Amber Museum
Rare Dominican amber with fossils some 15 to 20 million years old
Overview
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 roughly 15 to 20 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.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Jurassic Park amber real?
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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.
Is Dominican amber valuable?
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Yes, Dominican amber is highly prized, especially the rare blue amber, whose best known and strongest-fluorescing source is the Dominican Republic, with smaller amounts from Mexico, Myanmar and Indonesia. It's one of the most sought-after amber varieties in the world.
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