'''Sosua''' is located in the Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic. German Jews settle this little pueblo in the early 1940s. Many streets are named for Ashkenazic Jews.

Get in

Most visitors will fly in to Puerto Plata airport. Upon arrival at the airport you will be greeted by a small band playing colorful music as you make your way to customs/immigration, indications of the fun to come! At your first stop in the airport, you will pay an entrance fee of $15US, where you will purchase a tourist card at one window. At the next window the card will be taken from you. Don't worry, be happy! After your tourist card purchase you will pass through immigration where your passport will be stamped. Check the date on the stamp please. It is not always accurate. Don't argue, just keep going.

After baggage claim you will be awash in a sea of humanity. Vendors, money changers, taxi drivers. All things at the airport are much more expensive than in town. Don't spend money here; mind your surroundings, note the unique experience and make your way to your driver or hire your taxi for the final chapter in the arrival book.

Puerto Plata International Airport is actually much closer to Sosua than it is to Puerto Plata, at about 7 Km away. The taxi fare from the airport is fixed at $25US per car with little to no room for negotiation when coming from the airport. Some drivers will ask for $20US per person. Walk away from them and look for an honest driver.

Caribe Tours busses get to you Sosua from Santo Domingo in about 5 hours. It stops along the way in all the major cities and towns (about 5 Stops). Buses are comfortable, modern, air conditioned with Movies and Restroom. Cost is about RD$280 pesos (as of January, 2008) for a one way ticket. Sosua is a last stop on the Santo Domingo - Sosua route. The Caribe Tours bus station is along the main highway just at the entrance to the Charamicos section of town. Buses currently (1/08) leave every hour on the :20's, beginning at 5:20 am.

Get around

The town is relatively small and walkable. You can also get around using the ''motoconcho'', where you are basically hitching a ride on the back of someone's motorcycle. The price within the El Batey area of Sosua is 20 pesos during the day and 40 pesos at night, though you will certainly be quoted more if you ask them firsthand. Simply tell the driver where you want to go, hop on, and hand the driver the exact fare when you arrive at your destination and walk away. The motoconcho drivers are everywhere and will actively solicit you for a ride. Do not hop a concho while you are inebriated.

The cheapest way to move between Sosua and the surrounding cities and towns of Puerto Plata, Cabarete and Rio San Juan, as well as the tourist resorts in between, is by ''guagua'' (Caribbean Spanish slang for bus), which are small mini-vans operating on the main highway between Puerto Plata and Rio San Juan. At peak hours they pass every five or ten minutes. Short distances (i.e., Sosua to Cabarete) should cost no more than twenty pesos to Cabarete, to 30 pesos to Puerto Plata. They will pack in up to twenty-five people per mini-van (this is not an exaggeration!), with passengers almost in each other's laps. Watch your wallet! You may even have someone's cage of roosters deposited on you lap. Then the merengue starts up on the radio and half the passengers pitch in, singing from memory.

Tourist taxis are plentiful but expensive when compared to the other modes of transportation in Sosua. As of March 2009, tourist taxi from Caribe Tours bus station to El Batey run 150 pesos. A taxi from Sosua to Puerto Plata airport will charge $25US for the car. Many taxi drivers will attempt quote $25US per person, so be aware. If you can afford a couple dollars more go ahead and pay it. The taxi ride from the airport to almost any point in Sosua is less than 10 minutes. You will pay about $15US from Sosua to Cabarete but this is a complete ripoff when the guagua runs through town and charges 20 pesos (about 0.60 US at the time of this writing) per person.

  • <listing name="Taxi Sosua & Cabarete" alt="" directions="" address="" phone="" email="taxisosua@taxisosuacabarete.com" fax="" url="http://www.taxisosuacabarete.com/" hours="" price="">Located in the center of town with prices clearly listed on signs outside.</listing>
  • Car rentals may be had locally and if you prefer to deal with the international chains simply stop by the Puerto Plata airport. An economy car may be rented for $30 per day. Check with your credit card company first to see what coverage they provide because this price is not inclusive of insurance. Local insurance is expensive so most simply rely on the coverage provided by their credit card.

    You may also simply take gua gua's are the carro publico's along the main road which are affordable and overcrowded. For instance a taxi between Sosua and Cabarete from the official stop will cost upwards of $20 while a gua gua will cost about $1.50. Similarly you can get to the airport for $30 from a taxi at one of the stops which has set fares or take the carro publico for less than $2.

