SPANISH COLONIAL HISTORY AND TROPICAL ADVENTURES FOUND IN THE

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC’S AMBER COAST

- Set at the base of a towering mountain range on a tranquil golden beach, Casa Colonial Beach & Spa sets out to surprise and delight with its old-world charm and nearby attractions -

PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Located on the glittering Amber Coast of the Dominican Republic’s north shores, Casa Colonial Beach & Spa is set within the lush resort and golf complex of Playa Dorada directly on the beautiful golden sand beaches of the city of Puerto Plata.

Puerto Plata was described as “the fairest land under heaven” by Christopher Columbus in 1492.  Over 500 years later, the city of Puerto Plata has continued to captivate visitors from around the world with its charming Latin American culture, incredible natural beauty and the extraordinary kindness of its people.  Puerto Plata is situated at the base of the towering Mt. Isabel de Torres and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Dominican Republic.  Forests, green valleys, mountains and miles of golden beaches provide a playground for adventures sports seeks with activities such as mountain biking and horseback riding as well as a host of watersports including diving, sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.  

The city of Puerto Plata offers a glimpse into the city’s rich Spanish history, which inspired the architectural concept of Casa Colonial Beach & Spa.  Victorian architecture with filigree lace wood and ironwork characterizes most of the historic homesteads and public buildings in the city.  Visitors of Puerto Plata can spend a day in the town strolling through the eclectic shops housing local hand-made art, clothing and jewelry.  The Malecón in Puerto Plata is an ocean side road filled with numerous cafes and small restaurants.  Walking west along the Malecón leads visitors to the stunning Fuerte San Felipe, Puerto Plata’s only remaining Spanish colonial fort where Columbus had hoped to establish the first Spanish colony in the New World.  The fort features a moat, historical artifacts and a small museum.

Towering over the city of Puerto Plata is the 2,600ft (792m) Mount Isabel, providing a popular tourist attraction.  Visitors can take a seven-minute cable car ride up the mountainside to explore the summit, which offers a botanical garden and a scaled down version of Rio de Janeiro`s The Redeemer, the famed statue of Christ.  There is also a restaurant from which diners can enjoy breathtaking views of the city and coastline.

The area that surrounds Puerto Plata is known as the Amber Coast and is home to the world’s richest deposits of amber, which allows local residents to produce a variety of the one-of-a-kind jewelry creations found throughout the country.  Popular destinations along the Amber Coast include Cabarete which is known for the finest windsurfing and kitesurfing in the world and the small town of Sosua that features a cosmopolitan character offering a beautiful crescent-shaped beach and numerous cafes, bars and restaurants.  The towns are located 30-40 minutes from Puerto Plata and Casa Colonial Beach & Spa.

The Dominican Republic’s north coast is also home to the famous Playa Grande Golf Course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr.  The course is referred to the “Pebble Beach” of the Caribbean as 10 of the 18 holes are played along the sea cliffs, bays and overlooking bluffs with spectacular Atlantic Ocean views.  The green fees for Playa Grande are certainly more desirable than Pebble Beach.  Rates range from $80 to $120 at Playa Grande while rates at Pebble Beach range from $230 to $425 for 18 holes.  Guests of Casa Colonial can also enjoy reduced rates at the Playa Dorada Golf Course located across from the hotel.  The 18-hole course was also designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and was ranked #53 in Golf Digest’s “Best 100 golf courses situated outside of the United States” in May 2005.  The Playa Dorada Golf Course features exceptional greens with wide fairways, four greens set by the sea and five greens set by the bordering inland water.

The Dominican Republic’s new Ocean World aquatic park is also located minutes from the resort.  The park is the creation of a talented group of marine life experts who joined forces to design the most exciting nature encounter in the Caribbean.  The spectacular facility boasts breathtaking views of the sea and allows visitors to experience the world’s largest dolphin lagoon, the only sea lion encounter of its kind and a shark interaction pool.
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For reservations or more information about Casa Colonial Beach and Spa please call (809) 320-3232 or visit www.casacolonialhotel.com.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Bohmann, Up Top Marketing
P: (786) 228-5790
jennifer@uptopmarketing.com