A walk through Puerto Plata’s charming streets leads us to the area around Parque Luperon were we feast our eyes on the wonderful elaborate nineteenth century Victorian mansions, which you won’t see often on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. I am in Puerto Plata with two great friends for the Merengue festival, which is normally held in October and feel excited about the fact that Benito will be able to join me in a few days. There is so much to do in Puerto Plata that we do not feel the need to go to any of the excellent nearby beaches like Playa Dorada and Costambar. We pay a quick visit to the Amber museum and were astonished by the fact that all the fossils on display are between 25 and 40 million years old. Next we visited Fort San Felipe, which was build to fight off the pirates and offers awesome views of the Atlantic Ocean.

When I am asked about Dominican culture, one of the first things I mention is the merengue, a fusion of African and European musical styles that emerged in the Dominican Republic centuries ago. The merengue initially encountered lots of resistance by the ruling classes because of it African influences and the lyrics that could be described as rather “rough around the edges”. The dictator Leonardo Trujillo used the merengue during radio broadcasts to spread his political message, hereby inadvertently popularizing the music and accompanying dance-moves immensely. The largest merengue festivals take place in Puerto Plata and the capital Santo Domingo.

It is the first day of the festival and I wake up early to take the short taxi to Puerto Plata International airport where Benito will arrive in about an hour. We spend the whole day “catching up” until 11 PM when we are set to meet up with our friends nearby the stage at the end of the Malecón, which is completely closed off for traffic and lined with (food) stands. We sample some of the typical Dominican specialties and hold each other close for most of the night while dancing to some of the best merengue bands in the Dominican Republic. I run into at least five people I know from my Dominican travels and who all give me a big hug. Benito looks at me with a certain element of surprise. I say: “Don’t worry love, you are the one I really fancy”.

- Puerto Plata photo gallery

How to get there
Unless I am touring the whole country, I always fly to Gregorio Luperón International Airport just a few miles from Puerto Plata. Santiago's Cibao International Airport is located about an hour south from Puerto Plata. Here you can catch a bus, airport shuttle, rental car or taxi to your final destination.

- Dominican Republic International and Domestic Flights

Tours and attractions
Puerto Plata has two major festivals each year, the cultural festival, which is held during the third week of June, and the Merengue Festival the first week of October. (I suggest you check for exact dates.) The Cultural festival offers an insight into Dominican culture with Folk Music, traditional African tribal dances, salsa and merengue and there are many exhibits of crafts from local artists. As far as excursions go, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed. Tours to all parts of the country can be booked at hotels, Isaira Tours or other tourists places and vary from a simple picnic to the most extreme adventure activities.

- Isaira Tours