From $124Amber Cove & Taino Bay Cruise Ports
What it is
Puerto Plata is unusual in having two modern cruise terminals just minutes apart, and for most visitors the port itself is the gateway to everything else. Amber Cove, opened in 2015 on the bay at Maimon, is a purpose built leisure port with pools, a zipline, shops and bars terraced down to the water, designed so passengers can have a full beach club day without ever booking a tour. Taino Bay, the newer terminal right in downtown Puerto Plata, drops you within walking distance of the Malecon, the Fortaleza San Felipe and the city centre, and adds its own lagoon, beach and shopping village.
How to visit
Both ports are built for self guided exploring, but they are also the pickup point for every organised excursion on this site. From either terminal a tour can reach the Damajagua waterfalls, the back country ATV trails, the Sosua reef and the monkey sanctuaries inside an hour, which is what makes a Puerto Plata call so flexible. If you only have a few hours, you can stay inside the port for the pools and the beach. If you want to see the real north coast, step out to a waiting excursion van. Taino Bay also lets independent walkers reach the fort and the Malecon on foot, something Amber Cove does not, since it sits in a separate bay outside the city.
Hours, prices and insider tips
Check your itinerary to see which terminal your ship uses, because it changes how you start the day: Amber Cove is fifteen minutes west of the city in Maimon, while Taino Bay is in downtown Puerto Plata itself. Both have ATMs, free wifi, taxis and licensed excursion desks, and US dollars are accepted everywhere. The single most important rule of a Puerto Plata port day is timing: note your all aboard time, set a phone alarm an hour before, and only book excursions whose stated duration leaves that buffer. With two ships sometimes sharing the bay, the popular buggy, Damajagua and catamaran trips sell out fast, so reserve before you sail rather than at the pier.
Excursions that visit Amber Cove & Taino Bay Cruise Ports
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between Amber Cove and Taino Bay?
- Amber Cove is a leisure port fifteen minutes west of the city at Maimon with pools, a zipline and a beach club. Taino Bay is the newer terminal in downtown Puerto Plata, within walking distance of the fort, the Malecon and the city centre.
- Can I walk into Puerto Plata from the cruise port?
- From Taino Bay yes, the fort and the Malecon are a short walk away. From Amber Cove no, it sits in a separate bay outside the city, so you need a tour or taxi to reach the centre and the attractions.
- How do I plan a Puerto Plata port day?
- Note your all aboard time, leave at least an hour of buffer, and book excursions whose stated duration fits. The Damajagua, buggy and catamaran trips are the most popular and sell out fast, so reserve before you sail.