{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/dominican-republic/puerto-plata","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:06:55.768Z","place":{"city":"Puerto Plata","country":"Dominican Republic","countryCode":"DO","lat":19.79344,"lon":-70.6884},"safety":{"score":61,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":58,"confidence":0.89,"caps":[],"databaseScore":62,"travellerSentiment":{"score":59,"label":"Mixed","summary":"While some reports highlight Puerto Plata as a safe destination, broader concerns about crime in the Dominican Republic, including incidents affecting tourists, suggest a mixed sentiment among travelers regarding day-to-day safety.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":45,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":56,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":59,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":71,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":61,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-04-02T12:42:38Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/dominican-republic"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/dominican-republic"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":10.9166976980638,"display":"10.9 / 100k","year":"2023","score":43,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":7.3,"display":"7.3%","year":"2016","score":80,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":27.4,"display":"27.4 / 100k","year":"2021","score":28,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":75.9612671,"display":"76/100","year":"2024","score":76,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":53.8278428,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":42.4808681,"display":"42/100","year":"2024","score":42,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":52.7919493,"display":"53/100","year":"2024","score":53,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":58.132649,"display":"58/100","year":"2024","score":58,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":60.3698685,"display":"60/100","year":"2024","score":60,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":146000,"display":"146k residents","year":null,"score":85,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":39.57,"display":"39.6%","year":"2022","score":34,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":10.06,"display":"10.1%","year":"2019","score":58,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2025","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":40.3,"display":"40.3%","year":"2022","score":27,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":61,"display":"US AQI 61 · Moderate","year":null,"score":85,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":7.469598496,"display":"7 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":30,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":33,"display":"July: highs ~33°C · no weather extremes","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 1 quake ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":45,"display":"45 / 100 (Mixed)","year":null,"score":45,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Puerto Plata is moderately safe for travelers, requiring increased vigilance due to crime risks.","summary":"While Puerto Plata has been recognized as a relatively safe destination within the Dominican Republic, the country as a whole faces challenges with crime, particularly violent crime. Travelers should exercise increased caution, especially in tourist areas and at night, and be aware of potential scams.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Violent crime, including robbery, is a concern in the Dominican Republic, with increased police presence in tourist areas not always deterring incidents."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching can occur in crowded tourist areas and markets."},"safeAreas":["Playa Dorada","Costambar"],"avoidAreas":[],"scams":["Overcharging for taxis or services, especially at airports and popular tourist spots.","Distraction thefts where an accomplice creates a diversion while another steals belongings."],"zones":[{"name":"Playa Dorada","level":"safe","note":"Resort area with high tourist presence and security."},{"name":"Costambar","level":"safe","note":"Gated community known for its tranquility and security."},{"name":"Puerto Plata City Center","level":"caution","note":"General urban area; exercise caution, especially after dark, and be aware of surroundings."},{"name":"Maimón","level":"caution","note":"Suburban area, generally safe but advise standard precautions."},{"name":"Altamira","level":"caution","note":"Rural area; exercise caution and be aware of local conditions."},{"name":"Sosúa","level":"caution","note":"Known for nightlife; exercise increased vigilance, especially at night, and be aware of petty crime."},{"name":"Cabarete","level":"caution","note":"Popular for watersports; generally safe, but be mindful of petty theft and scams, particularly in tourist-heavy areas."}]}}