Private Amber Cove shore excursions
Half-day city tour of Puerto Plata
Christopher Columbus sailed into the bay of Puerto Plata more than 500 years ago, and the town subsequently founded; one of the New World's oldest is just a 15-minute drive from the Amber Cove cruise terminal!
Puerto Plata has lots for the visitor to enjoy, and we have designed this half-day city tour to get the most from your visit!
Puerto Plata has lots for the visitor to enjoy, and we have designed this half-day city tour to get the most from your visit!
Spend a leisurely morning or afternoon with your own private Cocotours guide and driver. Stroll through our Central Park, visit St Philip the Apostle's cathedral, tour the San Felipe fortress. Also included is a visit to the Amber Museum. Time to take in the sights in the old town and before heading back to your ship, there's an opportunity to stock up on tobacco, rum, coffee and other souvenirs in one of the town's leading supermarkets.
Full day tour of Puerto Plata & Sosúa
Spend a leisurely morning with your own private Cocotours guide and driver in the local town of Puerto Plata, originally settled by the brother of Christopher Columbus more than 500 years ago. Stroll through our Central Park, visit St Philip the Apostle's cathedral, tour the San Felipe fortress, and shop for top-quality local rum at duty-free rates at the Brugal bottling plant. Also included is a visit to the popular Amber Museum, and time to take in the sights of the old town.
We then head east along the Atlantic coast to the town of Sosua, only 20 minutes' away, where there'll be free time to lunch in one of the many restaurants, or down on the beach itself. Time to relax on the pretty golden beach and swim and snorkel in the clear turquoise waters.
An opportunity to shop for local gifts, souvenirs and particularly good naïve art at one of the many beach side market stalls.
We then head east along the Atlantic coast to the town of Sosua, only 20 minutes' away, where there'll be free time to lunch in one of the many restaurants, or down on the beach itself. Time to relax on the pretty golden beach and swim and snorkel in the clear turquoise waters.
An opportunity to shop for local gifts, souvenirs and particularly good naïve art at one of the many beach side market stalls.
Santiago city tour
A visit to the second city of the Dominican Republic, and the first Santiago in the Americas, just under an hour's drive from the Amber Cove cruise terminal. Santiago, also known as the Ciudad Corazon - the heartland city - due to its prominent place, central for agriculture, particularly tobacco growing and foodstuff production in the fertile Cibao valley. Also birthplace to many of the greatest Dominican baseball players and home to their major team the Aguilas.
Visit the León Jiménez cigar factory to see how local leaves are rolled
into premium cigars and then a visit to the Centro León, a large modern
museum and a world-class gallery featuring major Dominican art of the
20th century. Typical, and delicious lunch in a local neighbourhood
restaurant.
A visit to Santiago's most visible and recognisable site, the Monument to the heroes of the restoration of the Republic, is also included.
Amber Cove Shore Excursions FAQs
Where is the Amber Cove cruise terminal?
The Amber Cove cruise terminal is about 20 minutes' drive west of Puerto Plata on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Cocotours has been based in Puerto Plata since 1994, so we're ideally qualified to offer you private shore excursions from Amber Cove.
Where do I meet your guide and driver for my Amber Cove shore excursion?
We pick you up from the main gate, on the main road, which is just a stone's throw from the port's own parking area.
Are your Amber Cove shore excursions private or shared?
All of our Amber Cove excursions are fully private — never semi-private or shared. Your guide, driver and vehicle serve your party alone, so the pace, the stops and the time at each place are built around you rather than a busload of other passengers.
How much touring time will we actually have ashore?
Less than your cruise itinerary suggests: you need time to leave the ship, meet your driver, travel between stops and return with a safety buffer before all-aboard. That is why we plan every excursion backward from your ship's departure time. Send us your ship's name, date in port and all-aboard time, and we will propose a realistic plan for your day.
Can we walk from Amber Cove to Puerto Plata?
No, it is too far to walk in our tropical heat and the highway has no facility for pedestrians.
Can we explore Amber Cove on our own?
The Amber Cove port complex itself — pool, shops, restaurants and zip line — is easy to enjoy on your own without any booking. Beyond the port gate, however, there is no walking route into Puerto Plata and no public transport geared to cruise schedules, so independent exploring means arranging transport. Our private driver service gives you exactly that independence: your own vehicle and driver for the day, going only where you choose, with your return to the ship planned around your all-aboard time.
What Amber Cove excursions are there?
See our selection of private Amber Cove shore excursions above, including the half-day Puerto Plata city tour, the full-day Puerto Plata and Sosúa tour, and the Santiago city tour. Custom itineraries can also be arranged around your ship's schedule.
Could we book a tour from Amber Cove to Santo Domingo?
No, it's too far away for a cruise-day visit. However, we can offer several other exciting tours of historical interest, including Puerto Plata — one of the oldest European settlements in the New World — and Santiago.
Can we go whale watching from Amber Cove?
No, Samaná is too far away — it's over a 4-hour drive to get there, which cannot fit safely into a cruise port call.
Updated: July 2026
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