Playa Dorada — Attraction in Puerto Plata

We had a really enjoyable day at this beach and would absolutely return, but there are a few things that kept it from being a full five-star experience.

What truly stood out was the experience— not just in what was available, but in the people. The beach had a lively, local charm with vendors walking by offering everything from handmade chachkes and sunglasses to snacks, drinks, and even photo ops with animals like parrots and iguanas. It made the beach feel vibrant and alive, and our kids loved the excitement.

There were plenty of options for relaxing — cabanas, beach chairs, and umbrellas were available to rent, and a full-service beachfront restaurant was just steps away. While we appreciated the convenience, everything came at an added cost and most of the facilities, including the chairs, cabanas, restrooms, and changing areas, could really use a refresh. They worked, but they were definitely showing their age.

The food was okay — nothing to rave about, but good enough to keep us going through a day in the sun. What made the meal more enjoyable was the service. Our favorite waiter, Christian, was kind, funny, and went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed. He really elevated the whole experience.

There are also lots of little shops nearby if you want to browse or pick up souvenirs, and the waves were perfect for swimming and playing.

Overall, this beach has character, color, and charm — and with a few upgrades, it could easily...

Despite not having the best weather, I enjoyed this beach time.

It wasn't even close to being crowded due to the extra choppy waters and the storm. It rained for a spell then cleared and then rained again. When not raining, I walked the beach and enjoyed the water on my toes.

This appears to be a fairly private beach as we had a dedicated section for our shore excursion. We were assigned a server and given details on buying from the locals. Speaking of servers Ariel is the best! The local shops persons wear numbers to let you know how to find their shops.

Despite being private, there were some folks on the beach selling other things. I took a picture with a monkey and parrot for a few dollars. It's touristy.

We have plans to visit again and hopefully will have...

Fantastic beach with long walking distance available. Beach cleaning crews are out twice a day making it presentable for the tourists and the area in front of Gran Ventana is the best in my opinion! The reef out a bit stops sea algae and catches the big breakers so you have great opportunities for snorkeling right in front of the GV. Around the north corner by Emotions there is a lot of seaweed/ algae this year churning up so not great swimming there but a very fun long beach to water section to get into some good waves crashing if that's your thing. "Grand Paradise Playa Dorada" resort has been closed a couple years and under renos by Hodelpa at this time so that area is rough as there is active construction and...