Shore Excursion: V.I.P. DayPass: ATV, Zip Lines, Horseback Riding & Lunch

The most unusual part of this Puerto Plata shore excursion is the final zip line: you finish by dropping into a swimming pool. Before that wet finale, you’ll tackle an off-road ATV ride, eight steel-cable zip lines, horseback riding, and a home-cooked Dominican meal at Country World Adventure Park.

I like the mix of high-energy and slower activities, since you are not spending the whole day on one ride. I also like the practical setup: safety gear, instruction, bottled water, lunch, and transfers are included. The main drawback is the pace. Five and a half hours is a lot of activity, and the tour calls for moderate fitness. The ATV is also limited to drivers age 18 and older with a valid license or permit.

Key points to know before you book

• The ninth zip line ends in a pool, so bring a change of clothes and expect to get wet.
• ATV drivers must be at least 18 and have a valid driver’s license or permit. Younger participants may ride as passengers.
• Eight ACCT-certified zip lines use more than 8,000 feet of double galvanized steel cable, with no active hand braking.
• A Dominican lunch is included, with rice, beans, chicken, fried sweet potatoes, yucca, vegetables, fruit, and drinks.
• Pickup begins 45 minutes after your ship arrives, with the park about 10 minutes from Amber Cove and 20 minutes from Taino Bay.
• The group is capped at 25 people, and the listed price is $159.99 per person.

A shore day built around four different activities

This is a busy adventure day rather than a relaxed sightseeing trip. You are paying for a bundle of activities at one park, plus transportation and a full meal, so the value depends on how much use you will make of each part.

At Country World Adventure Park, the day includes four main elements: ATV riding, zip lining, horseback riding, and lunch. The activities appeal to different moods. The ATV gives you a rougher ride through the Dominican countryside. The zip lines supply the biggest burst of adrenaline. Horseback riding slows the tempo, and lunch gives you a proper break.

I like this format for a cruise port because it avoids spending much of your limited time moving between separate attractions. You meet at the Country House Bar, receive information about the day, and then work through the activities at the park. The maximum group size of 25 keeps this from being an enormous excursion, though the experience can still feel active and structured.

The tour lasts about five hours and 30 minutes. That is long enough to make the $159.99 price more reasonable than a short single-activity outing, but you should not book it if you want a quiet beach day or a flexible afternoon.

Getting from Amber Cove or Taino Bay to the park

Pickup takes place 45 minutes after your ship arrives. That timing matters. You need to allow time to leave the ship and reach the meeting point, but you should also keep an eye on the exact pickup instructions supplied with your reservation.

Country World Adventure Park is in Maimón, about 10 minutes from Amber Cove and 20 minutes from Taino Bay. Those short transfer times are a real advantage on a port day. You spend less of your shore time in a vehicle and more of it at the park.

The excursion offers pickup and a mobile ticket, so you do not need to handle a paper voucher. After arriving, you meet at the Country House Bar, where the day’s activities are explained. That opening briefing is useful because you need to understand the order of events, safety rules, and what equipment you will use.

The park is near public transportation, but the included transfer is the simpler choice for a cruise passenger. It reduces the risk of negotiating a separate ride back to the ship. Still, keep your ship’s all-aboard time in mind and follow the pickup plan carefully.

Taking an ATV through the Dominican countryside

The ATV ride is the most direct way to see the rural setting around the park. Instead of staying on a paved road or watching the countryside through a vehicle window, you drive off-road and get closer to the trees, paths, and everyday surroundings of the Dominican countryside.

You receive safety equipment and instruction before riding. The minimum age to drive is 18, and you need a valid driver’s license or permit. If you are under 18, you may ride as a passenger, but you cannot operate the ATV yourself.

That rule makes this activity a better fit for adults and families with older children who are comfortable riding behind someone else. If your group includes several younger participants, check the seating arrangement before booking so everyone knows who will drive and who will ride along.

