A Day Trip To Puerto Plata

[richard]

A few years ago when I lived in Sos?a avoiding Puerto Plata was a given. It was noisy, hot and crowded. The only reason to go was to show visiting family or friends the sights or for business purposes; get in get done get out was the way things worked. Now as a visitor I have changed my tune and believe it is a worthwhile day trip for anyone in the area. Here is a simple day trip for anyone visiting Sos?a. Start by catching the gua-gua (mini bus) in front of the Texaco station. It should be 15 pesos per person to Puerto Plata but be sure to agree on the price first with the conductor and have exact change the conductor won?t have any and there?s no point in arguing over 5 pesos when you arrive in Puerto Plata. Gua-guas are a Dominican travel method every visitor should experience, they not comfortable by any means and my experience has been that no matter whether I get on first, last, in-between, sit in the farthest back corner, sit near the door or in the front seat beside the driver I?m going to get my toes stomped on and my rear end bruised. If you want a little more comfort, not much though, you can take a publico (public taxi) If you are alone you can make a deal (about 30 pesos) with the driver to have the entire front seat to yourself. If there are say 4 or 5 of you, you can possibly get the whole publico for about 150 pesos. If you do this ask the driver to take you to the Central Park which is where the gua-guas and taxis will end up by way of the malecon (the road along the water in Puerto Plata). it is more scenic that way. In Spanish tradition the Central Park is an attractive oasis which is great for people watching; shoeshine boys plying their trade, business men reading the paper, store clerks taking a break. men playing dominos, refreshment wagons and people waiting for their gua-guas or taxis. In the centre of the park is a Victorian gazebo and nearby is the church of San Felipe a great place to take a breather. Around the park you may enjoy taking photos of the old buildings many in Victorian architecture If someone offers to show you around please remember he should have a propina (tip) this is how he earns a living. From the park it is a short stroll down to Sam?s Bar for a cold Presidente. Joanne who owns the place is always a pleasure to see. Casa Nelson a department store is also nearby and offers a good selection and courteous staff. From here I used to have lunch at Caf? Cito which was nearby however it has moved out near Playa Dorada in the same plaza as Harrison?s Jewelry so if you wish to have lunch there you will have to take the gua-gua back towards Sos?a and get off at Harrison?s. These are only a few suggestions, I?m sure others have other ideas, there is so much to see in Puerto Plata it really is worth the effort. You might also enjoy the fort, the Amber Museum or the cable car up Mount Isabella.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sosuadominicanrepublic/

 

[Ken]

A few corrections/additions to Richard's excellent post:

1. You will find the publicos (public cars) faster than the guaguas. The guaguas are vans, charge 10 pesos, and are favored by many Dominicans, especially those living in the country between Sosua & Puerto Plata, because they charge a few pesos less than the cars which charge 15 from Sosua to POP. Enroute, the guaguas which hold many more passengers than the publicos make frequent stops to drop off and pickup passengers. Consequently it takes them noticeably longer to make the trip.

2. If you want to take the guagua you don't need to go to the Texaco station. Stand anywhere along the highway. If a crowded van comes along and toots, signal that you want to be picked up.

3. The cars from Sosua to Puerto Plata leave from the Texaco station, but will pick you up anywhere along the highway from there to POP. They have a red "box" on the roof that says Sosua-Puerto Plata. I prefer to get the car somewhere other than at the Texaco station. The cars from there wait until they are full (6 passengers) before departing. But there are many drivers who prefer to just keep going back and forth all day. So as soon as they drop off passengers in Sosua, they turn around and start back toward POP. They will be happy to pick you up. If you are in Cabarete or east of there, you can either take the guagua all the way to POP, or you can take the public that has the blue box on the roof to Sosua then switch to the publico with the red box on the roof.

4. A full load for a public car is 6 passengers (2 in front with driver and 4 in back). 6x15=90, meaning you can have the whole car for RD$90. (By comparison, a taxi from Sosua to POP will cost you RD$300). Tell the publico driver where you want to go and he will drop you off there. (I'd suggest giving him RD$100 rather than quibbling over RD$10)

5. If there is only a couple of you, you can have the back seat for RD$60 (3 people a lot more comfortable in those small cars than 4), while one person can have the front seat for RD$30.

6. Another advantage with the cars is that they will drop you off where you want to go in POP, while the guaguas have a fixed route.

