Beyond the Beach: History & Culture of Puerto Plata
- Best price guaranteed
- No booking fees
- duration 4 hours
- tour type Group Tour
- Starts Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
- Ends Puerto Plata , Dominican Republic
- Explore the fascinating history and culture of Puerto Plata on a walking tour with a local guide
- Discover the ingredients that make up the unique flavour of Dominican seasoning at the farmers' market
- Learn about the popular religion of Dominican voodoo, visit the local museum and admire the island’s exceptional handicrafts at a community gallery
- Visit a local neighbourhood off the tourist trail and find out what everyday life is like in Puerto Plata
Spend a morning away from your sun lounger and discover the real Puerto Plata! Once a hub for pirates and explorers, the area holds rich culture and history, and you’ll love discovering it with us. We’ll explore the market, visit a gallery and the local museum, learn a little about voodoo, stroll through a local neighbourhood and enjoy a freshly prepared traditional lunch with a local family. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in local culture and get a better understanding of the island and its people, this is the tour for you!
One of the best ways to get to know any city is to visit its most popular market. So that’s what we’ll do first on your tour of Puerto Plata. This colourful and noisy place proudly displays the best of Dominican traditions. Here we’ll learn about the exotic fruits and vegetables that grow on the island, the traditional seasonings that are used by locals to give flavour to their dishes and about the raw tobacco that’s been cultivated here for centuries.
Next up, we’ll admire the island’s handicraft credentials at a traditional gallery and you will see jewellery crafted from our national stone, Larimar, which is unique to the Dominican Republic. This is a great stop for a spot of authentic souvenir shopping should you wish to indulge yourself.
We will then move on to discover the religions of our country with a visit to a popular local church. We’ll discuss the continuing practice of the voodoo religion, as well as other religions that were imported from Europe centuries ago.
Next, we’ll get off the tourist trail and take a stroll amongst the locals to explore hidden alleys that hide the true spirit and lifestyle of Puerto Plata. As we walk, you’ll see the local cemetery where many important people have been buried since its inception in 1800. You’ll also see the traditional barbershops, street food stalls that locals love and, in the old market neighbourhood, you’ll learn many unique things about Puerto Plata from your local, expert guide.
We’ll eat a chulito, a deliciously savoury fried treat made with yucca (cassava) that locals just love and you will too!
From here we'll walk to the historical district, learning about the Victorian-style houses that dot the streets and admiring the typically Caribbean buildings with their bright colours — very Instagram-worthy!
Then we’ll enjoy a refreshing artisanal ice cream at the main square with the pigeons, underneath the beautiful Victorian gazebo symbol of our fair city.
From here we are going to visit the Gregorio Luperon Museum, where you will learn about the everyday lives of the families who lived here 200 years ago, from the point of view of one of our national heroes and former presidents.
After working up an appetite exploring the city and learning about local life in Puerto Plata, we’ll end our tour on a tasty high, with a mouth-watering lunch of traditional local dishes at the home of a local family. Here you will try some specialities of the island, get to know a local family and reflect on everything you have learned during your action-packed morning.
You have definitely earned the right to lounge on your sun lounger this afternoon but if you do want to continue your exploration of the area, don’t forget to ask your local guide for tips on what else there is to see, do and eat in Puerto Plata.
- A Dominican-style lunch and one beer.
- Local English-speaking guide
- One bottle of water
- Artisan ice cream
- One chulito
- Luperon Museum entrance fee
- Additional food and drinks
- souvenirs and personal shopping
- tips/gratuities for your guide. We can also provide pick-up for an additional fee from Playa Dorada
- Costambar and Puerto Plata city hotels. Please contact us after booking for rates.
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Cancellation for this Beyond the Beach: History & Culture of Puerto Plata tour is free up to 48 hours before the chosen start date - full refund will be given. If cancellation is made less than 48 hours before the chosen start date, no refund applies.
PaymentFull payment of 75 USD is required to confirm this tour.
Travel InsuranceBeyond the Beach: History & Culture of Puerto Plata tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. We recommend using World Nomads' travel insurance.
VisaFor this Beyond the Beach: History & Culture of Puerto Plata tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are travelling to, as part of this itinerary.
Meeting start point : In front of Puerto Plata Urban Adventures. Avenida General Gregorio Luperón, Puerto Plata 57000 Look for your UA branded guide in a red polo shirt Meeting end point : Urban Adventures office. Ave. General Luperon, In front of Acapulco Beach.
