Have you ever heard of someone visiting Sosua once? No, you haven’t – The beautiful beaches, restaurants, party vibes and atmosphere keeps people coming back again and again.
There’s an energy in the air here and when you roll down Pedro Clisante….you just feel it. When you pop back into your favorite spot, the stress of the states melts away and you savor that first ice cold Presidente…..that’s happiness.
There’s a lot of sides to Sosua, it’s like a girl with Multiple Personality Disorder. But a lot of people come through and miss out on the hidden gems, fun experiences, best food, and unique spots. Sosua has a lot more to offer than you might think, I came on a vacation and never left.
The best Sosua trip has a little bit of everything, from relaxation to thrills. This town was founded by people seeking peace, Jews fleeing Nazi Germany and people are still seeking refuge here away from the crazy world.
Sosua’s been called the Switzerland of the Caribbean because of it’s peaceful nature and the fact that it’s incredibly safe. Everyone from all over the world gets along here and it’s easy to make friends.
Buckle up and follow this plan on your next visit to maximize your time in the Dominican Republic.
Day 1: Beach Day
Before kicking off your beach day at Playa Sosua, pop in Wings and Waffles and start your day off with one of the best breakfasts in Sosua.
My recommendations are either the Desayuno Dominicano, the national breakfast or go crazy with one of the many themed and unique breakfasts available. Wings and Waffles is located within Hotel Las Palmeras, which is also a decent place to stay that’s close to the action.
Note: The owner Cardell is a great person to know when it comes to real estate here because after your vacation you’ll be wanting to buy a place or rent long term.
Walk yourself down to the beach, right at the entrance to the beach there will be a guy selling coconuts, buy yourself one and take a stroll to find a good place to grab a chair and umbrella. The best strategy is to not listen to the many guys trying to sell you chairs and instead find an ideal spot that you like. Put your stuff down and someone will come to collect a few pesos for the chair and bring you drinks. Or take a long stroll to the end and find a comfortable spot.
The first thing I tell travelers to do – the first thing i do when I touch down at my place in Sosua is to jump in the ocean. To me, it’s a ritual to wash off the stress, division, and anxiety from America.
The ocean has incredible healing properties, expels toxins from your body, rejuvenates the lungs and even the soul. The sea air is charged with negative ions, which can help release serotonin. That uplifts your mood, relaxes, you and gets you ready to rock your Dominican vacation. I have goggles but there’s a place that rents them on the beach as well.
So kick back and enjoy the view, the hustle and bustle of the beach, and maybe enjoy a massage, fresh oysters, and make sure you try some Spanish Limes. (Usually called Limoncillo here.) It’s like a candy fruit.
When you’re ready for lunch, grab yourself a fried red snapper from one of the many restaurants on the beach. People always ask, what’s the best restaurant on the beach? There are so many to choose from and there are, everyone has a different spot they prefer.
Most people hang out towards the middle because it’s a good place to people watch, I’ve found the service at those places lacking and the food quality poor. Mofongo King is generally good and clean but not the surrounding places, the other place I enjoy is called Diversity and its #27.
If you do have a favorite, let me know on Instagram. I’ve found in my experiences that there’s not one consistent, top place that people recommend on the beach over others. Which seems weird, so when it comes to lunch…your guess is as good as mine. I’ve ate at half the places and the food and service can be inconsistent.
While you’re on the beach, you’ll encounter venders and people selling activities. If you do want to hop on a tube or a banana boat with friends, negotiate the price beforehand. You also have glass bottom boats that will cruise you over to the local reefs where you can see tropical, beautiful fish and enjoy a boat ride. Or just listen to music, people watch, read a book, and enjoy the beautiful view.
On your way out of the beach you’ll see shops, art, and massage places. The owners will be trying to get you in to purchase something but at the top of the hill on the right side there will be Flip Flops Sports Bar IG.
The place is a Sosua must-stop during your visit and you’ll hear the famous….“Welcooooome to Flip Flops!” Flip Flops is often people’s first stop in Sosua for a cold beer, I recommend the tacos there. On Tuesdays they have a special on them.
