Costa Dorada Holidays

One of the most exclusive locations on the Dominican Republic's north west Amber Coast is the peaceful resort of Costa Dorada. Two and a half miles of golden sandy beaches make this the perfect location for a tranquil and relaxing break in the Caribbean.

Costa Dorada is a 25 minute transfer from Puerto Plata Airport and is one of the quieter resorts along this coastline. The attraction of a holiday in the Dominican Republic is that if you just want to get away from it all and do nothing but relax, you can stay within your hotel complex and everything is there for you from food to entertainment to the beach and water sports.

Costa Dorada provides the ideal beach holiday and you can happily spend a couple of weeks doing nothing but soaking up the Caribbean sun under a palm tree. Deep sea fishing, diving and snorkelling are all popular activities due to the warm water and almost guaranteed good weather of the Dominican Republic and there are opportunities to dive on shipwrecks and coral reefs. Diving schools are usually run directly from hotels and equipment is available to hire if you don't have your own.

You can also enjoy a range of land based activities at Costa Dorada. The nearby Fun City is the largest go cart park in the Caribbean and it's a great family day out plus there is a children's playground and bumper cars as well.

If you want to venture away from the resort and explore some of the sights around Costa Dorada, the national park of Mount Isabel de Torres, one of the area's most popular tourist attractions, is a short cable car ride away. At the summit is a statue of Christ similar to the Christ the Redeemer statue at Rio de Janeiro and stunning botanical gardens. Guides are available but if you want one to travel with you in the cable car there is an additional fee.

Costa Dorada shares its beach with the livelier resort of Playa Dorada making it the largest all inclusive combined resort in the world and is built around an impressive 18 hole championship golf course with four greens that face out to sea.

Outback Safaris are a great way to see the real Dominican Republic if you are staying in Costa Dorada and the excursions run from most hotels in the Puerto Plata area. These are guided day trips in a 4x4 truck to remote villages, where you visit a school, a family in their home and see how and where sugar cane, coffee and cocoa are produced. Food and drink are provided all day and there is the chance to try boogie boarding at a beach along the way. Money raised from the Outback scheme goes to the villages and schools and there is also an opportunity for tourists to directly give equipment such as books and pencils to schools as part of the trip.

Playa Dorada and Puerto Plata are both a short taxi ride from Costa Dorada and have a choice of restaurants and bars if you want to sample some livelier nightlife away from your hotel. Fish and seafood dishes are superb and the sauces used in the local cuisine are some of the tastiest you will find anywhere.