Adventure of the Seas – Dominican Republic

On Day 3 of our cruise on RCCL’s Adventure of the Seas, we arrived at Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic on Nov. 30, 2025. Our shore excursion was Explore Puerto Plata Nature’s Treasures. We drove in an open-air vehicle, passing stray dogs, cows, donkeys and roosters. Residences ranged from ramshackle dwellings to pastel-colored stucco homes to Mediterranean-style villas with red rolled-tile roofs. I was glad for our seat belts when we chugged up Isabel De Torres Mountain amid lush tropical foliage to view a giant statue of Christ and see the inactive cable car. Mist rolled in at this high elevation (2500 ft?) and obscured the view, but we could see the ocean far below. Inside a large dome were an array of gift shops with pricey souvenirs.

Back on the transport, we went up and down hills, and the paved road gave way to a bumpy dirt road. We bounced along viewing majestic vistas until we reached the botanical garden. Here we met our guide, an attractive red-headed woman, who introduced herself as being originally from the States. She showed us the butterfly and medicinal gardens, pointing out various plants as we kept climbing steps. Glad I’d applied insect repellant prior to this excursion, I huffed and puffed until we reached the summit, where an open-air structure with tables set for lunch perched at the top. Cows grazed in the distance, and tropical foliage surrounded us at El Gallo Ecolodge.

We enjoyed a meal of barbecued chicken, rice with red beans, fried plantains, Cole slaw, fresh pineapple and papaya, and a coconut bar for dessert. This was served family style and was plenty to eat. We tasted their Mamawanna, a rum drink made with honey and herbs that reminded me of mead. For a regular drink, we could choose from a fruit juice blend or water available in pitchers. It was a lovely setting for lunch. A small gift area sold bottles of Mamawanna, packages of Dominican Republic coffee, and jars of honey. Here’s my plate before I added the plantains.

Our route back took us on another bumpy dirt road toward the coast. Once there, we passed numerous beaches with aqua water sparkling beyond. We drove by San Felipe Fortress built in 1564 and soon made our way back to the port. Here we had time to duck into the shops, which had a nice selection of jewelry, toys, souvenirs, bottles of Mamawanna, packages of ground coffee or coffee beans, and bars of chocolate. I really enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend it but be sure you can climb a lot of steps at a higher elevation.

Coming Next: San Juan and St. Thomas