From $70Monkeyland & Monkey Sanctuaries
What it is
Monkeyland is the best known of a small cluster of monkey sanctuaries in the hills behind Puerto Plata, and for families it is often the highlight of the whole port day. Set on a forested hillside near the village of El Choco, the sanctuary is home to a troop of squirrel monkeys that roam freely through the trees. Visitors stand still while staff coat their shoulders and hands with sunflower seeds, and the monkeys climb down, perch on your arms and feed straight from your palm. It is a genuine animal encounter rather than a cage and the gentle, curious squirrel monkeys make it ideal for children.
How to visit
The sanctuary sits about thirty to forty minutes inland from the cruise ports, so almost everyone visits as part of an organised excursion rather than independently. Many tours pair Monkeyland with a second activity: an ATV or buggy ride to the gate, a stop at the Damajagua waterfalls, or a half day city tour. On arrival a guide briefs you on the rules, which are simple and protect the animals: no sudden movements, no flash photography, no touching the monkeys yourself and no outside food. The actual monkey encounter lasts twenty to thirty minutes, with time before and after for the gardens and a viewpoint over the valley.
Hours, prices and insider tips
Monkeyland and the nearby sanctuaries open daily through the morning and early afternoon, and entry is almost always sold inside a tour package rather than at the gate, because there is no public transport up the hill. Expect to pay USD 45 to USD 90 per person for a Monkeyland focused excursion, more when it is combined with Damajagua, an ATV ride or a city tour. Wear light clothes you do not mind getting seeds on, bring sunscreen and a hat for the open hillside, and listen to the guide so the encounter stays calm. The first tours of the morning are the quietest and the monkeys are most active before the midday heat.
Excursions that visit Monkeyland & Monkey Sanctuaries
Frequently asked questions
- Can you hold the monkeys at Monkeyland?
- You do not pick them up yourself, but the staff place sunflower seeds on your shoulders and hands and the squirrel monkeys climb down to perch on you and feed from your palm. It is a hands on encounter while protecting the animals.
- Is Monkeyland good for young children?
- Yes. The squirrel monkeys are small, gentle and used to visitors, which makes it one of the most family friendly excursions near Puerto Plata. Children must stay calm and follow the no flash, no sudden movement rules.
- How do I get to Monkeyland from the cruise port?
- There is no public transport up the hill, so almost everyone visits on an organised excursion. Tours pick up at Amber Cove or Taino Bay and often combine Monkeyland with Damajagua, an ATV ride or a city tour.