Samana Dominican Republic

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Is a destination for nature lovers and adventurers. Green, green mountains, long beaches, solitude, lively little towns in between, turquoise waters. Samana is also a romantic destination, and several of its small hotels are perfect for honeymooners. Samana is also a good choice for experienced scuba divers. And the place to stay if whale-watching is high on your agenda.

It is the place to sit on a porch or in the shade of a palm tree, sipping something

cool and discover the rare feeling of being happy just being alive.

The exuberance of the area, the variety of natural attractions make it the preferred

choice of those seeking an active vacation. Oh, there is action if you want it.

Horseback riding, swimming, snorkeling, diving, sailing — all the activities that

come with beautiful nature.

It is possible to spend your days vegging out at the beach in front of the hotel, but Samana is truly for explorers. Samana has a distinct European flavor - The French were first, but now many Italians and Spaniards have opened up businesses to cater to tourists in the area.

Important to note, Samana is one tourist area in the DR where credit cards are not as readily accepted. It is best to bring cash, travel checks or use your ATM card at one of the banks in town.

What else is nearby

Those traveling to the province of Samana should plan on spending their entire vacation in Samana. This is because Samana is a multi-area tourism destination in itself. The hotels are primarily located in Samana

City, Las Galeras (25 kms. from Samana City), Las Terrenas and El Portillo. It takes about half an hour to

cross the peninsula north to south and about an hour to go from West to East or vice versa. There is a small airport in El Portillo with commuter flights to SantoDomingo, if your budget allows.

Attractions

The beaches:

North side of the peninsula: Las Terrenas, El Portillo (tranquil waters), Cozón (fun waves, can be rough), Playa Bonita (fun waves).

South side of the peninsula: Playa Galeras (about an hour and a half from Las Terrenas), Playa Rincon (40 minutes drive on rough roads from Samana, easy to go from Las Galeras by boat) and Cayo Levantado. Cayo Levantado is an island of about one square kilometer, made of a protruding coral reef which protects Samana bay from the Atlantic waves. With its lovely white sand beaches flanked by tall coconut trees, this island is a popular day outing with boat loads of tourists arriving daily.

The El Limon waterfall (about 10 kms. East of Portillo air strip.)

Horseback riding or four wheel riding trails through the mountains and beaches.

The towns of Las Terrenas and Samana.

Samana city. Samana city claims an unusual history and, as a result, an

unusual character. It was settled by two shiploads of freed American

slaves around 1824 and, to this day, many residents speak English as a

first language. The US cultural influence is also apparent in many of the

last names of the settlers of this area. Urban renewal is improving the

overall look of Samana city.

Los Haitises National Park. Easily reached by a short boat ride across the

Bay is Los Haitises National Park. This area is known as having one of the

most important rainforests and mangrove reserves in the entire Caribbean, complete with keys and caves. You can only enter the park with a certified guide. Day excursions can be booked from most hotels.

Las Terrenas town. Worth a stroll. Lots of shops feature all sort of beach wear and gear. Great supermarket in town, restaurants, delicious pate and pastry shops, reflecting the European influence.

El Limon Waterfall. Take the El Portillo road going East and stay on it until you get to the town of El Limon. The waterfall is about 300 meters above sea level and has a 40 meter drop that ends in a very deep but swimable pool of crystal clear waters.

Whale-watching

Samana has some of the best whale-watching in the world. Every year, the excursions depart to catch the frolicking giant creatures from 15 January to 15 March.

Mountain biking, hiking, horse riding

There are few destinations as great as Samana for these ecotourism sports. Be on the lookout at your hotel for tour operators that offer these activities. Note that there is no better way to really see the area than by mountain bike, hiking or horse riding. End the day with a plunge in a deserted beach. Horse riding excursions that will take you through jungles and paradise beaches are offered at many hotels. Highly recommended.

Caving

Samana has many caves for exploring. Check out the availability of excursions offering sightings of petroglyphs and pictograms from the days of the Indian settlers. Samana is known as the site of the first battle between the Indian settlers and the European conquerors - the Battle of the Arrows.

Rock climbing

Rock climbing enthusiasts should look into the Playa Fronton excursions. Playa Fronton is located at the end tip of Las Galeras. It is a spectacular beach, even if you are not into climbing.

Excursions

Take the four wheeler excursion to discover the many beaches on the northwestern coast of the peninsula, off Las Terrenas.

If you are staying in Las Terrenas, visit Playa Rincón Beach on the other side of the peninsula. Considered one of the best in the Dominican Republic, this beach can be reached by four wheel car, horseback over the mountains or by a short boat trip from Las Galeras. To get to Las Galeras, take the Samana road east to the end.

Whale-watching excursions from January 15-March 1. Best time to see the whales is late January and the first two weeks of February. If you are staying in Puerto Plata, take a round trip Taxi to get there there in time. It will be an exhausting day, though. Some of the better excursions leave at 9 am and make a stop over at Cayo Levantado island. Samana and whale-watching are really worth a visit on their own. Or at least try to overnight in Las Terrenas (one hour away), or Las Galeras (half an hour away from the port), or Samana (right there).

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