It’s a great place to catch a game as well and a good meeting point. The owner does some tours, parties, and runs a Youtube Channel discussing life abroad, dating, partying, and more.
Dinner Recommendation
After a day at the beach, you’ll want a good meal. Head over to Dolci & Sapori, if you want to get out of the heat take a seat in their air conditioned back area. The food and service here are consistently good, and they have great coffee and deserts. I eat here probably once a week, they also have a great selection of salad and teas. If you’re tired after the beach and want to order some food, use the Komida app for delivery.
Day 2: ATV Tour/ Party Night
One thing you’ll see a lot of in the streets of Sosua are ATV’s. Which are fun to ride around and easy to rent for $40-60 a day. But the fun part isn’t riding them around town- it’s a day exploring village roads, mountains, rivers, and hitting some trails. Riding ATV’s is an adrenaline rush and all the tours will pop by a bar or country stand to give you a shot of mamauana or a cold beer. Take your go-pro or take some cool pictures riding.
There are two tour options you can do for your ATV adventure. The first one is in Sosua and the second is in Puerto Plata. They both are seven days a week and there are two options, 9am and 1pm. The Sosua one will take about three hours and Puerto Plata around four.
One thing you’ll notice is everyone kind of sells the same tours, I’d recommend using Eddie at Make It Happen Tours. Text him on Whatsapp (849-354-9615) to get set up. They’ll handle transportation, as a tip you’ll want to bring a bandanna to cover your face or the tour will sell you one.
Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and wet. You can bring a towel too if you want to swim a bit. The second trustworthy option of the tours is on entrance to the beach, the shop that says Raul Rodriguez Tours. You can also do the buggy tours, although if you’re going to do one or the other, do the ATV’s.
After your ATV fun, you’ll want to get cleaned up and hit the town. Taking a stroll down the strip at night can be an experience and you’ll see a cast of characters. Sosua nightlife is for the adventurous but incredibly safe. You don’t really need to dress to impress when you go out in Sosua, it’s a beach town.
You can hit the streets with confidence here. You’re going to have three stops on your adventure, first up is Slice. It’s a rooftop pizza joint next to Juvante Veteran Center on the strip. You get a good view of the street and some peace from the craziness. Grab yourself your favorite beverage or two and then walk across the street to Rumba.
No trip to Sosua is complete without listening to International DJ Anthony Bad Habits. Drop a request and a tip for the DJ, he plays Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and is an American veteran, artist, and entrepreneur.
Rumba is also the ONLY bar in town that has a good bourbon selection. I’ve asked all the bars in town during my years here to carry bourbon but nobody listens. The sections at Rumba are first come, first serve and the Superbowl Party here is a legendary event. You won’t visit Sosua and not end up in Rumba once or twice.
After some people watching, drinking, or the game ends – head over to Playa Chiquita Casino. Grab yourself a taxi from right outside or take a moto for a cheaper option. It doesn’t really kick off inside the nightclub until midnight but then the party goes until daylight. Pro Tip: The drinks in the outside area are cheaper for some reason.
Outside Playa Chiquita there’s some food truck options, I recommend the burger place. But at no point have I ever eaten at any of the places sober so it’s hard to say. They’re all pretty good at three in the morning after a night of drinking.
Day 3: Excursion or Sante Fe
If you’re looking to stay in Sosua but feel like your transported to Italy or Greece, take a trip down to Sante Fe.
Get a day pass, take some pictures for Instagram and enjoy the views. This is also a great place to take a date, or reserve a VIP section with some friends. The food there isn’t very good, but you don’t go for the food. It’s going to run you 2,700 pesos then you get 2,500 back for food and drinks.
For a more exclusive, pricier alternative to Sante Fe you can go to the Ocean Club, a luxury Marriott in Sosua. Which I recommend if you aren’t concerned about spending cash or want to impress someone. They have some sea kayaks and paddleboards as well as a private beach and they’ll give snorkel equipment. Throw some bread out and you’ll see beautiful fish in waist deep water.
Here you’ll have the best pasta and views of any place in town, they also have a helipad and it’s where the rich and famous go. When someone real famous is there they might not offer day passes.
