Playa Dorada, Dominican Republic

Closest Airport:
Puerto Plata
Distance: 15 min.

Nearest Village/City:
Puerto Plata

Shade: Light
Food/Water Available on Beach: Yes
Watersport Rentals: Yes
Shopping Area on Beach: Yes
Vendors: Occasional
Other: Topless


HOTEL ON BEACH:
Numerous. However try the Jack Tar Village. TEL (809) 320-3800. FAX  (809) 320-4161. While there are more than a dozen resorts along the beach - many of them all-inclusives - this Jack Tar Village is on the nicest section of Playa Dorada beach. Also it is the only hotel offering horseback riding.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS:
Cable Car. Located 10 minutes away in Puerto Plata, "the only cable car in the Caribbean" whisks visitors up to a 2,500 foot vantage point overlooking both seaport and city. (NB: Bring a sweater). Down below, the Amber Museum features the indigenous 'Dominican Amber'; this unique amber jewelry is for sale in the gift shop. The local casino is located back at the Jack Tar and you don't even have to be a guest to go in and lay your money down.

ACCESS TO BEACH:
Private. The hotels of Playa Dorada comprise a huge complex  (including a golf course) and access to the beach is difficult without being a guest at one of the seemingly interconnected hotels. However, it is possible to find a 'gap' just west of Jack Tar village east of the last hotel.

QUALITY OF BEACH:
Playa Dorada is long indeed. The stretch of beach that fronts the hotels is itself a few miles in length... and it continues from there. The part called Long Beach has the best quality sand, golden in color; for those-who-walk-the-beach this one could take all day.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Playa Dorada  is undoubtedly the busiest beach in the DR;. wall-to-wall sunbathers in high season. Outside of hotel-sponsored watersports, independent operators offer just about every possible permutation; wave runners, para-sailing, diving and banana boat rides.