    Propinas

    Before you venture out on your own, or even with a group of people, be aware of men or boys who are looking to help you find what you need. While walking you will be approached with offers of help with changing your money, finding a restaurant or finding a nice bar or gift shop. On the beach you will be offered assistance with getting a lounge chair or having a drink or food from one of the many beach stalls fetched for you.

    In the vast majority of cases these folks are harmless and can be a wealth of information. If you decide to use their services you will be charged a small fee above the asking rate for any item you purchase, eat or drink, and that fee will be passed to your helper after services are rendered. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Sosuans are accomplished capitalists and they also are a lot less well off than you! If you already know exactly what you want and a "tag-along" Sosuan is starting a conversation with you while you are walking along, be firm in telling him that you need no help! If you are first timer offer the propina man a small fee up front for an hour or for the day and he will become a wealth of information for you.

    Do NOT, under any circumstances, use a propina man for money changing. Money changing operations are well signed and easy to find.

    See

    '''Playa Sosua''' is the town's main beach. It is a fun, colorful and lively beach which is approximately one kilometer long, with a row of shacks along the back, selling food, drinks and souvenirs. At one end of the beach is the El Batey neighborhood, which was founded by a community of about 600 Jews exiled here from Eastern Europe during WWII. It contains the small synogogue, still occasionally used by Jews from the surrounding communities, as well as a small museum documenting the history of the Jewish community in Sosua, both set in a tidy tropical green lawn adjacent to Casa Marina Resort. The synogogue has services on Friday evenings about once per month - check with the museum whether there are services the week you are there. Batey no longer has an active Jewish community and is currently the tourist section of town, containing several all-inclusive resorts, as well as a number of smaller hotels and guest houses.

    At the other end of the beach is Los Charamicos, which is the local's neighborhood and somewhat more run-down and lively than Batey. For an authentic cockfighting experience go to Club Gallistico, in Charamicos. It is along one of the main streets but you will have to ask for directions. Cockfights are on Saturday afternoons and sometimes on other days of the week. It is best not to venture alone into the alleyways of Charamicos as they are unsafe. The main streets should be OK.

    The beach is very popular and offers the best local option for the snorkeling enthusiast - snorkelers should swim out to the reef that lies about 100m from the shore. A beach chair rental should cost about RD$60. Refuse to pay any more. Equipment can also be rented there. There are lots of gift shops where you will be quoted absolutely laughable prices. (60 dollars for T-shirts, 50 dollar tote bags 150-200 dollars for some cheap Haitian paintings.) Your bargaining skills will be needed. Tip: whatever they ask you, cut it at least in half, e.g., RD$500 pesos, you tell them RD$250.00 and start the process. You can probably even start at way below RD$250. You will come out ahead this way. My experience is that the target price for which the kiosk will ultimately settle is about half or slightly below half of the original asking price, but sometimes somewhat below that.

    There are two other beaches in town. '''Playa Alicia''' is accessible from the On the Waterfront restaurant. This beach is quieter and more sterile than Playa Sosua, and is thus a good option for those who want to trade a bit of local color for a more relaxed experience. The town's third and smallest beach is accessible from the Sosua by the Sea hotel.

    Do

    As in the other towns on the North Coast, tour operators offer numerous excursions to surrounding sites and nearby adventure activities at reasonable prices. These include whale watching (December to March), jeep tours, waterfalls and swimming holes, deep sea fishing, whitewater rafting, snorkeling, mountain biking, horseback riding, interesting beaches, as well as tours of Puerta Plata, Santiago, Santo Domingo and the border area of Haiti. Check with a tour operator near your hotel for available excursions. It is interesting that the range of tour options and the trips themselves are almost identical among the various tour operators.

  • Merlin Dive Center. t the entrace to Playa Sosua. ttp://divecenter-merlin.com/. Offers all of the standard diving fare, including snorkeling, beginner dives, advanced dives, etc. They are a highly professional outfit who will take you for pleasure dives or you can get qualified with them for a very reasonable price compared to the UK.

    Buy

    Most of the souvenir shops sell the same ubiquitous Latin American fare. Sosua also has a large number of Haitian paintings for sale. Many of these oil paintings are the same in each shop. Occasionally some good quality artwork can be found.

    Cigars of course are popular but prices vary. '''Never''' buy cigars at souvenir stores or stands on the beach or the beach vendors. These are always fakes! Cuban cigars may be purchased but beware that many of the Cuban name brands also have Dominican manufacture, though the quality is said to rival that of Cuban ones.