Excursion Options
Fricolandia: This is the top option, it’s just under two hours drive from the heart of Sosua. If you drive like a Dominican though it might only be ninety minutes depending on traffic. You can go back and forth in a day without issues, it’s kind of set up to be a top Instagram type place. You can get some cool pictures here and enjoy the day.
Punta Rucia: This is a further drive, when I went I got an Airbnb for the night. It’s a little over two hours from Sosua but worth the trip. You take a speedboat through the mangroves, to this beautiful little island called Cayo Arena. Once you get to this little slice of paradise you can snorkel off the tiny island, or sip a cold presidente and enjoy the paradise.
If you want to stay the night the Punta Rucia lodge is nice but pricey. You can also search for a cheaper Airbnb. This is an off the beaten path experience that a lot of people never make it to, you can drive yourself or pay for a tour guide for a day trip.
Monkey Jungle: This is a combination, monkey experience and zipline. It’s 15 minutes from downtown Sosua and a fun little day. The zip lines aren’t going to blow your mind if you’ve done big ones before but they are okay. At the end there’s a cool descent you do where you step off a platform and go into a little cave. The monkeys and the zipline are separate, you can pay for both together and they will jump all over you and you can take some photos.
There’s no monkeys indigenous to the Dominican Republic however so these are from somewhere else. Monkey Jungle also provides charity medical services and education to the community, I haven’t verified that however.
The Caves of Cabarete: This is right down the road in the surf town of Cabarete and the whole experience is done in about an hour. The cost is only $20 so this is your cheapest excursion option. There’s options to jump in the water, or just explore the caves. There’s one natural pool there that they will tell you ages you backwards ten years if you jump in. Sorry to disappoint but it doesn’t work, otherwise they could probably charge a lot more than $20.
27 Waterfalls: There isn’t really 27, so I’ll start with that but it’s a fun day. You can drive yourself or take a taxi there. It’s a little over an hour from Sosua. You take a quick hike, they’ll tell you it’s only 10 Dominican Minutes which means it’s like a 20 minute walk at the beginning of the tour. They give you a life vest and helmets and you get to jump off little waterfalls and slide down them. You get wet so watershoes are the best option. It’s a little over an hour drive from Sosua and they have zip lines as well.
If you’re feeling like you need some more party options, check out the nightclub Ground Zero in front of POP Airport. It’s about 10-15 minutes from Sosua. Or if you want to hit the Sosua strip there’s always some action.
Day 4: Mundo King/ Boat Party/ Cabarete Night
By far the weirdest thing in Sosua, probably the country and maybe the world is Castle Mundo King. It was built by a German artist and has a lot of exotic Haitian and alien themed art. If you want some cool pictures this is a good place to go, although at no point will you understand what the hell is going on or what the deal is with this place.
The artist who built the castle lived in it with no electricity or running water until he died a few years ago. It costs either 300 or 400 pesos, so just a couple dollars to take a tour. If you want a guide it’s a little more but you don’t need one. Some people come here to do professional photoshoots. Check out their Instagram. The museum will take you less than an hour to walk through and you’ll be glad, albeit confused after.
Afternoon
It’s hard to beat popping a bottle of champagne on a boat. Which you can do when you rent a private boat. Grab a few friends and text Mario to rent a private boat that’ll hold up to maybe 12 people. You can take a cooler of drinks, or have them provide Presidente and Brugal. I think it’s best to go out like 1:30-6pm.
Cruise around Sosua Bay, hop in the water to snorkel the reef and enjoy the views and vibes. Reach out on Whatsapp at (849) 478-0254. This is your best boat option if you want to go the private route.
If you want a good snorkel option, Tip Top Catamaran is a staple in Sosua for tourists. They have some different options, I did it with my mom when she visited and had fun. They have an open bar BUT they don’t open the open bar until you’re already on the boat for a while. Lame.
Note: They’ll be a lot of people on it though, sometimes they make it too crowded. This is more a snorkel tour than a party boat, but there are beautiful fish.
There are some other party boats that you can sign up and go on as well. If you head down to the beach there will be lots of people selling party boat experiences. It’s not too pricey if you go on a public one. Look up Sosua Party Boats on Instagram.