7. When you get to POP, I would be very careful about engaging a guide, though you can be sure there will be guides eager to show you around. By careful I mean it is best not to buy anything in the gift shops when the guide is with you because you will pay about 30% more than if you go alone. The shop owner must pay a commission to the guide. You can be sure the guide will try to steer you into some shops, but I would avoid this if possible. Take your tour, noting where the shops are, but do not enter them. After you settle up with your guide and are on your own, then go back and do your shopping. (Pay attention when you go into the shop. If a young Dominican enters with you, acting as though he is with you, indicate to the sales person that he isn't with your group. This may not happen, but it sometimes does, so be alert.

8. When you get ready to go back, you can get the guagua from the Central Park that Richard describes. It will be parked with its nose pointing toward Sosua, waiting for passengers. The publicos don't have a stop. You can flag them down on the street that passes the park in front of the nose of the guagua. (This street also passes past Casa Nelson, described by Richard. So any where along there is a good place to flag down the public that has the red box on roof saying Sosua-Puerto Plata. (You will see other cars with different colored boxes on roof, so look for the red box and the words Sosua-Puerto Plata)

9. If you should get off at the small plaza Richard describes to have lunch, you can flag down a guagua or publico as it passes when you are ready to continue your return trip.

10. If you have the time, the cable car trip up Mount Isabella is very worthwhile. Cool, beautiful gardens, great view.

 

[richard]

Thanks for the exta info Ken it will certainly help.

 

[BushBaby]

Thanks for the plug Richard - we PuertoPlatanians can do with all the visitors we can get at the moment, things are very quiet here. Heck, I walked across Beller (oneway street coming out of Puerto Plata) & only ONE motoconcho was going the wrong way down it!!!

As a result, any visitors should try negotiating on virtually everything they want to buy, the shopkeepers are pleased to just make a sale!! Never take the first price you are quoted, it will most likely be 40 - 50% too high! - Grahame.

 

[Tor]

Just a question about transportation. The only thing that seems a bit expencive to me is the price of the regular taxis. Is it possible to negotiate a better price with them ?

 

[Hillbilly]

There are Taxis and then there are taxis

The taxis that are waiting at your hotel door are the most expensive.

If you get a taxi in the street, you ask the price and if reasonable you pay it. You can call for taxis in most towns...

Carros Publicos/Conchos travel fixed toutes and are less expensive if a bit crowded

Guaguas/ mini-buses are also on fixed routes and the cheapest of all..

HB

 

[richard]

Thanks for the plug Richard - we PuertoPlatanians can do with all the visitors we can get at the moment, things are very quiet here. Heck, I walked across Beller (oneway street coming out of Puerto Plata) & only ONE motoconcho was going the wrong way down it!!!

As a result, any visitors should try negotiating on virtually everything they want to buy, the shopkeepers are pleased to just make a sale!! Never take the first price you are quoted, it will most likely be 40 - 50% too high! - Grahame.

It is of course my pleasure to suggest Puerto Plata. As far as the concho goes, one should remember he was only going one way Grahame. lol. Here is the URL for Cafe Cito.
http://www.popreport.com/Cafe_Cito_Web_Page.htm

There was also an excellent restaurant Otro Mundo near Playa Dorada. Is it still open? Here is also the URL for the golf course at Playa Dorada. I think you posted it not long ago.

http://www.playa-dorada-golf.com/tarifa.htm

It would be a great day for anyone staying in Sos?a; golf on a Robert Trent Jones course then dinner at Cafe Cito.

Also, people staying at Playa Dorada might enjoy a day in Puerto Plata too. Just walk out to the front gate and five minutes later they can be soaking up some real Dominican atmosphere.

 

[BushBaby]

There was also an excellent restaurant Otro Mundo near Playa Dorada. Is it still open? Here is also the URL for the golf course at Playa Dorada. I think you posted it not long ago.

It would be a great day for anyone staying in Sos?a; golf on a Robert Trent Jones course then dinner at Cafe Cito.

Also, people staying at Playa Dorada might enjoy a day in Puerto Plata too. Just walk out to the front gate and five minutes later they can be soaking up some real Dominican atmosphere.

Sorry Richard, Otro Mundo closed some 3 years ago when Stuart (the owner) got slammed inside for alledged posession & use of drugs. This was a false allegation but it still took us 14 months to get him out of Jail - he is, not surprisingly, now back in the States, rebuilding his life.

