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Why choose
Sosua? Sosua is for bargain-hunters, explorers and singles
looking for an active beach town, including a hopping night life.
Sosua is centrally located on the North Coast, close to many other
destinations you can explore on your own or on excursion. You will
find many small hotels as well as large all-inclusive resorts.
About Sosua Sosua is the Acapulco of the Dominican
Republic. You could say that this is where tourism first began back
in the 70s and 80s.
Despite development, Sosua still keeps
its charm with the highest density of shops and restaurants in the
Batey section of the destination. Foreigners who originally came for
a beach holiday have now established their own ex-patriot
communities and businesses. There are large numbers of Germans,
Austrians, Canadians and Americans who live here year round. The one
kilometer long Sosua Beach continues to be the main attraction of
the area. In spite of the large number of vendors who have set up
shop right on the beach, it’s still one of the most spectacular in
the Dominican Republic.
Sosua was originally settled by
around 600 Jewish refugees fleeing the Second World War who set up a
dairy community. As a result, Sosua began to thrive and was soon
discovered by the wealthy from nearby Puerto Plata, Santiago and San
Francisco de Macoris who came and set up vacation homes. Most of the
original Jewish settlers have moved on, but the dairy that produces
the Productos Sosua continues to this day. The Sosua Synagogue has a
museum with photos and memorabilia of the first Jewish settlers. You
can also attend services there.
Tourism took off in the 70s
and 80s, with the sleepy beach town catering to thousands of day
trippers from Playa Dorada resort and to overnighters staying in the
many small hotels that sprang up in Sosua. The town built a
reputation for its night life. It is said that Sosua wakes up when
Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada go to bed!
In the 90s, tourism
evolved towards the all-inclusive trend and several large resorts
were built in the area. Guests still come from nearby Playa Grande,
Rio San Juan, Playa Dorada and Puerto Plata for dining, beach town
shopping and night life entertainment.
How
to get there
Fly into the Gregorio Luperon International
Airport of Puerto Plata (POP), about a 10 minute drive from Sosua.
If you fly into Las Americas International Airport you will be 4
hours drive away. There is Caribe Tours bus service from Santo
Domingo to Sosua, from which you can take a minibus or taxi to your
hotel. Minibuses travel to Sosua all day long from Puerto Plata,
Playa Dorada or Cabarete.
What else is
nearby? Sosua is half way between Puerto Plata (25 kilometers
to the west) and Cabarete. A stop there is a must for all those
traveling the North Coast. In Sosua, you are near all the
attractions in Puerto Plata, Playa Dorada, Cabarete and Playa Grande
(about one hour''''''''s drive away). The best way to see it all is
to rent a car. Drive west one day all the way to the La Isabela
museum, near Luperón. On the way visit Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata,
Cofresí, Costambar and then La Isabela. Go swimming in Luperón beach
prior to returning to Sosua. On the next day drive east all the way
to Rio San Juan, Pueblito Principe (a small Dominican-style shopping
street) and Playa Grande in María Trinidad Sánchez province, with a
stop at Cabarete Beach.
Getting around For the
most part you can get around Sosua on foot if you are staying in the
neighborhoods of El Batey or Charamicos. The streets are well lit
and there are lots of people outside day and night. Motorcycle
rentals are common. And there are many minibuses and taxis for trips
to Puerto Plata, Playa Dorada or Cabarete.
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