Note: I’ve never done one of these so don’t have a specific recommendation of one over another.
Dinner Options Cabarete
Ojo Club Cabarete: Ojos is a solid dinner on the beach option. You can put your feet in the sand and have a good meal. They’ll also have events and dance nights. Sunset is a great time to go.
Cabarete Food Truck Park: This is a fun little food truck park if you want an outside meal and a fun experience. Take a seat at a picnic table, my recommendation is to try out Arepa World there.
Alis Restaurant: This is really a hidden gem that is more frequented by the locals. They have tremendous prices and the food is great, try the BBQ or the churrasco. The atmosphere is amazing and one of the dining areas as you can see pictured below is built out onto water. You can see some fish and birds, it’s a fun place to hang or if you’re looking for a romantic but cheap option.
Day 5: Puerto Plata Tour
Your first stop on your Puerto Plata day tour is the Christ the Redeemer statue. To get there you need to take the Telefrico Cable Car to the top of the mountain Isabel De Torres. There’s a park and some trails up top, it’s a fun spot to take some pictures and see the views.
Currently: The cable car is out of commission, so you have to take a car to the top. I’m sure it’ll get fixed soon and I’ll update the article. The cable car is kind of half the fun though.
After I’d recommend first hitting Fort San Felipe, one of the oldest structures in the Caribbean completed in 1577. I’m a veteran so always interested in the military history of places. The United States even occupied the Dominican Republic from 1916-1924. There is a complex, tension filled relationship between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as both nations share the island of Hispaniola.
The fort was built to defend the North Coast against the British, Dutch, and pirates. It’s also been used as a prison, at one time even holding Juan Pablo Duarte, considered a founding father of the Dominican Republic. It only costs 100 pesos, about two dollars to take a stroll around inside, learn some history, and snap some photos.
After the fort, head down town to Parque Independencia and stroll around downtown. You’ll want to see the Pink Street of Puerto Plata and they also have one of those umbrella streets.
There’s some ice cream stores and souvenir places downtown to check out and three museums right there to choose from. You have the Amber Museum, Museum of General Gregorio Luperon, and the Amber Mining Museum. None of these are really must visit places in my opinion. If you’re feeling thirsty you can stop by the House of Rum for a quick rum tour and tasting, the cruise ships take people there.
The other thing you have to mention in Puerto Plata is Ocean World Adventure Park. This is kind of a day in itself and great for kids. If you want to pay a ton of money for a picture kissing a dolphin this is the place to do it. The dolphin shows are pretty impressive, they do cool tricks and they have a sea lion show. There’s a tank here where you can snorkel a bit and a man made beach with inflatables.
They’ve got a bird enclosure and some other animals. I’d show up at a time where you can see the dolphin show, that’s the highlight. If you’ve got little ones they have a little inflatable water park and pools to jump in.
Note: I’d skip Amber Cove. It’s just a cruise ship port with overpriced goods.
Dinner:
Option 1: Casa 40 in downtown Puerto Plata, they often have some good music.
Option 2: Stop on the way back to Sosua to eat a mountain view dinner at La Catalina. This is also a fun, romantic, and popular place. It’s a little out of the way but worth the trip, they have a fantastic wine selection. They also have some things set up to take Instagram type photos. This is a place also worth driving to for a fancy dinner or date night from Sosua.
The Best of Sosua
Best Wings: The best wings in Sosua are at Fat Jesses on Pedro Clisante. This is a top spot to hang, also has an incredible staff, you’ll reliably get good service, smiles, and great food.
1 Bedroom Airbnb: Check out the Nipsey Hustle over at the Pyramid Plaza for a unique and fun stay, an apartment honoring the late musician
Top Dive Shop: Superior Dive is the best place to get certified in Sosua. You can do the full certification in 3-4 days and it’ll cost you just under 500 all in. It’s a family owned and operated shop that specializes in small group tours and certifications. Check them out on Instagram.
Best Villa Rental: You tell me. There are a lot of options and I’ve never stayed in one that blew me away.
