Private Puerto Plata: Local Music and Chocolate Farm Adventure
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
From USD 143.00
Office phone number: +1 809 770 8953 & +1 829 2857733
Private Puerto Plata: Local Music and Chocolate Farm Adventure
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
Remember when Johnny told Baby in Dirty Dancing that he couldn’t teach her to dance because she “couldn’t even do the merengue?” Well, you won’t have that excuse after this fabulously rhythmic and tasty tour! Discover the national dance of the Dominican Republic by joining us for lessons in merengue and tambora drumming! Once you’ve mastered the rhythm, we’ll whisk you off to a cocoa farm for a chocolate facial! And if that wasn’t enough pampering, we’ll treat you to a traditional Dominican lunch too! You’ll be singing “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” before the day is over…
This tour is priced for a minimum group size of three travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for three travellers.
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Highlights
- Explore the colorful countryside outside Puerto Plata with a local guide by your side
- Discover the natural rhythms of the island with a tambora drum lesson from an expert local drummer
- Learn the merengue with a super fun dance lesson with an experienced local dancer
- Visit a beautiful cocoa farm and learn about cocoa cultivation, then indulge with a magical cocoa facial spa experience!
- Enjoy a Dominican typical lunch in a picturesque setting, made with organic ingredients from the farm
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Schedule details
- Duration: 7 hours
- Meeting point: Puerto Plata Urban Adventures - Avenida General Gregorio Luperón, Puerto Plata 57000.
Important: Look for the red t-shirt Urban Adventures branded guide at the meeting point.
View on Google Maps.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.00 AM
- Ending point:
Urban Adventures office, Ave. General Luperon.
View on Google Maps.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, drum lesson, merengue dance lesson, Chocospa facial treatment and a Dominican-style lunch.
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 you've made your booking for transport rates.
Your tour will begin from Puerto Plata. Your local guide will take you, via picturesque small roads and charming towns, through the lush Cordillera Septentrional mountain range. As we drive, the beautiful landscape will take your breath away as you watch rural farms, cacao plantations and lush forest pass you by.
Merengue is still a popular dance in the Dominican Republic, which is where it originated from and we think there’s no better way to immerse yourself in the local culture and get yourself acquainted with the locals than discovering this dance for yourself.
Your dance experience will start at the home of a local family who have been playing merengue music for generations (their grandparents helped create the dance!). The traditional instruments of merengue music are the tambora drums and the accordion. Luckily the island’s premier accordion player happens to be part of the family so we’ll talk to him about all things accordion, then we’ll visit his brother’s workshop where the best tambora drums in the country are lovingly made. Have a go at playing them yourself as you learn how they are made and get into the rhythms of the dance.
After toe-tapping to the Latin beats, it’s time to put your new musical knowledge to the test and dance with us! We’ll start with a demonstration and then there will be time for you to practice and benefit from the guidance of an experienced local dancer. All this exertion will make you thirsty so you’ll be served a very special hot pick-me-up drink of local rum and chocolate. The locals love this concoction to get them fired up at party/fiesta time!
After a morning of dancing, we’re going to spend the afternoon relaxing, the Dominican way! Our next stop is an organic cocoa farm where we will learn about growing the best organic cocoa in the country. We’ll take a walk around the plantation and discuss the way in which the farm is sustainably managed. There will also be an opportunity to try out the yagua (part of the palm leaf) slides which help you zoom down the hill.
A delicious Dominican style lunch awaits you after our walk made by the family that own the cocoa farm. As we eat some of the country’s most popular dishes, made from fresh local ingredients, you’ll have a chance to chat with the farm owners and find out about life here on the island.
If you weren’t feeling relaxed enough, your tour will end with an unforgettable chocospa facial, using the finest mud and coca from the plantation to make up an organic face mask that promises to revitalise and moisturise your skin. It’s chocolicious! If you are feeling adventurous you’re also welcome to enjoy the river with a refreshing dip.
We’ll drop you back off in the centre of Puerto Plata but before you go don’t forget to ask your expert local guide for tips on what else to see, do and eat in the city and beyond.
Please note: this tour is priced for a minimum group size of three travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for three travellers.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, drum lesson, merengue dance lesson, Chocospa facial treatment and a Dominican-style lunch.
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 you've made your booking for transport rates.
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: We will add another stop or more time in some of the next places.
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: +1 809 770 8953 & +1 829 2857733
Email address: info@puertoplataurbanadventures.com
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