Discovering Paradise
Discovering Paradise
Home to one of the world's finest collections of Dominican amber, including pieces with prehistoric insects
Type
Museum
Location
Central Puerto Plata
Entrance Fee
RD$250 (~$4 USD)
Hours
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Monday-Saturday
Duration
1-1.5 hours
Best Time
Any time — it's an indoor attraction
Difficulty
Easy
Guided Tours
Available
Accessibility
Multiple floors, stairs only — limited accessibility
The Museo del Ámbar Dominicano (Dominican Amber Museum) in Puerto Plata houses one of the world's most impressive collections of amber — fossilized tree resin dating back 15 to 40 million years. Dominican amber is prized worldwide for its exceptional clarity and the stunning variety of prehistoric life preserved within it.
The museum gained international fame when Dominican amber containing a prehistoric mosquito was featured in the movie Jurassic Park. While extracting dinosaur DNA remains science fiction, the real specimens on display are equally fascinating — perfectly preserved insects, plants, and even small lizards trapped in golden resin millions of years ago.
The museum displays a genuine Dominican amber specimen containing a prehistoric mosquito similar to what inspired the Jurassic Park concept. Dominican amber really does preserve insects from millions of years ago.
Yes, Dominican amber is highly prized, especially the rare blue amber which is found almost exclusively in the Dominican Republic. It's one of the most sought-after amber varieties in the world.