by Trent Lorcher

Created on: July 25, 2008   Last Updated: July 31, 2008

Located on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, Sosua features breathtaking views, white sand beaches, rock formations, and luxurious resorts.

Once a small fishing village, Sosua now serves a greater function: it gives me a cool place to go on vacation that will impress my friends and family.

Its reasonable cost and proximity to Puerto Plata and Cabarete make it a centrally located travel destination for tropical lovers.

LOCAL HISTORY/CULTURE

Originally settled by European Jews during World War II who set up a dairy community, Sosua inhabitants now include ex-patriot communities of Germans, Austrians, Canadians, and Americans. The Jewish settlers have moved on, but don't worry; there's still plenty of milk. The dairy is now owned by a Mexican multinational.

Native Dominican vendors operate numerous shops along Playa Sosua and will be more than happy to pretend they understand your 5th grade Spanish as long as you buy something. If you buy something expensive they might wait for you to be out of earshot before they ridicule you.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS and ACTIVITIES

Located halfway between Puerto Plata and Cabarete, must see beaches, outdoor activities, and tourist traps abound.

Playa Sosua

The calm waters of Playa Sosua appeal to swimmers, snorkelers, divers, and people who like to hang out at the beach all day and check out Dominican hotties.

Rental equipment, available right on the beach at a reasonable price, provides ample opportunity for water sports enthusiasts to embarrass themselves in front of bikini clad onlookers and overweight tourists covered in sunblock.

An easy swim to the reef will impress nobody at the beach, but will become increasingly treacherous as you present vacation photos to people who have never been there and resent the fact that you have.

Beach Market

Looking for authentic, overpriced souvenirs, expensive booze, and imitation cigars? Look along Sosua's main stretch of beaches.

The Beach Market embodies all the qualities that make tourists traps so tempting and cause our friends to ridicule us when we get back to the hotel with an overpriced phallic shaped bottle opener or an authentic Dutch wooden shoe made in China.

Keep in mind that haggling-or as snobby tourist like to call it, negotiating-is expected, so items are priced three to four times higher than you should pay.

Although most goods are shoddily made and overpriced, some of the local arts and crafts make excellent gifts for those back home who are secretly grinding their envious teeth

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