Puerto Plata: City Tour with Rum, Chocolate & Amber Museum

Summary

Puerto Plata’s colors, rum aromas & history on a lively day out

You’ll taste fresh Dominican rum straight from the source, wander through Puerto Plata’s colorful streets with a local guide, roll your own cigar (if you dare), and get hands-on at both an amber museum and chocolate factory. Expect laughter, new flavors, plenty of photos—and maybe even a new favorite ice cream flavor along the way.

What’s the experience like?

I’d never really thought much about Puerto Plata before this — just another city on the map, you know? But right from the start, when our guide Luis grinned and handed us cold bottled water in that sticky heat, I felt oddly at ease. The Macorix House of Rum was our first stop. The smell inside was sharp and sweet at the same time — molasses and something woody. A manager in a crisp shirt explained how they age the rum (I probably missed half of it because I kept watching his hands as he gestured). We tried a tiny sip; it burned just enough to wake me up for the rest of the day.

The city itself is louder than I expected — music leaking from windows, motorbikes zipping by. At Central Park, pigeons strutted around like they owned the place. Luis pointed out pastel houses and insisted we try ice cream from a tiny shop on the corner (coconut for me; he said passionfruit is “the real deal”). My favorite part might’ve been Pink Street — Paseo de Doña Blanca — where everything is painted this wild bubblegum color. I took too many photos there. Umbrella Street was next; it’s exactly what it sounds like: umbrellas floating overhead in every color you can imagine. There’s a little café tucked away there where we stopped for coffee and watched people pose for selfies under all that color.

The Amber Museum was cooler (literally) inside, and I got weirdly into looking at those ancient bugs trapped in honey-colored stone. Someone asked if any were dinosaurs — Luis just laughed and said maybe in their dreams. Later at the cigar factory, they let us roll our own cigars (I failed spectacularly — my leaf split right down the middle). The smell stuck to my fingers for hours after. Oh, and at some point we tried mamajuana — kind of herbal, kind of mysterious? Not sure I’d drink it again but hey, when in Puerto Plata.

By late afternoon we were standing by Fort San Felipe looking out over the ocean. The breeze finally cut through all that heat for a second. It’s strange how quickly you can feel attached to a place after just one day wandering around with strangers who don’t stay strangers for long. I still think about that coconut ice cream sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Puerto Plata city highlights tour

• Visit Macorix House of Rum
• Explore Amber Museum and fossils
• Visit Paseo de Doña Blanca (Pink Street)
• Tour Umbrella Street and cigar factory
• Stop at Central Park and town hall
• Visit San Felipe Apostol church
• Explore San Felipe Fort
• Visit Gold Chocolate Factory
• Visit Puerto Plata Boulevard
• Visit Pachuche Bar and Bistro

Top questions

How long does the Puerto Plata city tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one day with multiple stops throughout Puerto Plata.

Is hotel pickup included in this Puerto Plata city tour?

No specific mention of hotel pickup; however, transportation is included with air conditioning.

Do you visit both rum and chocolate factories on this tour?

Yes, both Macorix House of Rum and a chocolate factory are included in the itinerary.

Are drinks or snacks provided during the tour?

Bottled water, soda/pop, and Dominican mamajuana are included during your day.

Can children join this Puerto Plata city tour?

Yes, infants and small children are welcome; prams or strollers are allowed.

Is there time to buy souvenirs on this tour?

Yes, there are stops at gift shops where you can purchase souvenirs or gifts.

Does this tour include entry to Fort San Felipe?

The itinerary includes a visit to Fort San Felipe to see historic weaponry.

Will we have free time for photos on Umbrella Street or Pink Street?

Yes, there’s time for photos at both Umbrella Street and Paseo de Doña Blanca (Pink Street).

What’s included

Your day includes transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi onboard, guided entry to Macorix House of Rum with tasting sessions, bottled water and soft drinks throughout, plus Dominican mamajuana to sample. You’ll also get access to museums like Amber Museum and stops at local factories—plus plenty of chances to grab gifts or snacks along the way before heading back relaxed (and probably sticky-fingered from all that chocolate).