Sosua is a historic city located halfway between the Puerto Plata International Airport (POP) and Cabarete. The city began as a Jewish settlement in the 1940s and was a quaint little town known for its dairy products and cheeses. Sosúa Bay is shaped like a half moon and is full of sandy beaches and palm trees. The bay is protected by a coral reef, which makes it an excellent place to dive and fish. In the 1980s, residential areas were replaced by tourist hotels and condominium projects along the oceanic coast. New residential villas became popular in the closed private communities that surround the city.