    Authentic leather goods are not available in any tourist oriented shop or beach shack in Sosua. Imitation leather is the rule of the day. Authentic leather goods are better found in Santo Domingo.

    If you head away from the beach to the main road there is a large supermarket where the prices are a lot cheaper.

    Eat

    Sosua has a large number of restaurants and you can find authentic German Food, Italian Food, English fare, and of course, if you look for it, traditional Dominican cooking. Many Dominicans can cook food rivaling NYC restaurants on not much more than a hot plate and an open flame. Service time varies in between restaurants and in between different nights. Often the same restaurant will be very slow one night (coincidentally when the boss in not around) and excellent the next.

  • Brittania Pub. Take heed of the specials which tend to be excellent.

  • El Choco. German food located just outside of town on the main road.

  • El Toro. A German run establishment on the far end of Pedro Clisante offering (arguably) the best steak in town.

  • Josef's Bar and Grill. ocated behind the Sosua-by-the-Sea Hotel. h-Sa, 7PM until late. 15 - $40 per person. Located amidst perhaps the most impressive setting of any of Sosua's restaurants, this establishment has four tables set on a spit of land with waves crashing literally feet away. The food is prepared creatively with excellent presentation and an interesting mix of flavors. Note that there is a hotel restaurant located adjacent to this one, so be sure to make it clear that you want to eat at Josef's, otherwise the menu and vista will be significantly less impressive. One helpful tip: while the setting is romantic and inspiring, on nights when the sea is rough consider avoiding the last table located closest to the water.

  • Morai Maui. ight across from P.J.'s. Great for breakfast.

  • On the Waterfront. 20 - $45 per person. An upscale restaurant which has excellent food on a cliff overlooking the bay. The open-air setting is ideal for watching sunsets or romantic evenings. Happy hour is from 5-7PM.

  • P.J.'s. Sosua's version of a diner, large menu with adequate food, but nothing to rave about. 24 hour service is available during the high season.

  • Pico Pollo. The barbecue chicken at lunch is not to be missed and is quite affordable.

  • Rocky's. Provides a kind of hostel atmosphere with good food and very affordable prices, if you are unfamiliar with Sosua this is a good place to start. Try the ribs at Rocky's, served beginning at 5:00pm, and be patient. Enjoy a beer or two and strike up a conversation with a fellow tourist or expatriate while you wait. Rocky's breakfasts are large and satisfying, and every table is appointed with a fresh pot of coffee for you to enjoy. Wifi is available and computers are situated in the restaurant for you to check your email or surf the internet for a very small fee.

  • Tick Tack. Most restaurants open at 8AM, but for those looking for food at an earlier hour this German-run internet cafe has good coffee and an affordable plate of scrambled eggs.
  • Casonova's. Delightful beach front restaurant with varied menu, excellent service and free wireless internet access.

    Drink

    Presidentes both grande and pequena once virtually the sole choice besides rum drinks (due to the policy of the beer company providing refrigerators on loan) are now being challenged by Brahma another local beer as well as Quilmes (an Argentinine beer). Several of the bars now stock European and American beers at a premium price. Brugal the local rum will be placed in your rum drinks unless you have the savy to ask for the Barcelo (another local rum which is of far superior quality.) Mixed drinks tend to be rum based and cost more than beer but "when in Rome." Many of the restaurants and bars have a happy hour from 4-7PM which is often 2-1 drinks.

    On the beach, there is an endless array of restaurants (along with the souvenir shops stuffed with the same goods)which serve drinks and each small swath of beach has a different person who provides concierge service for a modest fee ($0.30 USD per drink). As one leaves the beach there are a number of expatriate bars and restaurants clustered towards the end of Pedro Clisante closest to the beach. The Checkpoint Pub is popular during the Day. The Brittania restaurant has an excellent Happy Hour and Rudy's has a weekly Karaoke night. There is a substantive international community who frequents these establishments which lends a cosmopolitan feel to this end of Town. As one heads away from this expatriate area, Pedro Clisante is dominated by discos and bar which are companionship friendly. This end of town rather than being reminiscent of San Sebastian in Spain harkens to the nightlife of Manila. The Club Classico is the fountainhead of Sosua nightlife with the burgeoning Sosua Life just a few blocks away. Sosua is a friendly Town, prices and ambiance vary greatly within the Town.

