Isabel de Torres National Park — Attraction in Puerto Plata

This place is a scam. The gondolas are listed as open and working but when you get there you find out they're not and haven't been for two years. They offer you a ride up the mountain on a shuttle for $2 USD, but you have to book in advance or wait for the next one, which they say can be hours.

Before you go inside you are swarmed by some guys in neon green shirts who pull you away to the side of the parking lot as far from the park staff as possible where they try to scam you into taking their own "taxi service" to the top so you don't have to wait for the bus. They charge $25 per person, not per ride, even though you're all in the same car. We are a family of four and didn't bring that much cash on hand because we had anticipated the gondolas working and paying the listed fares, so the green shirt guy said he would take and hold on to my credit card until we came back down the mountain. I told him that wasn't happening.

The park staff seem to not like having these scammers around but do nothing about it. The green guys will follow you into the building and tell you not to talk to the staff or read the signs about the actual pricing, and they will talk over the park staff to prevent you from communicating with them in an attempt to keep you confused and scammed.

If you tell them you will just take a regular taxi, they tell you only their taxis are permitted to take you up the "private" road to the top. This is another lie. The road is public and open to anyone and there is a free public parking lot at the top.

When you get there and try to take in the view and the gardens, the same green shirt guys will try to force you into having some guy from the gift shop to take pictures of you with your own phone or camera. He won't take no for an answer. When he's done, he tells you he isn't paid for his "services" and that he only gets paid when you buy something in the store. We said we didn't want to buy anything but we could give him a tip now instead. He said he couldn't take tips, only commission from purchases in the shop. When we looked in the store a little later, everything was stupid expensive. There were some okay dolphin charms my wife was going to buy, and when she asked the price of one the guy said $5 each. She liked them so she said she'd get two, and then he says two would be $15. She said no, it would be $10 since they're exactly the same. The guy then adamantly repeated it's $5 for one, or $15 for two. She laughed at him and said forget it because that makes no sense. When we went to leave the gift shop with nothing, the green shirt guy got in the way and said we needed to tip the gift shop guy "for his time." A few minutes earlier the guy said he couldn't take tips or money for any reason other than commission, then when he was caught red handed trying to rip us off he insisted he get paid for his "time."

What time? We asked him for a price and he lied to us, so we left. We gave him a dollar and decided we had had enough of this place and left with a bad taste in our mouths.

It's unfortunate the park staff tolerates these aggressive scammers intimidating and lying to tourists like this. Make sure to check in advance that the gondolas are working before going or take your own car or registered taxi to the summit. Taking the park shuttles is an option as well, but unless you can guarantee a spot in advance you won't get one or be prepared to waste your day waiting while being relentlessly harassed by the neon...

Awesome views from top of the mountain at an altitude of around 800m or 2,600 ft. Can see Puerto Plata, Tahino Bay and the Port below! However, there's something to be aware of: the mountain top is covered with clouds most of the time! Which covers up the views almost always! So to be able to see a clear view from up there, you need to have a lot of patience and wait for a brief moment of some clearing of clouds. Or go up early in the morning when there's better possibility to have a clear view without clouds. I was able to capture a clear view of the top of the mountain from the cruise ship deck early in the morning when there were no clouds at the top, but when we arrived at the summit around noon, it was totally covered with clouds! For a brief moment I was able to get some shots within a small window of cloud clearing, but still with limited visibility, and managed to edit the images and get a boost of visibility of the partially covered views. I was able to pull up a quite clear view of our cruise ship from above using the telephoto lens at maximum reach. I'm posting this image here, along others showing some of the better views I was able to get. So... if you want to get a clear view of the city and the sea from the summit at the highest altitude, be aware that it won't be so easy, and try to get up there early in the morning when it's more possible to have a clear view. Alternatively, since it's only the very highest top of the mountain that's usually covered in clouds, you can also try to find along the way a lower vantage point that is still high enough to get a good view of the sea side, but at a slightly lower altitude that is just clear of the...

Isabel De Torres National Park is an absolute gem in the Dominican Republic, and I can't recommend it enough! 🌳🌿

From the moment I entered the park, I was immersed in a lush, tropical paradise. The hike to the summit was an adventure in itself, with winding trails that led me through dense forests filled with diverse flora and fauna. The botanical gardens along the way were a true delight, showcasing the region's unique biodiversity.

Reaching the top and encountering the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue was a breathtaking moment. The panoramic views of Puerto Plata and the coastline were absolutely stunning. It's as if I had discovered a secret vantage point to admire the beauty of the Dominican Republic.

The park is exceptionally well-maintained, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, providing insights into the park's history and natural wonders. There's a sense of tranquility up there that's hard to describe, making it a perfect place for reflection and connection with nature.

Isabel De Torres National Park is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Puerto Plata. It offers a unique blend of adventure, natural beauty, and cultural significance that will leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime. Don't miss this incredible experience! 🌄🌺🇩🇴 #IsabelDeTorresNationalPark...