| Puerto Plata, the city capital of the Dominican Republic | | | | Towering over the city of Puerto Plata is the 2,600ft |
| province of the same name, sits on the countries north | | | | Mount Isabel, providing a popular tourist attraction. |
| coast and is the gateway to the numerous holiday | | | | Visitors can take a seven minute cable car ride up the |
| towns and resorts on the coast. | | | | mountainside to explore the summit, which offers a |
| The coastline itself is blessed with beautiful stretches | | | | botanical garden and a cruciform Christ statue. There |
| of pristine beach, lush green valleys and backed by the | | | | is also a restaurant from which diners can enjoy |
| majestic Mount Isabel de Torres. Columbus described | | | | breathtaking views of the city and coastline. |
| the spot as the fairest land under heaven when he | | | | An attractive Victorian building in the centre of Puerto |
| arrived there in 1492 and the thousands of visitors that | | | | Plata on Duarte Street houses the Amber Museum, |
| arrive every day today tend to agree with him. The | | | | showcasing a unique collection of valuable Dominican |
| city sports a romantic air of days gone by, enhanced | | | | amber. According to experts the amber found in this |
| by its Victorian architecture with its filigree lace wood | | | | region is the most transparent, and therefore the most |
| and ironwork and gingerbread motifs that characterise | | | | valued, in the world. The substance, classified as a |
| most of the historic homesteads and public buildings. | | | | semi precious stone, is actually tree resin that has |
| Puerto Platas only remnant of the Spanish Colonial | | | | hardened across millennia, often enclosing fossils of |
| days is a small fort, situated on a small peninsula in | | | | plant and insect life. The museum offers guided tours in |
| Puerto Plata Bay. The fort, featuring a moat, and a | | | | several languages and has a shop where a full |
| collection of historical artefacts in a small museum, | | | | selection of Dominican amber jewellery can be |
| was built by Columbus after his arrival in 1492, when | | | | obtained. |
| he hoped to establish the first Spanish colony in the | | | | No visit to the Dominican Republic north coast is |
| New World at this spot. The colony did not survive, | | | | complete without savouring the local drink of choice, |
| however, and eventually the Spanish resettled on the | | | | which is Brugal rum. In Puerto Plata visitors can enjoy a |
| south coast at Santo Domingo. To the east of the fort | | | | brief tour of the distillers bottling operation and end the |
| is an Oceanside road, which features numerous cafes | | | | experience with a sample. The factory produces more |
| and roadside vendors. It is a popular promenade for | | | | than one and a half million litres of white and dark rum |
| walks beside the beach. | | | | each year. |