Amber Cove, Dominican Republic - Cruise Port
About Amber Cove
Amber Cove is a cruise port and resort complex owned by Carnival Corporation, located in the northern Dominican Republic, about 720 miles southeast of Miami. While the port itself is a resort destination, there are two main outside attractions you should check out: the old town of Puerto Plata (known for its beaches and mountain cable car) and the Damajagua Waterfalls (pronounced DAMA-HA-GWA), featuring natural tube slides and ziplining.
The port handles ships from Carnival, Princess, and occasionally Holland America. It has two berths with a layout similar to other Caribbean ports, featuring tight side-by-side docking. Expect to see lots of bike shuttles ferrying people from the dock to the taxi area—don’t forget to tip, as it’s hot work out there!
Port Layout and Amenities
Once you pass the dock, you’ll enter the requisite duty-free store. After that, head right and you’ll find a large pool complex with a restaurant, swim-up bar, extensive pools, and numerous cabanas. There's also a tiny waterfall garden that’s a nice touch, though there’s no beach—the area is surrounded by rocky barriers.
Climb a small hill overlooking the pool area, and you’ll find a bar with views of the bay, a zip line, and double slides, all for additional fees. The rest of the complex is a mix of standard shopping and local history exhibits, which I appreciated. Some cool movies were shot in the Dominican Republic!
Beyond the resort, there’s a highway with no walkable attractions, though plenty of unofficial cabbies offering their services. Puerto Plata, the old town, is about 10 km (or a 15-minute drive southeast), traffic permitting. The cable car is also about the same distance away, and the Damajagua Waterfalls is about a 30-minute drive south into the mountains. If you want to venture outside the resort, you’ll need wheels—either a ship tour, independent organized tour, or a taxi. Official prices are posted at the port complex.
Car Rental Experience
We decided to rent a car because we were a large group of 7, and getting everyone into one taxi would’ve been too expensive. Plus, renting a car is still cheaper than booking a tour, and we had the flexibility to control our schedule.
We booked online months in advance with Alamo. Rental access is easy, with National and Alamo offices located just before the tour and taxi staging area. The staff was efficient, and the whole rental process took about 10 minutes. Big shoutout to Ceasar, our representative, who provided a lot of helpful information about what to see and do.
We got a Ford Explorer—huge, almost brand new, and comfortable, making it a great value.
Driving in the Dominican Republic
Now, the driving—let’s just say it’s a bit looser than what you might be used to back home. Here’s what we learned:
Be a confident driver: If you’re uneasy about quick reactions and staying alert, driving here may not be the best choice. But if you’re comfortable behind the wheel, just stay alert, have a navigator with you, and be ready to react quickly.
Road conditions: The roads aren’t always the best, and you’ll need some acceleration to overtake slower vehicles, like older, loaded trucks going uphill.
Driving style: Similar to Mexico, people here will often create their own lanes to pass other vehicles, and others will respond accordingly. So stay sharp and be extra attentive.
Given the driving conditions, we recommend picking just a couple of destinations for the day. For us, we started with the Damajagua Waterfalls, thinking we could just show up and hike to the falls on our own. However, this wasn’t feasible. The falls require a life jacket, zip line gear, and a guided hike—not exactly something you can do without a tour. The entire experience takes at least 3 hours, and most people were on organized tours anyway.
The Puerto Plata Cable Car
Our second destination was the Puerto Plata cable car, which takes you 2,500 feet up Mount Isabel de Torres. Parking was easy, and the station moved people through efficiently. The ride up was smooth and offered amazing views, with a mild thrill when you pass the highest mid-tower.
At the top, there’s an attractive garden park, Loma Isabel de Torres, with stunning views and an eye-catching statue of Jesus, reminiscent of Christ the Redeemer in Rio. There are food vendors here, and the restaurant was fine—nothing special, but clean, comfortable, and with available bathrooms.
Back to Amber Cove
We headed back to the port with an hour to spare, so the kids wasted no time heading to the pool, especially since the heat was relentless throughout our Caribbean tour. Be sure to pack sunscreen, water, and a hat!
Final Thoughts: Rent a Car Again?
Would we rent a car at Amber Cove again? Maybe not. While the car rental was a great deal, the road conditions and traffic could be too much for some. If you’re comfortable driving, it’s a good option, but next time we might try an independent tour operator, especially for the Damajagua Waterfalls.
Amber Cove offers great activities, from relaxing by the pool to exploring Damajagua Waterfalls and the Puerto Plata Cable Car. Renting a car is a good option for flexibility, especially for larger groups, but be prepared for challenging driving conditions. If you’re not comfortable with that, an organized tour may be a better choice. Either way, Amber Cove is a fantastic destination with plenty to see and do.