Playa Dorada This beach is only a ten minute drive from the downtown area of Puerto Plata city! Noted as one of the best beaches in Puerto Plata, the crystal clear waters of Playa Dorada are its main attraction.

Puerto Plata is a coastal city in the Dominican Republic, so the distance to the beach depends on where you are in the city. The city center is essentially adjacent to the Malecón, a scenic boardwalk that runs along the Atlantic Ocean, though this area is better for walking than swimming. The primary resort beaches, such as Playa Dorada and Costa Dorada, are located about 3 to 5 kilometers (roughly a 10-minute drive) east of the historic downtown. To the west, Cofresi Beach is about 7 kilometers away. Most major hotels in the region are either beachfront or within a short shuttle ride of the sand. If you are staying in the city heart, you are never more than a few minutes away from the ocean, though the "postcard" white-sand beaches are concentrated in the gated resort complexes just outside the city limits.