A Downtown Walking Tour

Puerto Plata City for  Day Trippers

Central Park. New Yorkers laugh when they see the size of our tiny Central Park, it should be called Central Square. It is typical of all towns in the country, a traditional social gathering place surrounded by the City Hall, the Palace of Justice and other government office buildings ­ and of course, the obligatory ice cream parlor. Puerto Plata’s central square is a good starting place for any sightseeing stroll in town: it’s easy to hail a cab or ask “Parque Central, por favor.” 

Walking the Streets. Most of the fun comes from just walking around, going from store to store and taking in the sights on the busy bustling noisy streets of the city. 

Victorian Architecture. Many colonial style homes adorned with gingerbread architecture, in various states of repair, hail from the turn of the century. Many of these buildings are being renovated and restored. 

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The Malecon. Another typical characteristic of Latin American ocean side cities is a wide boulevard running along the shore called the Malecon. In Puerto Plata it runs for about six kilometers from Long Beach to the San Feline Fortress. At sunup and sundown it becomes the community sports center with bikers and joggers and walkers and shadow boxers all working out. During holidays and carnival, it’s a big party and the main showcase for parades. On Sunday’s people drive up and down and show off their cars. All in all it makes for an interesting, breezy stroll alongside the ocean. 

The San Felipe Fortress. Built in the early 1500’s by Bartolome Colon, it successfully defended the harbor against numerous pirate attacks. Walk-through visits cost about 20 pesos. 

The Market. About ten minutes walk from Central Park (ask for El Mercado), vendors at the market sell fresh produce and many handicrafts. 

The Amber Museum. The stuff of Jurassic Park, Dominican amber is a semi-precious gem that is clear, hardened tree sap about 30 million years old, often containing trapped insects and bits of vegetation. The Amber Museum is a fascinating exhibition of this interesting stone. Just two blocks from Central Park. 

Lunch. Within three blocks from Central Park, try Sam’s Bar & Grill in a historical hotel near central park, Café Cito, a quiet courtyard with lots of plants, jazz music, Caribbean grill and Greek specialties, Roma II Pizzeria for air conditioning,

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