Puerto Plata combines beautiful Atlantic-facing beaches, a historic Victorian quarter, and stunning mountain views. For tourists from Spain, it serves as an ideal base for exciting day trips. Renting a car in the Dominican Republic provides complete flexibility, allowing you to decide when to leave, how long to stay, and which routes to explore. This guide highlights seven memorable drives, with key details on distances, travel times, attractions, and tips to help you plan your trip smoothly. Now, let’s explore the routes!
Cabarete is best known among windsurfers and kitesurfers for its steady Atlantic breezes and wide golden beach. Arrive by mid-morning, and you can watch experts carving upwind or try a beginner’s lesson. Around lunchtime, head two kilometres inland to El Choco National Park. The entrance area has a small café serving fresh fruit juices and empanadas. Here, you collect your map and pay a modest fee. The forest trail first skirts a series of shaded freshwater lagoons where local families swim. After twenty minutes, you reach Laguna Dudu, a mirror-flat pool ideal for a cooling dip.
From there, a well-signed path leads into limestone caverns filled with stalactites. Allow at least 90 minutes inside the park if you wish to walk the lagoon loop and the cave trail at a relaxed, unhurried pace. Don’t miss the small art gallery near the exit, run by a local cooperative of Taino descendants. Returning to Cabarete Beach in the late afternoon brings perfect light for photography, and the beachfront restaurants begin firing up charcoal grills. Sampling fresh fish “al mojo” (garlic and lime sauce) makes an excellent end to day one.
Just a short drive east of Puerto Plata, Sosúa offers calm, shallow waters that suit families and snorkellers. Spanish travellers interested in history should visit the small but moving Sosúa Museum, which tells the story of Jewish refugees who settled here in the 1940s. The museum is housed in one of the original refugee villas and includes audio testimonies in Spanish.
From the museum, it's just a five-minute drive to Playa Alicia. The bay is protected by rocky headlands, creating calm, pool-like waters. You can rent snorkel gear from a beach stand and spot parrotfish and sergeant majors among the rocks. Local beach bars offer freshly fried fish and cold Presidente beer—perfect for a laid-back lunch under an umbrella. If you have time, drive 2 km east to El Batey, a quieter beach known for its tide pools and occasional sea turtles. Head back to Sosúa town centre by 5 p.m. when the market stalls open, offering local crafts, leather goods, and handmade jewelry—perfect for souvenirs.
"27 Charcos" is one of the Dominican Republic’s most exciting half-day adventures, with a mix of calm pools and thrilling slides that Spanish visitors rave about. The paved road leads into lush hills—follow the signs to Damajagua and park at the visitor center. A local guide will be assigned to you and provide helmets and life jackets.
The guided walk upstream takes about 30 minutes, with stops at the first four waterfalls. The early pools are calm enough to wade through, while waterfalls 5–12 feature smooth rock slides that lead into deep plunge pools. Guides are skilled at suggesting safe routes and assisting less confident guests. After canyoning, return to the centre to enjoy a refreshing snack of tropical fruit and coconut water. The total time, including the drive, park orientation, the waterfall circuit, and return, is about four hours, leaving you with plenty of time to relax or take a walk along Puerto Plata’s Malecón.
Spain’s history lovers will appreciate Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican Republic's second city and a centre of art, music, and cigar culture. The modern highway south-west from Puerto Plata is in good condition; after about an hour you arrive at Santiago’s outskirts. Secure, multi-storey car parks lie within walking distance of the main attractions.
Begin at Centro León, a museum complex dedicated to Dominican art, Taino archaeology, and cultural exhibitions. All information panels include Spanish translations. Next, drive up to the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración. The broad terrace affords sweeping views over the city’s red-tiled roofs and surrounding hills. A café here serves coffee grown in the nearby mountains.
