Puerto Plata is the main tourist hub on the Dominican Republic's north coast, known as the Amber Coast. The area centres on a string of beach resorts east of Puerto Plata city, with the all-inclusive resort zone of Playa Dorada the most developed. The coastline here is backed by mountains, and the scenery is more dramatic than on the south coast.
Puerto Plata city itself is a Victorian-era port town with gingerbread architecture and a pleasant central park. It is often skipped by resort visitors, but rewards a half-day exploration: the amber museum, the 16th-century fort of San Felipe, and the cable car up to the Pico Isabel de Torres are the main draws.
Cabarete, about 15 km east of the city, has established itself as one of the Caribbean's best kitesurfing and windsurfing destinations. The consistent trade winds from February through August draw serious water sports athletes alongside beginners. The town has grown up around the beach and has a lively scene in the evenings.
Sosua, between Puerto Plata and Cabarete, has a small Jewish community founded by refugees from Nazi Germany in the 1940s — a history commemorated at the local museum.