You do not need to have driven an ATV before, based on the supplied tour details, but you should be ready for a physical ride on uneven ground. The excursion calls for a moderate level of fitness. I would wear clothes and shoes that can handle dust, mud, and outdoor activity, although the exact riding conditions can vary with the weather.

One useful detail comes from the experience itself: a participant began driving but decided to let Cuba take over the ride once the route started. That tells you something practical. You can try the ATV, but you should not feel pressured to continue driving if the terrain or handling makes you uncomfortable. Ask for help and choose the passenger option if it suits you better.

Eight zip lines, then the pool plunge

The zip line section is more structured than a simple short ride. You use eight ACCT-certified lines, with more than 8,000 feet of double galvanized steel cable in total. No previous experience is required.

The equipment handles the braking, so you are not expected to stop yourself by dragging a glove along the cable. That makes the activity less technical for first-time participants. You still need to listen closely to the instructions and follow the staff’s directions at each platform.

The eighth line is not the end. A ninth line, called Pool-Zip N’ Splash, sends you directly into a swimming pool. This is the feature that gives the day its clearest sense of occasion. It also changes what you should pack. A swimsuit or quick-drying clothes make more sense than an outfit you need to wear dry for dinner aboard ship.

Safety equipment is included, but bandanas and goggles are not. If you are sensitive to dust, wind, or flying water, bring your own suitable eye protection and a way to cover your face. Lockers are also not included, so avoid bringing valuables or ask about storage when you arrive.

The zip lines offer the strongest thrill on the itinerary, while the automatic braking keeps the focus on the ride and the views rather than on learning a braking technique. If you want a zip line course with a playful finish, this is the part most likely to decide the booking for you.

Horseback riding for a change of pace

Horseback riding gives the schedule a useful pause after the louder, more physical ATV and zip line activities. You ride through the park area and surrounding countryside, with horses matched to riding ability and experience.

Beginners and children receive basic riding instruction. That point matters because a horseback outing can feel very different for a first-time rider than for someone who has spent time in a saddle. The tour says horses are selected according to skill level, so you can expect the activity to be adjusted to the group’s experience.

Do not treat horseback riding as a passive photo stop. You still need enough balance and comfort to sit on a horse and follow basic directions. If you have mobility concerns or are unsure about riding, ask the provider before booking rather than assuming the activity will be easy.

I like the way this section rounds out the day. The ATV and zip lines are about speed and motion. Horseback riding lets you pay more attention to the countryside and the slower rhythm of the park. It may be the least intense part of the excursion, but that makes it valuable in a full activity schedule.

A home-cooked Dominican lunch

Lunch is more than a snack between rides. The included meal features rice, beans, chicken, fried sweet potatoes, yucca, vegetables, fruit, and other food, with a vegetarian-friendly option available.

This is one of the better value points in the package. You do not need to leave the park to find food, and the meal gives you a chance to try familiar Dominican staples in one sitting. Bottled water is included, and alcoholic rum and Coke are provided after the activities.

Soda is not included, so plan on paying separately if you want one. The lunch is described as home-cooked rather than as a restaurant-style menu with a long list of choices. That usually suits a group excursion: you get a filling meal without using extra port time deciding where to eat.

The food also helps balance the price. A $159.99 shore excursion can feel steep if it only includes one short activity. Here, the meal, drinks, equipment, transfers, and several activities are bundled together. The value is strongest for you if you intend to use the entire package rather than skipping the ATV, zip lines, or horseback ride.

Safety, comfort, and what to bring

Safety equipment and instruction are provided for the activities. The zip line course is ACCT certified, and the braking system means you do not actively stop yourself with gloves. Those details should make the day more approachable for first-timers, though no adventure activity is entirely effortless.

The moderate fitness requirement is worth taking seriously. You will move between activities, handle outdoor conditions, ride an ATV or horse, and take part in a zip line course. The tour is not a good match for someone seeking a low-effort port outing.

