Shore Excursions in Puerto Plata Compared: The Top 10

1.Damajagua Waterfalls for Cruise Ship Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 366 reviews · from $89Our pick

From Amber Cove, ride about 25 minutes to Damajagua with guides such as Carlos or Raul. Hike uphill, then slide and jump through open falls, with lunch and rum drinks included. Choose the Midway 12 Falls if you are moderately fit. River conditions can change the route, so bring sturdy closed-toe shoes.

“I booked this excursion through Viator. (Or you could book directly through Iguana Mama) After reading reviews, I booked this excursion instead of going through the cruise line. I’m glad I did! We followed the excursion directions and walked roughly 10 minutes through the port where our guide Raffy greeted us at the port exit where all the vehicles/taxis are located. Raffy held a sign so he was easy to find. My teenage daughter and I were the only two from our cruise who booked with Iguana Mama. So we had a personal excursion with just the two of us! Once we got to the 27 Falls, I agreed to…”

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2.Amber Cove & Taino Bay Shore Excursion: 2 person Buggy Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 174 reviews

Drive a two-person buggy from Montellano through muddy back roads and Puerto Plata scenery, then stop at Playa Bergantin for a swim. Hector, Frank, Lotta, Zaza, and other guides have led lively, safety-focused outings. Pickup is provided at Amber Cove or Taino Bay, with helmets, water, showers, and changing space included.

“Make sure you take a mask to put over your mouth. If the rain has been there lately make sure you do wear clothes that you will not need for the rest of your trip.”

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3.Explore Puerto Plata’s Best & Cable Car – Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 128 reviews · from $89

Explore Puerto Plata with a small group of no more than 14 people, traveling from the port to Mount Isabel de Torres, its botanical gardens, Christ the Redeemer statue, and the historic city center. You will usually ride the cable car down the mountain, then visit the fortress, Umbrella Street, Pink Street, and the Malecón with guides such as Alex, Winston, Henry, or Tony.

“This tour exceeded our expectations. Our guide, Henry, was very informative and spoke fluent English. Because of a recent rain, we rode the gondola both ways. The views from the gondola were magnificent. Henry, who is a Tiger Woods look alike, made several stops for photos. Henry guided us through the gardens at the top of the mountain, pointing out all the many flowers and plants. I saw a poinsettia tree. On our return, Henry made a special stop to grab fresh bananas for all of us. We booked this as a shore excursion, knowing we would return to the ship on time. It is a long walk from the…”

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4.VIP DayPass: ATV, ZipLine, Horse Riding / Shore Excursion & Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 84 reviews · from $159

Spend about six hours with Country World Adventures on eight ACCT-certified zip lines, a muddy ATV route, horseback riding, a Dominican lunch, pool zip lining, and a garden visit. Guides including Daniel, Julio, Raphael, David, and Eric help run the day. Pickup is offered from Puerto Plata hotels, Airbnbs, and the cruise port.

“The whole excursion was so much fun. I highly recommend it! From the meeting place to horseback riding. Everything rocked!”

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5.Shore Excursion Cruise ship Waterfalls y Buggys

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 73 reviews · from $139

Spend about 5.5 hours at Damajagua Waterfalls and on a buggy ride from Puerto Plata. You will hike uphill, jump or slide through the falls, eat a Dominican lunch, then ride shared buggies through muddy trails. Guides such as Luis, Simon, Raul, and Albert have earned praise for their care and humor, but timing and pickup instructions need attention.

“Simone and Ramon were awesome! We had a great time at the waterfalls and on the buggies but our two tour guides made the whole trip!”

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6.ATV Quads Let’s Ride Shore Excursion – Amber Cove & Taino Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · from $169

From Amber Cove or Taino Bay, you’ll ride an ATV through Maimon’s countryside with guides such as Robert, Alex, Carlos, or Wilson. Expect safety training, coastal views, dirt roads, a cigar shack with coffee, chocolate, and Mamajuana, plus a beach swim, Dominican lunch, and a rum drink before your return.

“My fiance and I had an amazing time on the atv excursion. Alex the tour guide was awesome. We rode to a spot to see people hand roll cigars and then to a beautiful beach. After that we drove through a small river to a little beach hang out Read more”

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7.Shore Excursion: Quick Zip and Waterfalls of Damajagua Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 51 reviews · from $94

Combine the Damajagua waterfalls with three ACCT-certified ziplines on this 4 to 5-hour shore trip from Amber Cove or Taino Bay. Hike uphill, then swim, jump, and slide through natural pools before a Dominican lunch and a short zipline course. Guides such as Cynthia, Carlos, Leo, and Daniel have earned praise for friendly, careful service.

“A great excursion! I'm sixty years old and tend to be a little risk adverse. I was a little nervous about the safety aspects of the splash and zip parts of this adventure. Well . . . my fear was unnecessary. As for the falls: although it had rained heavily the day before, and the water at the falls was flowing fast, we were accompanied by a very, very experienced, knowledgeable and friendly guide. He stayed right with us without being intrusive the entire walk up the falls, and the entire ourney back down. He recommended to us which falls we should jump from, and which falls to slide down.…”

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8.Puerto Plata Shore Excursion, Snorkeling tour & Sosua Beach Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · from $65

Meet Eric Tours International in Sosúa or arrange pickup from Amber Cove, Taino Bay, or your hotel. Richard and his team drive you to Sosua Beach, where guides such as Franklin and Alex lead two boat trips to coral reefs. Equipment, a flotation vest, sun chair, and beach time are included. Food and drinks cost extra.

“The staff was incredibly friendly and did all they could to accommodate everyone in the party. The first stop had all kinds of fish and was very worthwhile. I didn't see as many on the second stop. The pictures taken and provided free of chargRead more”

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9.ATV 4 wheel from Amber Cove & Taino bay port silver Cruise port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $110

Spend about three hours riding a powerful ATV through the mountains, countryside, and beaches near Puerto Plata. Rigo, Leonel, Morenita, Darlin, and El Lapiz may lead the outing. Pickup, private air-conditioned transport, and bottled water are included. Bring water socks and a bandanna, and confirm your cruise port before departure.

“You will need water socks and a bandanna. We had to buy both of these for $36. The ride was ok. After 1 hour we stopped at a gift shop in the middle of no where. It was an obvious way to add to the cost of this. I am at fault for the neRead more”

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10.Amber Cove and Taino bay Cruise Ship – 7 Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $54Best value

From Amber Cove or Taino Bay, ride by air-conditioned vehicle to Damajagua National Park for a guided hike through seven waterfalls. Swim, slide, and jump into natural pools, then enjoy lunch, drinks, and a short Dominican chocolate stop. Guides such as Monkey, Felix, Elizabeth, Papa Junto, and Escobedo may assist along the way.

“Had a great time. Very informative drive to the waterfalls. The crew both at the falls and bus were great! They took care of us and we had a great time.”

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