Sosua

28 kilometres east of Puerto Plata is Sosúa, a little town that has a beautiful and lively one kilometre beach, perfect for diving and watersports. There is a smaller public beach on the east side of town, referred to as the ‘playita’, where you will be less bothered by vendors. It is located by Hotel Sosúa-by-the-Sea.

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Sosúa is popular with Europeans, Americans and Canadians and is becoming increasingly busy and scruffy. The main street (correctly named Calle Pedro Clisante, but only ever referred to as Main Street, or Calle Principal in Spanish) is lined with all variety of shops, restaurants and bars. The unusual European atmosphere stems from the fact that the El Batey side of town (the side that houses most of the hotels and restaurants) was founded by German Jewish refugees who settled here in 1941. A synagogue and memorial building are open to the public. Although many of the original settlers have moved away, services are still held, and in 1991 a 50th anniversary party brought settlers and their relatives from all over the world for a reunion. The original houses are now lost among the modern developments. The western end of the town is referred to as Los Charamicos (the two ends are separated by the beach); this is the older side of town, where the Dominicans themselves generally live, shop and party. Pavements have been built alongside the roads to allow easier pedestrian access to the two parts.

Sosúa, although crowded with tourist spots, is a small town. Little or no attention is paid to street names or numbers. The quiet road between El Batey and Playa Chiquita should be treated with caution at night. Dress is very informal. Although it is considered impolite to wander the streets in bathing attire, dress for dinner at any location is comfortable and Caribbean.

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