Puerto PlataCruise Port Guide
Step off at Taino Bay and the old town is a short walk from the gate. Free pools if you'd rather stay, timed tours with real prices if you won't.
Welcome to Puerto Plata
Pro Picks
Waterfalls · Half-dayDamajagua 7 Waterfalls with Lunch
Hike up through the jungle to the Damajagua waterfalls, then come back down the natural rock slides and jumps into the pools below, with a Dominican buffet lunch afterwards. Guides meet you just outside the port, so get off the ship early: the listing doesn't say how long the day runs.
From $50/ person
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City tour · 6 hrsPuerto Plata City Tour with Mount Isabel
Ride up Mount Isabel de Torres for the view over the coast and a walk through its botanical garden, then tour the colonial centre, Umbrella Street and Paseo de Doña Blanca, with lunch included. The operator says to allow six to seven hours, so it suits a long call.
From $99/ person
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Buggy · 3 hrsBuggy Ride with Beach Swim and Tasting
Drive a two-seat buggy along country roads and through villages for about two hours, with a stop at a cigar maker for a taste of mamajuana and hot chocolate and time for a swim at the beach. It's priced per buggy of up to two, so the price shows when you book.
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Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Puerto Plata in 3 hours
Monkey sanctuary
Squirrel Monkey Sanctuary
See squirrel monkeys up close in a tropical botanical garden, with transport coordinated around your ship. New listing with one review so far; pickup is at Taino Bay and the operator promises an on-time return.
From$86.45
Time required2 hours
ATV ride
4-Wheel ATV Ride to the Beach
Ride your own ATV through the countryside near Maimón, with a cigar stop, a beach stop and a tasting on the way back. Port pickup and return are included; the trails are west of town, near Amber Cove.
From$90
Time required2 hours
ATV ride
Super ATV Countryside Ride
About two hours on an ATV through villages, rivers and past beaches, with a cigar-factory stop. The station is a 12-minute drive from Taino Bay, and cruise passengers meet an hour after the ship docks.
From$95
Time required2.5 hours
Puerto Plata in 5 hours
Waterfalls
7 Waterfalls with Lunch
Climb and slide the Damajagua waterfalls and finish with lunch, on a three-hour tour. The guides, in green shirts, wait at Gate 5 inside Taino Bay, where the taxis are, so there's no hunting for a meeting point.
From$54
Time required3 hours
City tour
City Tour with Rum and Chocolate
Taste rum at the Macorix rum house and organic Dominican chocolate at a local maker, with ocean views from Fort San Felipe. A four-hour tour with 93 reviews; the listing doesn't say where it meets, so check when booking.
From$52.25
Time required4 hours
Waterfalls
All 7 Damajagua Waterfalls
Most waterfall tours turn back at the third or fifth fall; this one climbs to all seven before the slides down, then a buffet lunch. Give your ship's name when you book; pickup is at Taino Bay.
From$50
Time required4 hours
City tour
Guided City Tour with the Fort
A four-hour loop of the cathedral square, Paseo de Doña Blanca, the Amber Museum, Fort San Felipe and the Malecón. It was on discount when checked, and the operator plans the drop-off with a margin before sailing.
From$35
Time required4 hours
Puerto Plata in 7 hours
Walking tour
Old Town Walking Tour with Tastings
A walking tour straight from the port: rum tasting at the Macorix house, chocolate tasting, Paseo de Doña Blanca and Umbrella Street. It runs four to five hours on foot, and meets at Gate 5 of the Taino Bay terminal.
From$35.84
Time required4 - 5 hours
Waterfalls + monkeys
Waterfalls and Monkey Park
The Damajagua waterfalls' pools and slides, then squirrel monkeys at a monkey park, in about four and a half hours. Not suitable for children under 8 or anyone with back or heart problems.
From$89
Time required4.5 hours
Monkeys + city tour
Monkeys, the Fort and the Old Town
A family-paced five hours: a monkey sanctuary, then Fort San Felipe and the murals and streets of the historic centre. Pickup is at a set meeting point at the port.
From$100
Time required5 hours
Catamaran + snorkel
Catamaran with Snorkeling and BBQ
Two snorkel stops on the north coast's reefs, a BBQ lunch and an open bar on a shared catamaran. It sails at 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM, so only the morning trip suits most calls; guests must be 18 or over.
From$90.25
Time required5 hours
Combo: monkeys, waterfalls, buggy
Monkeys, Waterfalls and a Buggy Ride
Three in one: squirrel monkeys, the Damajagua waterfalls and a drive in a two-person buggy through rivers and trails, in about five hours. Couples share a buggy.
From$189
Time required5 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Six stops on foot from the Taino Bay exit, where the old town starts almost at the gate. Free tuk-tuks carry you from the ship to the exit; there's no swimming beach within a walk.
Landmark · 0.2 mi · ~6 min
Umbrella Street
The street strung with rows of rainbow umbrellas, with the pink Paseo de Doña Blanca half a block away. Go early: it gets crowded in the afternoon.
Plaza · 0.4 mi · ~10 min
Parque Central
The town's central park, with a gazebo at its heart and the San Felipe cathedral on one side. A natural place to get your bearings before heading to the museums.
Café · 0.3 mi · ~8 min
Heladería Mariposa
An ice-cream parlour a block off the park that also does coffee, pancakes and sandwiches. Handy for a cool-down between sights.
Museum · 0.4 mi · ~10 min
Museo del Ámbar
Puerto Plata's amber museum, a couple of blocks past the park and a regular stop on the city tours.
Eat · 0.4 mi · ~9 min
El Balconcito Típico
A restaurant serving regional Dominican food, open for lunch from 11:00 to 14:00, Monday to Saturday.
