Puerto Plata Sightseeing tours - Dominican Republic

A cable-car ride up Mount Isabel de Torres, 2,565 feet above sea level, is good orientation to Puerto Plata. There, at the foot of the colossal statue of Christ the Redeemer (reminiscent of Rio de Janeiro's Corcovado), is a sensational view of the city and its surroundings. At the base of the statue is the Centro Artesanal ("Crafts Center"), a shopping arcade that sells local arts and crafts.

Downtown, the outstanding feature of "old" Puerto Plata is the strong influence of late-Victorian styles on its architecture and design. Quaint gingerbread houses, their white fences aflame with bougainvillea, and the newly restored Gazebo in the central square of Independence Park, hark back to more lyrical times.

Walking through the center of town, visitors will come upon the resplendent white towers of the Church of San Felipe. Though a rather simple structure, the church has a provincial appeal that is quite unique.

Nearby is The Amber Museum, an outstanding example of Victorian architecture. The museum houses some of the most remarkable specimens of amber, the designated national gem.

Not to be missed is the Fort of San Felipe, an imposing stone fortress dating back to the 16th century. Built to ward off attacks by French and English pirates and later used as a prison for political dissidents, the fort is today a museum haunted by legends and filled with interesting memorabilia of the city's past. At night, it is outlined in a dazzling display of lights.

Just beyond the fort is the General Gregorio Luperón Monument. General Luperón was one of the Dominican Republic's greatest heroes; in 1879, under his leadership, the country was reorganized and set on the road to economic recovery.