Bring practical clothing for all four activities:

• Clothes that can get dirty or wet
• A change of dry clothes for the pool plunge
• Comfortable closed-toe shoes
• Sun protection
• Personal goggles or eye protection if you want them
• Minimal valuables, since lockers are not included

Bandanas and goggles are also not included. Bottled water is supplied, but carrying a small amount of personal water or sun protection may still be useful, as long as you follow the provider’s storage instructions.

Service animals are allowed. The activity is near public transportation, though cruise passengers will generally find the included pickup more convenient.

Who gets the best value from $159.99

At $159.99 per person, this is not a budget shore excursion. It makes the most sense for you if you want a full activity day and would otherwise pay separately for several experiences.

The package includes transportation, safety equipment, lunch, bottled water, the ATV ride, the zip line course, the pool plunge, and horseback riding. Adding all those parts together gives the price a reasonable basis, especially for a cruise passenger who values convenience.

The price is harder to justify if you plan to sit out major sections. For example, if you do not want to ride an ATV, cannot take part in the zip lines, or are not interested in horseback riding, you may get better value from a simpler Puerto Plata outing.

The excursion is also suited to mixed groups. One person may want the ATV, another may prefer the horses, and everyone can meet for lunch. However, the schedule is shared, so this is not the right choice if each member of your party wants complete freedom to set their own pace.

The group maximum is 25 people. That is small enough to keep the experience from feeling like a huge cruise excursion, but it is not a private tour. Expect a planned schedule and some waiting as the group moves between activities.

Weather, cancellations, and cruise-day planning

The experience depends on good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. Since a cruise visit normally gives you only one day in port, a new date may not help, so check the weather forecast before your cancellation deadline.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

These terms are fairly simple, but cruise schedules can change quickly. I would confirm the pickup instructions, ship arrival time, and all-aboard time before leaving the ship. The short drive to the park helps, but you still need enough time for the return transfer and any unexpected delay.

Is this Country World Adventure Park pass right for you?

I would book this excursion if I wanted one energetic shore day with plenty to do and liked the idea of finishing a zip line in a pool. The combination of off-road riding, aerial rides, horseback riding, and Dominican food gives you more variety than a single-activity tour.

I would skip it if I wanted a beach, shopping, or sightseeing day, or if anyone in my group has limited mobility or does not enjoy a physically active schedule. The $159.99 cost is fair for a participant who uses the whole package, but less attractive if you plan to sit out several activities.

For first-time adventure participants, the instruction, automatic zip line braking, and beginner horseback guidance are useful features. For experienced riders, the appeal is the variety and the pool finish rather than a highly technical course.

FAQ

Where is Country World Adventure Park?

The park is located in Maimón, in the Puerto Plata area of the Dominican Republic.

How far is the park from Amber Cove?

Country World Adventure Park is about a 10-minute drive from Amber Cove.

How far is the park from Taino Bay?

The park is about a 20-minute drive from Taino Bay.

When does pickup begin after the ship arrives?

Pickup is scheduled for 45 minutes after the ship’s arrival.

How long does the experience last?

The excursion lasts approximately five hours and 30 minutes.

What activities are included?

The pass includes an off-road ATV ride, eight zip lines, the Pool-Zip N’ Splash final line, horseback riding, and lunch.

How old must you be to drive an ATV?

You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license or permit to drive an ATV.

Can children ride the ATVs?

Children and teenagers under 18 may ride as passengers, but they may not drive the ATVs.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes Dominican-style food such as rice, beans, chicken, fried sweet potatoes, yucca, vegetables, and fruit. A vegetarian option is available.

Are drinks included?

Bottled water is included, and rum and Coke are served after the activities. Soda is not included.

Do I need previous zip line experience?

No. Previous zip line experience is not required, and safety equipment and instruction are provided.

Will I get wet?

Yes, if you take the ninth zip line. The Pool-Zip N’ Splash ends with a plunge into a swimming pool.

Are goggles and lockers included?

No. Bandanas, goggles, and lockers are not included.

How many people can join the excursion?

The maximum group size is 25 participants.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the cancellation.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.