Historical La Isabela
Historical La Isabela
4
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
56 reviews
Excellent
21
Very good
22
Average
8
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Joseph G
Montreal, Canada5,214 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
The historical park and museum of La Isabela is located a little over 42 Km West of Puerto Plata. It has the ruins of the first settlement in the Americas established by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage of exploring the new world.
The place is in an enchanting location on the ocean. The ruins themselves are a bit disappointing as you just have the foundations of what were 200 houses and a number of buildings (Columbus’s residence, the church, the warehouse and a tower).
The museum on the site is more interesting and has a lot of information about Columbus and his 1500 “settlers” as well as the Tainos, the native population.
The admission price is 100 pesos per person and we took a guide (who is free and works for tips - so be generous).
At the time of our visit, the site is still a work in progress and the official inauguration of the whole site (historical park and museum, Taino village, restaurant, …) is August 2023.
The place is in an enchanting location on the ocean. The ruins themselves are a bit disappointing as you just have the foundations of what were 200 houses and a number of buildings (Columbus’s residence, the church, the warehouse and a tower).
The museum on the site is more interesting and has a lot of information about Columbus and his 1500 “settlers” as well as the Tainos, the native population.
The admission price is 100 pesos per person and we took a guide (who is free and works for tips - so be generous).
At the time of our visit, the site is still a work in progress and the official inauguration of the whole site (historical park and museum, Taino village, restaurant, …) is August 2023.
Written February 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MitchellWarden
Orlando, FL11 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
La Isabela is located about 2 hrs driving from Puerto Plata and its a historical site where Christopher Columbus made his second voyage to the NEW WORLD. It's the site of the first city in the new world, they have a museum, beach, and of course the site of the historical village. They have the home (ruins) of Christopher Columbus and others. My 11 year old son enjoyed the 250 skeleton they have. Couple of tips: #1. It's a little far (out of the way) so be prepared to drive. #2. The entry cost is 100 pesos ($2) for adults (and kids free). Enjoy your trip!
Written July 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pauline560793
Sosua, Dominican Republic28 contributions
Jan 2015 • Friends
I have visited this tranquil site a number of times. It is an ideal place to visit for the discerning traveller who does not think of the Dominican Republic as a Caribbean island with nothing more than beaches and palm trees. It presents the history of the origins of the colonisation of the island pictorially and experientially. There are beautiful beaches nearby with crystal clear, shallow water where you can relax and enjoy refreshments after your taste of culture. The rural route to get there is scenic and gives an impression of care for the environment and greater prosperity than many areas of the island.
Written February 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
deb_c
canada356 contributions
Feb 2014 • Family
This is very interesting. There is a really neat beach. You can walk out for a long ways. The water is very warm. Anyone collecting shells this is the ideal place. From there you go to the museum at la Isabella. This is a guided tour which has a lot of history. Is very interesting. It is where Columbus first settled when he landed in the Dom Rep. There are still the foundations of his house and other buildings. It is a day that is very interesting and well spent. You can get a taxi to take you or if you are brave enough rent a car it is a ways out but worth the drive through the small farming villages and the luscious countryside.
Written December 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
steven v
Mirabel, Canada837 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
lots of History to see in Puerto plata! under renovation but you can see it once all work is done amazing to see !
Written August 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George S
Claremont, CA74 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
This is one of America's first. The place is sadly lonely and not visited as it should. I had a very well educated guide who made this visited a very enjoyable occasion. I spend about 5 hours in the place but for most people this can be done in about 2 hours.
I highly recommend this place as a major historic destination in the Caribbean.
I highly recommend this place as a major historic destination in the Caribbean.
Written July 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CindyWorld
Chatham, Canada148 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
It's a 100pesos pp to get inside. We've been here for two times and it was always quiet, just us. We had a tour guide that speaks English. It's mostly ruins and a lot of history. Stunning view.
Written February 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lanny W
Calgary, Canada10 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
This was a great place to visit if you like your history. La Isabela is the original place where Christopher Columbus stayed when he first settled. Lots of history to see and they have lots of the old items they found in a museum part of the site.
The rest of the site is pretty interesting as well. None of the original buildings are standing anymore as they were all torn down by accident a while ago but they have the bases of all the houses still there and outlined so you can see how big they were and what they had in them. You can step into the area that was Christopher Columbus' house. There is also a graveyard and a burial plot that you can see how they buried their dead.
The location also has lots of old trees. Some of them are fruit trees but it also has these special trees called "Ironwood trees" which is the strongest wood in the world. You can take a picture by the oldest one.
The rest of the site is pretty interesting as well. None of the original buildings are standing anymore as they were all torn down by accident a while ago but they have the bases of all the houses still there and outlined so you can see how big they were and what they had in them. You can step into the area that was Christopher Columbus' house. There is also a graveyard and a burial plot that you can see how they buried their dead.
The location also has lots of old trees. Some of them are fruit trees but it also has these special trees called "Ironwood trees" which is the strongest wood in the world. You can take a picture by the oldest one.
Written October 9, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo Terry S
Tucson, AZ26 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
Unfortunately I do not read Spanish. I sure I would have had a better time if the museum supplied information in other languages.
Written April 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Periquito P
5 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
It is a shame, the place does not have all the attention it deserves. A n historical place like must have it.
Written October 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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