted to just stick to the free options while in port, but it’s nice to have those options!
Exploring Puerto Plata
Aside from all of the spectacular amenities offered at Taino Bay, what I really think gives it the win over Amber Cove is the proximity to the city. At the very far end of the secured area (located about here) is the entrance into the city, should you choose to venture out. This area is very secure and there’s no way you could leave Taino Bay by accident. Once you leave the port area though, be advised that you’ll be greeted by plenty of locals trying to get your money. They will be pushy, offering tours or “security” through town. Simply tell them no and keep walking.
We made out way out of the port and walked just a few short blocks through town. The first stop was to the famous Umbrella Street. This street is pretty touristy, but I loved admiring the colorful hanging umbrellas. The whole street is bright and lively. There are shops, restaurants, and grab-and-go places, just be advised that you’re definitely paying tourist prices here. Just another block away is Paseo de Doña Blanca. This street is unique because everything is painted hot pink! It’s a short little passageway, but definitely worth the quick visit for some photos. We didn’t do any other exploring in town, but others on the ship later mentioned walking to the Fortaleza de San Felipe and the Malecón de Puerto Plata and said they were both great.
Getting back to the ship
To get back to the cruise ship, you have to enter through Taino Bay. You can get back into the secured area the same place where you exited (located about here). The area is very secure and you will be required to show your ship cruise card to enter. Once inside, there are many signs pointing you back to the ship. You’ll walk the length of the resort area, back through the duty free, and up the pier. Taino Bay makes a port day in Puerto Plata so easy!
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