Anyone wanting a trip round the Robert Trent Jones golf course at Playa Dorada & feels they would like a bit of company, just drop me a line. I am a member there & always look for excuses for a game. "She that must be Obeyed" thinks I only go down there to enjoy myself & won't let me go unless I am trying to be helpful to people!!!!!!

Regards - Grahame.

 

[richard]

Sorry Richard, Otro Mundo closed some 3 years ago when Stuart (the owner) got slammed inside for alledged posession & use of drugs. This was a false allegation but it still took us 14 months to get him out of Jail - he is, not surprisingly, now back in the States, rebuilding his life.

Anyone wanting a trip round the Robert Trent Jones golf course at Playa Dorada & feels they would like a bit of company, just drop me a line. I am a member there & always look for excuses for a game. "She that must be Obeyed" thinks I only go down there to enjoy myself & won't let me go unless I am trying to be helpful to people!!!!!!

Regards - Grahame.

Sometimes "the old ball andchain" just doesn't understand things right? lol

 

[Ken]

Guagua/Publico Charges

I understand that the figures given in my post on guagua and publico charges may soon be out of date. I'm told that the drivers will soon take advantage of the opportunity to raise their charges created by the government increasing the toll charges. When I protested that the drivers between Puerto Plata and Sosua come nowhere near a toll booth, I was told that part of the government's plan was to put a toll booth at Puerto Plata.

With respect to the timing of a fare increase, having lived in the DR for more than 15 years I know that it will happen long before any tolls must be paid by these drivers.

One of the expressions that you learn when you live here is "as? es la vida en la Rep?blica Dominicana" (liberal translation: that's how live is in the DR).

As long as I am posting anyway, a couple of additional corrections/clarifications to my post re transportation between Puerto Plata and Sosua:

1. Those red boxes on the top of the publicos say "Transporte Pto.Pta-Sosua".

2. Going from Sosua to Puerto Plata, you can get the driver of the publico to drop you off where you want to go in Puerto Plata. For example, if going to the Central Park, Centro Medico Bournigal, or one of the supermarkets, he will drop you off there. However, when going from Puerto Plata to Sosua, you either ride to the stop near Texaco or get out anywhere you choose along the highway.

 

[richard]

Probably the best rule of thumb, no matter how many times one has visited, confirm the price first to avoid any problems The same also for motoconchos around town .

 

[Ken]

Yes, confirm the price but....

before doing so, get an idea of what the current rate is. Otherwise you will very likely pay more than you need to.

Chances are very good that the rate quoted you will be on the high side because you are a "rich tourist". It may sound reasonable in terms of what you would expect to pay at home, but it is likely to be higher than what I would pay. It pays to check with people at your hotel before venturing out so that you are prepared to react intelligently if the rate quoted you is excessive.

 

[richard]

Sorry Richard, Otro Mundo closed some 3 years ago when Stuart (the owner) got slammed inside for alledged posession & use of drugs. This was a false allegation but it still took us 14 months to get him out of Jail - he is, not surprisingly, now back in the States, rebuilding his life.

Anyone wanting a trip round the Robert Trent Jones golf course at Playa Dorada & feels they would like a bit of company, just drop me a line. I am a member there & always look for excuses for a game. "She that must be Obeyed" thinks I only go down there to enjoy myself & won't let me go unless I am trying to be helpful to people!!!!!!

Regards - Grahame.

I remember you filling us in on this board about a year or so back about Stuart and when he got out of jail. What a terrible experience for him and his mother, who as I recall was also involved with Otro Mundo. On a happier note, on the way into Puerto Plata on the right side of the highway is the Brugal Rum plant. I think they still offer free tours with samples, yum yum. Do you or does anyone else have info on that?

 

[Mickey]

Last time i was there (Feb 2001) we went on a free tour. The guide spoke perfect (well, almost) English and French (languages i speak) and his German seemed alright too, although i wouldn't know for sure. The tour basically consisted of a walk around the plant, with lots of facts and figures given by the guide (i think he said 2400 cases a week were produced, 95% of which stays on the island, could be mistaken). At the end of the tour they bring out a tray of amazing Lemon Daquiris made with their viejo rum. they also had every line of rum they make available for sale at a price slightly lower than in the mall. taking a taxi from playa dorada (PPV) and hanging around the edge of town for a bit i think the whole trek took us a couple hours. a great inexpensive little trip for half an afternoon. a must for rum lovers.
Mickey