For lunch, head to a local “comedor” (family-run café) and try sancocho, the hearty meat-and-vegetable stew that is a Dominican staple. In the afternoon, visit one of Santiago’s famed cigar factories. Guided tours explain how the tobacco is harvested, fermented, and hand-rolled into premium puros. Shops on-site sell boxed cigars at factory prices. Return via the Ruta Turística, a quieter road that winds through small coffee plantations and villages. Stop at a roadside café for batidos (fruit milkshakes) made with locally grown mango or guava if daylight remains.
Jarabacoa sits in the Central Highlands at around 500 metres above sea level, offering a refreshing change from the coast. The drive climbs steadily, passing sugar cane fields and roadside stalls selling fresh guava and passionfruit. On arrival in Jarabacoa town centre, follow signs for Salto de Jimenoa. The road narrows and winds through pine-forested hills before reaching a small car park.
A 10-minute forested path brings you to a viewing platform above the 60-metre waterfall. For a closer look, local guides can lead you down to the riverbank—ideal for a picnic on flat rocks beside the tumbling water. Those seeking an extra thrill can swim in the natural plunge pool (mind your head on submerged rocks). Jarabacoa is also famous for paragliding. Flights launch from a nearby ridge; tandem options allow you to soar above the green valleys.
For Spanish travellers keen on dramatic, near-desert landscapes, Monte Cristi province lies northwest of Puerto Plata. The first 100 km follow a coastal highway; beyond Luperón, the road narrows, and the vegetation becomes scrubby. Fill the tank in Puerto Plata, as petrol stations are scarce beyond Imbert.
El Morro, a rocky headland on the western edge of town, features a short trail leading to a lighthouse with sweeping ocean views. Close by, the Manglares de Monte Cristi reserve protects a network of mangrove channels, where local boat guides point out flamingos and herons feeding in the lagoons. Further inland, Dudu Lagoon is a peaceful birdwatching spot, especially at dawn or dusk. Because services along this route are limited, it’s best to start early. Have breakfast in Puerto Plata, then arrive in Monte Cristi by mid-morning. For the return, you can either retrace your steps or take the inland Ruta 1, a scenic drive through tobacco farms and quiet villages.
La Vega is known for hosting one of the Caribbean’s most vibrant pre-Lenten celebrations: Carnival. If you're visiting from Spain during February or March, it's worth spending at least half a day taking in the colourful parades, elaborate costumes, and energetic live music. Carnival season, the town has lively markets and welcoming cafés to enjoy.
About ten kilometres south of La Vega, you’ll find the Cuevas de las Maravillas—an extensive cave network with well-kept paths and soft lighting that highlights dramatic stalactites, stalagmites, and ancient Taino rock art. Guided tours last around 45 minutes and cover 800 metres of trails. The constant 23 °C temperature provides a refreshing escape from the heat. After your tour, head back to La Vega for a late lunch. Try pastelitos—crispy pastries filled with cheese or meat—and pair them with a chilled chinola, a local passionfruit juice, before heading back to Puerto Plata.
Keeping a few key points in mind can help ensure a smooth and safe trip when driving in the Dominican Republic. Spanish driving licences are valid, so you won’t need an international permit. Always carry your driving licence, passport, and rental agreement in the car. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road, and speed limits are usually 60 km/h in towns and between 80 to 100 km/h on highways. Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers.
Petrol stations generally accept Dominican pesos and major credit cards, but it’s wise to fuel up before heading into rural areas, where services may be limited. Mobile reception can be unreliable outside of towns, so downloading offline maps or printing directions in advance is a good idea. To keep your belongings safe, store valuables in the boot and park in well-lit areas—especially if you plan to leave the car overnight.
A rental car transforms your holiday from a fixed-timetable tour into a personalised adventure. You choose when to depart, where to stop for a coffee, and which scenic side road to explore. Most rental packages have full insurance, roadside assistance, and unlimited mileage—no hidden fees. With air-conditioning, modern safety features, and your favourite music, long drives become a breeze. Ready to take the wheel? Rent a car with Finalrentals today and start your ultimate Puerto Plata road trip!