Fort · 0.6 mi · ~14 min
Fortaleza San Felipe
The old fortress and museum on the headland above the harbour, next to the lighthouse, reached along the waterfront road.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Puerto Plata.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Puerto Plata?
Cruise ships in Puerto Plata dock at Taino Bay, a cruise port on the edge of the old town, and tie up alongside its pier; it isn't a tender port. The port itself names Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Virgin Voyages, Oceania and Regent among the lines it serves, so their ships usually berth here, while Carnival, Princess and Holland America usually use Amber Cove instead. Free tuk-tuks run from the gangway to the exit. Confirm the port on your itinerary.
Is Taino Bay the same as Amber Cove?
No, Taino Bay and Amber Cove are two different cruise ports. Taino Bay is in Puerto Plata itself, about a 15-minute walk from Umbrella Street, and serves lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian and MSC. Amber Cove is about 7.5 miles west by road, used mainly by Carnival Corporation lines, and the town isn't walkable from there. Tours often pick up at both, so check which port your ship's itinerary names.
Can you walk from the Taino Bay cruise port into Puerto Plata?
Yes, you can walk into Puerto Plata from Taino Bay: Royal Caribbean and Celebrity both put Umbrella Street, the Amber Museum and the town's shops about 15 minutes away on foot. Free tuk-tuks take you from the ship to the port exit, and from there Parque Central is about 0.4 miles and Umbrella Street closer still. Fortaleza San Felipe is about 0.6 miles along the waterfront. The stroll map has six stops with walking times.
What is there to do at the Taino Bay cruise port?
Yes, Taino Bay is set up for a day without a tour: the port has pools with a swim-up bar and shows, a lazy river, bars, restaurants, a coffee shop, shops, a spa and an aviary inside its gates. The pools, lazy river and hammock area are free. The old town is a short walk from the exit, with Umbrella Street, the pink Paseo de Doña Blanca and Parque Central all about a quarter to half a mile away. There's no swimming beach at the port.
Is Taino Bay free for cruise passengers?
Yes, Taino Bay is free to walk around for cruise passengers, and the port says its pools, lazy river and hammock area cost nothing. Food, drinks and shopping cost extra, as does splash surfing. The tuk-tuks from the gangway to the exit are free too, though drivers appreciate a tip, and Celebrity lists free Wi-Fi inside the port.
Can anyone go to Taino Bay?
No, Taino Bay isn't open to the general public: the port says it is currently only for cruise passengers whose ship is calling there. Passengers from a ship at Amber Cove, or visitors staying in Puerto Plata, can't use its pools or lazy river.
Beaches & water
How far is the beach from the Puerto Plata cruise port?
No, there's no swimming beach within an easy walk of the Puerto Plata cruise port. Taino Bay has pools and a sandy play area, but swimming off the port's waterfront isn't allowed, and the nearest town beach, Playa Longbichito on the Malecón, is about 1.4 miles from the exit, around 30 minutes on foot. For a proper beach day, the port sells its own Playa Dorada trip at its Last-Minute Booth, and taxis wait outside the port; agree the fare first.
Tours & time ashore
What are the best Puerto Plata excursions from the cruise port?
The most-booked Puerto Plata excursions from Taino Bay are the Damajagua waterfalls (the 7-waterfall tour with lunch has 173 traveler reviews), city tours that add Mount Isabel or rum and chocolate tastings, and buggy or ATV rides. Many guides meet you at Gate 5 inside the port, where the taxis wait, or just outside it. The Scout Favorites start at $50 a person, and waterfall trips take three to four hours.
How far is the cable car from the Puerto Plata cruise port?
The cable car up Mount Isabel de Torres starts about 1.8 miles from the Taino Bay exit, too far for most people to walk in the heat. Take a taxi from outside the port, or book a Mount Isabel city tour, which drives up the mountain by road and adds the old town.
What time zone is Puerto Plata in, and does it match ship time?
Puerto Plata is on Atlantic Standard Time (UTC−4) all year, because the Dominican Republic doesn't use daylight saving time. Your ship may keep a different time on board, so go by the all-aboard time your ship posts; Royal Caribbean says the ship won't wait for guests touring on their own.
Getting around
How do I get a taxi from Taino Bay?
Taxis wait just outside the Taino Bay complex, and Celebrity says they'll take you to the north coast's beaches. No official fare list is published, so agree the price before you get in. Many independent tour guides also meet passengers at Gate 5 inside the port, where the taxis are. For the old town itself you don't need one: it's a short walk from the exit.
Money, documents & safety
Do I need pesos in Puerto Plata, or are US dollars accepted?
No, you don't need pesos for a cruise day in Puerto Plata: US dollars are widely accepted at Taino Bay and in town, though many things in town are priced only in Dominican pesos. Celebrity says there are ATMs inside the port's gated village if you want local cash.
Is there Wi-Fi at the Taino Bay cruise port?
Yes, Celebrity lists free Wi-Fi inside Taino Bay's gated village. Guides say it covers the port complex, asks for an email address to sign up and needs reconnecting every hour.
Do I need a passport to cruise to Puerto Plata?
On a closed-loop cruise, US Customs and Border Protection says US citizens can re-enter the country with a birth certificate plus a government photo ID, but it warns the countries visited may still require a passport. A passport is the safer choice for Puerto Plata, and you need one if you ever have to fly home from the Dominican Republic, for example after missing the ship.
Is the Puerto Plata cruise port safe?
The US State Department rates the Dominican Republic Level 2, "Exercise Increased Caution", because of crime, and advises against displaying wealth. Taino Bay itself is open only to cruise passengers; in town, keep phones and jewellery out of sight as the advisory suggests. Read the current advisory before you sail, since the level can change.