Beyond the Beach: History & Culture of Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
From USD 75.00
Office phone number: +809 221 8097 or +1 (829) 285-7733 & +1 (809) 769-8732
Beyond the Beach: History & Culture of Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
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!
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Highlights
- 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
- Enjoy a traditional lunch with a friendly local family and snack on the locals' favourite street food, too!
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
The entrance to la Puntilla. Puerto Plata Malecon.
Look for your UA branded guide in a red t-shirt and logo.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.00 AM
- Ending point:
Urban Adventures office. Ave. General Luperon, In front of Acapulco Beach.
View on Google Maps.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, one bottle of water, artisan ice cream, Luperon Museum entrance fee, one chulito (yucca ball stuffed with cheese or meat), a Dominican-style lunch and one beer.
Exclusions: 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.
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.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, one bottle of water, artisan ice cream, Luperon Museum entrance fee, one chulito (yucca ball stuffed with cheese or meat), a Dominican-style lunch and one beer.
Exclusions: 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.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Closure of sites: In the unlikely event of any of our stops being closed, we will visit a similar place or spend longer at one of our other stops.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Dietary Notes
We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@puertoplataurbanadventures.com.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +809 221 8097 or +1 (829) 285-7733 & +1 (809) 769-8732
Email address: info@puertoplataurbanadventures.com
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