To understand why Columbus chose to call this town Puerto de Plata (Port of Silver) we need only to take a twilight stroll. You'll be awestruck by how imbued the coast is with silver hues as the sun sinks into the Atlantic Ocean. This provincial capital has noticeable Victorian style and colonial relics such as the Fort of San Felipe. Agricultural, cattle farms and tourism create its strong economy. It also has the most important amber mines in the world.

Sosua is a charming, cosmopolitan town with idyllic beaches and a whole host of attractions. It is the most modern tourist package imaginable, combining the peace and quiet of the beach with a bustling nightlife.

Nearby, Cabarete is famous for windsurfing. There is no coral reef to serve as a breakwater to the waves, which, whipped up by the trade winds, come roaring in unchecked all year round.