  • Casonova's. Excellent food and beautiful setting as a beach front restuarant. Service is excellent and with free wirelss interent access.

    Sleep

    For additional nearby options see Cabarete and Puerto Plata. Budget hotels will cost around $35 per night, while the all-inclusive resorts can range in price up to several hundred dollars per night.

    Budget

  • Perla de Sosua - Economy Apartments. alle al lado del Banco Popular. ocated behind the Bank-Enter via small street between Banco Popular and Orange Cell Phone shop. -829-677-1497 (Cell) 809-571-2876 (Landline). ttp://www.perladesosua.com. PM. 1AM. 30 USD per night and up. American-owned, secure and clean, enclosed economy vacation rental apartment complex. On a private cul-de-sac, five minutes walk from the main Sosua Bay beach and a block from central Sosua. Studios, 1 Bedroom and 2 Bedrooms Apartments. Some with full sized kitchens, most with air conditioned bedrooms. Pool, community terrace, bar, internet access, maid services, secluded locale.

  • Rocky's. otel rooms are $25 per night and condominiums are $45 per night.. A great place for those who don't want to spend a lot but want comfort and good security. Both hotel rooms and condos have A/C, but the condos are the best. They're like a small apartment replete with stove/oven, full size refrigerator, cable TV and WiFi. His Hotel has WiFi also.

    Mid-range

  • New Garden. ormerly Garden Keti. 45-$60. Among the best of the smaller and more inexpensive hotels.

  • Casa Cayena. 60-$80, depending on the season. Quiet

    Splurge

  • Casa Marina Beach Resort. 09 571-3535. nfocmreef@amhsamarina.com. 09 571-3104. ttp://amhsamarina.com/. The biggest and best all-inclusive in town, located next to Playa Alicia. If you search online you can sometimes find deep-discount packages as cheap as $500 to $1,000 for a full week.

  • Piergiorgio Palace Hotel. 09-571-2626. iergiorgio@codetel.net.do. 09-571-2786. ttp://www.piergiorgiopalace.com/. 95-$125 for standard rooms, suites $250+. This large, colonial-style hotel is located on a cliff above the water, and offers a massive and impressive lobby, clean and functional rooms, and plenty of secluded cliffside grottos for romantic moments or quiet contemplation. There is a bar and restaurant onsite with friendly and attentive staff, and while the food isn't bad it is pricier than comparable meals in town. A large breakfast buffet is included in the room rate.

  • Sosua Bay. 09 571-4000. nfo@sosuabayresort.com. 09 571-4545. ttp://www.sosuabayresort.com/. Located next to Playa Sosua, this all-inclusive resort offers two lodging options: the more modern Sosua Bay Hotel, and the more colonial Victorian House.

  • Sosua-by-the-Sea. The most inexpensive all-inclusive, with walk-in prices for under $100 per night in the off season.

    Stay safe

    Be prepared for the heat. The Dominican Republic is sub-tropical and warm all year. Expect a little sweat on your brow.

    Prostitution is common in Sosua, so single men and men in groups should expect to be accosted by women offering "massages" and men offering girls. In general these individuals will not be overly aggressive, so if you keep walking and simply say "no thank you" there shouldn't be any problems. In bars, men will have lots of women vying for their attention - keep in mind that they are not smiling at you and grabbing at you because they are suddenly in love with you. For those looking for this sort of activity, you are probably already aware of the many risks and precautions that are necessary, but it is worth noting that AIDS is a specific concern with many of the local working girls.

    Get out

    The nearest towns are Puerto Plata to the west and Cabarete to the east. Further eastward it is possible to see Dominican Republic without the expatriate crowd. Note that as you leave the civilization of Puerto Plata, Sosua and Cabarete European style restaurants and supermarkets become rare as to other first world conveniences such as the internet cafes which abound on every third corner in Sosua.

    If you are looking for a less trammeled vacation experience, drive out to Samana (4 hours) or consider staying in Las Canas (www.playalascanas.com) which is just 35 minutes to the East but feels like it is a million miles from civilization. Private villa rentals are available with a beach that you can walk on for hours without seeing anybody.

  • '''Cabarete''' - Located ten minutes to the east, this town offers a massive number of resorts and some of the best kite surfing and wind surfing in the Caribbean.
  • '''Puerto Plata''' - Located fifteen minutes to the west, this town is the area's largest.