Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

We hired Nino, a local taxi driver, to take us to Puerto Plata for the day with our boat buddies, Jack and Penny.  Puerto Plata is a large city with an international airport about 45 minutes east of Luperon.  We took the cable car (the only one in the Caribbean) up 2,565 feet to Isabel de Torros, the second tallest mountain in the Dominican Republic.  The views are spectacular and the top of the mountain is filled with tropical botanical gardens, cave, and a statue of Christ that resembles the one in Rio De Janeiro in Brazil.  Our next stop was the Amber Museum including the newly discovered stone here in the Dominican Republic, Larimar, the color of the blue waters of the ocean.  Next was the church square over 100 years old with many pigeons (palamos in Spanish).  Many of our friends would agree the next stop was the most fun, Brugal Rum Factory with free rum tasting at the end of the tour.  Brugal Rum is made here in the DR and thousands of bottles made daily.  Our last tourist stop was the Museo Fortaleza Colonial San Felipe, a fort guarding the entrance to Puerto Plata built in the 16th century.  Our taxi driver, Nino, took us everywhere all day in Puerto Plata and back to Luperon for 1800 pesos, $40 US Dollars.