ATV & Buggy Adventures

Behind the Puerto Plata coastline the land rises fast into the green foothills of the Cordillera Septentrional, and the dirt tracks that thread through the sugar cane, the cacao farms and the river beds are the playground for the ATV and buggy operators. These half day adventures are the messiest and most physical thing you can do near the city, and they are aimed squarely at travellers who want to get off the asphalt rather than tour another fort.

A typical ride starts with a short safety briefing and a helmet fitting, then a guided convoy follows the trails for two to three hours with stops at a local farm, a viewpoint over the coast and, on the family versions, a monkey sanctuary where you can hold squirrel monkeys. Expect mud, shallow river crossings and dust, so wear clothes you do not mind ruining and bring a change for the ride back. Single ATVs suit confident solo riders, while side by side buggies seat two to four and let a parent drive with kids alongside.

Most ATV and buggy tours run three to four hours door to door, include pickup from Amber Cove, Taino Bay and the Playa Dorada hotels, and cost USD 60 to USD 110 per person or per vehicle depending on whether you ride solo or share a buggy. Minimum driver age is usually sixteen to eighteen with a licence, though children ride free as passengers on the family tours. Because the trails get slick after rain, the morning slots are the safest bet in the wet season from May to November.