Fortaleza de San Felipe

Not only is the first interesting and historically significant, you should go there just for the history alone, but there's a beautiful view and a great breeze off the water to keep things cool and comfortable. It was about 100 pesos and worth the price to get to see the views from the turrets. There is parking and there are public bathrooms too, and souvenir stalls too if you like that kind of thing.

This fort is in San Felipe Park which is a short walk from the cruise ship port. The sidewalk is skinny in places so not accessible for wheelchairs. Once at the park it’s easy walking to get to the fort itself. Who wouldn’t like seeing a Spanish fort dating to the late 1500s which was built to defend against pirates. The fort was completed in 1577. There is a $2 per person fee and you get a headset so you can listen to the story of the fort. My headset didn’t work well. I think it was a bad cable or the audio port. It was fine as the fort is interesting with lots of things to look at and read. Like most of the Dominican, the fort could use money to fix things up. It’s a great place to get photos of the water, beaches and cruise ship port. There are public bathrooms in the fort.

The San Felipe Fort was a stop on our private tour of Puerto Plata. If you’ve been to San Juan and seen the large fort there, this is much smaller, but very similar in age and stone composition. Over 450 years old, it is on a cliff next to ocean so there are plenty of great views. You can also buy tickets to go through it for a half hour tour.

A small fort with a deep history. A nice stop in a tour. The views are great from this spot. You can see the cruise ships from here too.

A quick stop during our city tour. Great landscape to look out and there are a few vendors by the street parking areas selling souvenirs.

Great views. Lots of cruise ship people, do go after 1:00 or 2:00 pm to avoid them. Grounds needs to be cleaned up a bit.

This place is very historical, BUT it needs more maintenance. Nice pictures can be taken here and you get to see the cruises as there is a port closed to this location.

Awesome fortress to visit if you like that sort of thing. One of my favorite places I visited in the DR.