Playa Dorada

Playa Dorada is the best-known resort district of Puerto Plata, a planned complex a short drive east of the city center that was developed around a golf course and a string of beachfront hotels. The beach itself is broad and golden, with calm patches on most days and a gentle slope that suits families, and the surrounding area has a well-organized feel compared with the livelier town beaches. Inside the complex you find a shopping plaza with restaurants, shops, a casino and evening entertainment, and a championship golf course designed by a well-known architect that draws golfers from around the world. Many of the large all-inclusive hotels in this book sit here, so day visitors can often use the public stretches of sand while hotel guests enjoy loungers, restaurants and activities. Water sports such as jet skis, banana boats and parasailing are available from beach operators, and you can book horseback rides, boat trips and tours from stands along the shore. Because the district is compact and has a lot of services, it is a smart base for first-time visitors who prefer comfort over adventure, and for families who want a resort-style holiday with easy access to the old town, the cable car and the waterfalls. The beach is public, and the sea can be rougher on windy days, so check flags and ask locals about the conditions before swimming.

How you use Playa Dorada depends on your plans. If you are staying in a resort here, much of the day can be spent between the pool, beach and restaurants, with excursions booked through the hotel or through independent operators. If you are visiting for the day, you can walk the public beach, have lunch at a beach restaurant and browse the shopping plaza in the evening. Taxis and shuttle buses link the district with the center of Puerto Plata and with Sosua, and renting a car is possible though not essential.

Keep an eye on the sun and the swell. Midday heat is strong, so use shade and sunscreen, and note that wave conditions can change quickly in winter, when the north swell sometimes produces strong surf and currents. Beach vendors are common and polite refusal usually suffices. Prices at the plaza are higher than in town, so compare if you plan to shop, and do negotiate for crafts at the stalls. For nightlife, the plaza offers casual bars and a casino, while livelier options are in Sosua and Cabarete.

For a sample day, start with a swim before the sun climbs, take breakfast at a beach cafe, and join an excursion in the late morning, such as the cable car or a city tour that picks up at the complex gates. Return for an afternoon of loungers and cold drinks, then walk to the plaza for dinner and an evening stroll. Golfers can book tee times a day or two ahead, and non-golfers can still enjoy the manicured grounds, which are pleasant to walk through in the early evening when the heat eases.