*UPDATED NOVEMBER 2025

Puerto Plata was one of the first locations in the Dominican Republic to open for tourism. It has some very rich history, charm, and is a super underrated location to travel to in 2025. While Punta Cana is the most popular option if you’re looking to get married in the tropics, Puerto Plata is a great pick if you’re looking for something different. In this guide we’ll go over everything you need to know about planning your wedding in Puerto Plata. From resorts, to wedding venues, to finding the perfect Puerto Plata wedding photographer. Get ready to dive into the hidden gem that is Puerto Plata.

Overview of Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata is located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. While it’s not as developed as the larger cities of the country like Santo Domingo or Santiago, it’s a respectably sized city. It’s not as tourist focused as Punta Cana is so you’ll be able to experience a more authentic experience at the beaches and urban areas. Mount Isabel de Torres overlooks the scenery, if you decide to take a cable car to the top of the mountain, you’ll be able to appreciate the deep blue Atlantic coastline that wraps around Puerto Plata.

Puerto Plata stands out because it strikes a nice balance between nature and local Dominican culture. You’ll find a mix of colonial style buildings from when the Spanish first arrived in the 15th century, and colorful rustic style houses. Puerto Plata is a great center point because closeby you have Cabarete and Sosua, which offer calm and pristine beaches for you to explore. These beaches are perfect for a wedding photoshoot because you’ll be able to step away from the crowds and find beautiful unique backdrops for your photos.

Best Resorts in Puerto Plata

Iberostar Costa Dorada

There’s a reason why Iberostar is the top rated Trip Advisor pick for resorts in Puerto Plata. This 5 star all-inclusive resort is located about 10 minutes from downtown Puerto Plata. It’s got beautiful colonial-style architecture, top of quality service, and tons of greenery for you to appreciate during your stay. There are multiple pools, child-friendly zones, spa, and sports like pickleball, tennis and PADI certified diving. You’ll also be able to choose between a gazebo, beach or garden terrace wedding ceremony venue.

Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Resort (Cofresi Palm, Tropical, Crown Suites)

Another great all inclusive option, this resort gets its name from its location at Confresi Bay. It’s a bit further than Iberostar on the northern side of the coast. For a 4 -star hotel it’s got some fantastic amenities including adult-only spa suites, two full service spas, many options for dining, tennis courts, and a nearby golf course. There are even 12 outdoor swimming pools for you to visit. There are also beachside or gazebo ceremony venues, with many packages for you to choose from.

Gran Ventana Beach Resort

Located among the other resorts in Playa Dorada, Gran Ventana Beach Resort stands out for its playful tropical design. The restaurants and hallways are beautifully decorated with mosaics, textures and ornamental lattice trims. Though the resort as a whole is not adults-only you do have the option of visiting the adult only pool for a more quiet experience. The Playa Dorada Golf course is one of the best in the area, and you’ll have easy access to it. The wedding packages include on-site coordinators, and multiple outdoor ceremony venues to choose from.

Senator Puerto Plata Resort

The Senator resort is located on the very north of the coast. It’s a bit secluded compared to the other resorts of the area, but if you’re looking to stay in your resort for most of your stay, it’s definitely worth checking this one out. It’s all inclusive, featuring modern suites, a very large spa, water sports, and tennis. There is a huge amphitheatre for entertainment nights. For venue options, you have multiple indoor and outdoor options to choose from, with some options allowing up to 150 guests.

Off-Resort Wedding Venues

Ocean World Marina

Ocean World Marina is a unique place because it offers many different services all under one compound. It’s a yacht dock, boat yard, casino, it has multiple restaurants, an entertainment center, the ocean world aquatic park, and last but not least: a beautiful seaside wedding venue. The wedding hall is very elegant, with unique views of the sea and the marina and custom decorations. You’ll be able to work with their wedding coordinators to customize your wedding however you like.