Best Place For A Beer: There’s one tap room that has craft beer in Sosua and if you want something that’s not Presidente, I’d go here and give it a shot. They even have axe throwing and if you don’t know where it is you won’t find it.
Best Hookah Spot: The best Hookah AND Mojito are at the same place. So you can go ahead and get both and vibe out. The owner Kenneth is a great guy and it’s right next to Fat Jesse’s. Try the Blueberry and Mint Hookah combo.
Best Pizza TIE: Bonita Pizza at Playa Alicia – Get delivery at +1-809-881-5735 and Sliced. Sliced sells single slices and has a few unique pizzas like Oxtail.
Best Breakfast: I like Playa Alicia Grill house. They have an a la carte menu, it’s cheap and easy. Although they never have avocados and it’s annoying.
Top Mamajuana: Dominicans can get competitive when it comes to their Mamajuana and I’m here for it. After a few years of being here and trying lots of different ones I’d say my favorite is on Pedro Clisante in Merengue. Across the street from Brick City for reference. It’s usually empty there though, even though it’s a nice place.
Best Date Night Restaurant TIE: Margot is probably the nicest, sit down restaurant in town. They’ve also got good sushi and an inside air conditioned area. Waterfront is great if you’re looking for a dinner with a view, on Fridays they have live music with a saxophone player. The restaurant across the way from Waterfront, Stevens has better and cheaper food but not as good of atmosphere or view.
Note: Best Date Night Restaurant just outside Sosua is within the SeaHorse Ranch called The Beach Club.
30 Day Stays: If you’re interested in living in Sosua, I usually recommend veterans and people do a 30 day stay first. I wouldn’t stay in an Airbnb that long, you’ll get better deals elsewhere. Check out FB Groups for a good starting point like Cabarete-Sosua Real Estate for Sale/Rent and Rent Sosua.
Best Electrician: William Minier is the best English speaking electrician in town. You can use his services with confidence. I’m including this because he’s helped me out with some of my problems, like MY NEIGHBOR HOOKING THEIR APARTMENT UP TO MY METER. You have to watch out for stuff like that here.
Best Sandwiches and Smoothies: Slim Jesses has the best sandwiches and smoothies in town. I’ve never had a bad sandwich there. Get a protein smoothie to recover from the night before.
Top Dominican Spot: My favorite spot to pick up a lot of food for a little money is La Nortena on Pedro Clisante right before Hotel Europa. I’ll grab some dinner from there twice a week and have never had an issue.
Best Place For Exchanging Cash: Around Sosua you’ll have a lot of guys yelling “Change, Change” And I’m sure you’re aware you don’t get very good rates exchanging at the airport. The highest consistent rates for both Dollars and Euros that I’ve found is in Plaza Colonial next to Banco Popular. Walk in and go to the back past the massage places and you’ll see an iron gate where you can exchange your cash into DOP.
Wrap-up
I’ve had an apartment in Sosua now for a few years and enjoy living here. If you’re a military veteran check out my article on Veterans Living Abroad: Dominican Republic and also my Free Veterans Guide To Moving Abroad.
Sosua is a great little town with a lot to offer. Everything I could ever want is within easy walking distance including a gym, beaches, restaurants, and more. If living in the Dominican Republic isn’t your thing, I also have articles on my blog on vets abroad in Thailand, Costa Rica, Germany, Colombia, and more.
Lots of veterans live here in Sosua like Keith AKA Sergeant Sosua. He helps veterans with their benefits, check out his new Youtube Channel which provides a real and honest perspective on being a veteran abroad and Sosua life.
I’m able to focus on my writing, find creativity and most importantly peace. I volunteer with a youth boxing program here and even though Sosua is a crazy town, it feels like home. Every month I find new things on the North Shore and if you’re deciding between here and Punta Cana, up here is better.
If you’ve got anything I should add or recommendations for me let me know and I’ll update the article. I know this quick article only scratches the surface of everything the North shore has to offer and most of it’s just my personal opinion. Check out my articles Why I Left America and Why Single Veterans Should Move Abroad.
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok where I do some veterans living abroad content and try to live life to the fullest. Check out my latest book 365 Days of Veteran Affirmations.