Private villas in Sosúa or Cabarete

If public places are not your thing and you want the most private and luxurious setting possible then you should consider renting out a private villa. Sosua and Cabarete are two towns a bit further down south along the coast. There are many oceanfront options with amazing views and a very tranquil atmosphere. You can expect to find top of the line infinity pools, tropical gardens, and direct beach access. AirBnB is the easiest way of finding what options are readily available, make sure to look for places that are event-friendly. You’ll also need to find a wedding planner yourself if you’re going fully private, here are a few great independent planners that work in the area:

Leanne Lane Weddings: Leanne is very passionate about planning weddings that are all about YOU, making detailed checklists and creating a result that matches your vibe.
4TW Dominican Wedding Planner: 4TW is dedicated to making weddings that stand out, they are your go to option for executing ideas that are out of the ordinary.
Bodas & Mas: Combining Swiss precision and Dominican culture and warmth, the Bodas & Mas team aims to take all the stress out of your wedding planning so you can focus on enjoying your wedding.

You’ll want to be sure that you pair your wedding planner with an experienced Puerto Plata wedding photographer to cover the event.

How to get to Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata is quite far from Punta Cana, so if you’d like to avoid a very long road trip, we recommend booking a flight to the Gregorio Luperon International Airport (POP). This airport is only 20-25 minutes away from the resort areas. Not all cities have direct flights to POP, so you may have to take a connecting flight through Miami, New York, Toronto or Panama. If you’re unable to find a flight directly to POP, then there’s also the Aeropuerto Internacional del Cibao, which sits close by at the neighboring city of Santiago de los Caballeros.

Excursions and Activities to Add to Your Trip

Puerto Plata is full of activities for you to take part in during your stay. You definitely won’t want to miss going up Mount Isabel de Torres. You can take a cable car to the top of the mountain. From up there you’ll be able to appreciate the stunning view of the ocean and Puerto Plata city. The top also has a statue of “cristo redentor” similar to the one in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (but not quite as big). If you’re looking for a rainforest safari experience, the 27 Charcos de Damajagua are an excellent option for appreciating nature and taking a plunge underneath a waterfall. Ocean World is a family friendly ocean aquarium where you’ll be able to interact with dolphins, sharks and stingrays, definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area. From Sosua, you’ll be able to book a sunset catamaran or snorkeling session in the crystal clear waters of the northern coast. The city is also worth exploring around the Historic Center of Puerto Plata. Around this district is the Puerto Plata Amber Museum, local shops, and the central park. This area is also full of the distinct colonial architecture of Puerto Plata.

Punta Cana vs Puerto Plata

Here are some of the key differences between Punta Cana and Puerto Plata:

Puerto Plata has a more natural coastline with more options for public areas.
Puerto Plata is a more mountainous region, so it’s easier to visit high peaks like Mount Isabel de Torres
Puerto Plata is less focused on tourism compared to Punta Cana. It’s a more authentic experience that is less curated if you visit the main city.
Punta Cana has many more modern 5 star resorts, and is growing at a faster pace than Puerto Plata.
Puerto Plata has more variety of architecture and excursions compared to Punta Cana. For many excursions that leave from a Punta Cana resort, you’ll have to take a bus ride to visit a different location.
Puerto Plata has better options for wedding photoshoots, you can choose between a pier, a beach, mountains, or the colonial city for your backdrop.
Puerto Plata is more budget friendly as far as resort prices, excursions and transportation.
Flights are a little bit harder to come by than Punta Cana flights, since the airport is not as popular.

Hiring a Puerto Plata Wedding Photographer

Our Puerto Plata wedding photographer page covers the resorts we work in and what coverage there involves. At HDC Photo we specialize in following the journey that our couples take from start to finish. We want you to feel comfortable while we stay back and let the magic happen. Puerto Plata is one of our favorite locations because it has so much character. There is not a single wedding that looks the same. Resort weddings tend to be more intimate than in Punta Cana because there are less crowds. This also gives us more freedom as photographers to capture shots that we otherwise couldn’t in Punta Cana. Chances are we can find a spot that no one’s been to before. We invite you to have a look at our extensive portfolio of wedding photoshoots, we’d love to match your vibe. Get in touch with us so we can get started!

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Arnaud Brichet

Arnaud Brichet traded Paris for the shores of Punta Cana over two decades ago. Today, as a destination wedding photographer and videographer in the Dominican Republic, he and his team capture love stories across the Caribbean, from intimate elopements to grand celebrations. With a photojournalistic style rooted in authenticity, they also photograph engagements, proposals, family portraits, and maternity sessions throughout Punta Cana and beyond.

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