Samaná Destination
Natural wonders abound in Samaná on the northeast coast. Las Terrenas is the main tourist center, a laid-back beach town with hotels, shopping, restaurants and bars.
The area is home to pristine beaches, waterfalls, verdant landscape and whale watching in the winter.
Samaná Key Points & Attractions
International Airport
El Catey International Airport (AZS), also known as the Juan Bosch International Airport, is located 20 minutes from the city of Samaná and 30 minutes to the destinations of Cosón, Las Terrenas and El Portillo. Samaná is located two hours from Santo Domingo’s well-served Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), and 3 hours to Puerto Plata international airport (POP).
Cruise Destination
Cruise ships arrive mainly in the winter season and dock offshore in the Bay of Samaná. Tenders take cruise passengers to the beautiful island of Cayo Levantado, a 6-square-mile island with a docking facility. From here, tourists can take a boat to Samaná City, and enjoy shopping, restaurants and excursions.
Virgin Beaches
Samaná is home to spectacular pristine beaches. A 15-minute drive or boat ride from the town of Las Galeras lands you along the three-mile Playa Rincón described by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. The eight-mile Las Terrenas, in the north of the peninsula, offers a shallow waveless beach ideal for snorkeling. At various points it becomes Playa Punta Popy, Playa El Portillo to the east, or Playa Bonita, Playa Las Ballenas and Playa Cosón to the west.
Los Haitises National Park
Making up approximately 232 square miles of unique, diverse area, Los Haitises National Park is comprised of mangroves, estuaries, coves and bays. Easily reached by a short boat ride across Samaná Bay, the park is well-known for both its magnificent series of limestone caves covered in Taíno Indian art and its boat excursions through exotic mangrove swamps. Visitors will find themselves surrounded by more than 100
species of birds, 90 plant species, a wide variety of mammals and caves bearing pre-Columbian Taíno art.
El Limón Waterfall
It’s a 1.5-mile hike or horseback ride through the jungle that ends with a plunge into this waterfall that drops 170- feet from the top of Sierra Samaná. It is located halfway between Las Terrenas and Samaná.
Ecotourism & Adventure Tours
In addition to Los Haitises and El Limón waterfall, Samaná offers many options for adventurous clients. Countryside excursions via jeep safari, ATV, horseback or biking and hiking can take visitors to deserted beaches or into the mountains. El Valle, between El Limón and Playa Rincón, boasts a zipline with 12 platforms through a forest and waterfall. Other zipline options with spectacular mountain views are available at Juana Vicente.
Samaná offers different accommodation options that cater to the ecotourism niche. Enjoy a unique experience while staying at a Tree House Cabin that is elevated above the ground and connected by rope bridges and meandering paths. The open-air design allows you to feel the breeze, hear the bird call, and connect with the immense vitality of jungle life.
Whale Watching Season
Each winter 1,500 to 2,000 whales migrate to the warm crystalline waters of the Bay of Samaná with intentions of mating and giving birth. Whale-watching season begins in mid-January and continues through mid-March, however, excursions are available as long as whales remain in the bay. The 200 square mile sanctuary was established in 1966 and continues to protect the thousands of humpback whales who migrate from the arctic waters of the north. Spot the majestic humpback whales from land at the Punta Balandra observatory.
Samaná Nightlife
Santa Bárbara de Samaná combines casino fun with a host of lounges and bars lining its scenic waterfront boulevard. After sunset, Avenida de la Marina takes on a new energy, with a handful of seafront trucks for refreshments, as well as casual bars and dance spots across the boulevard. The dancing goes on into the night, with sounds of bachata and merengue. Pueblo de Los Pescadores (the fishing village), located in Las Terrenas, right on the beach, is the centre of the nightlife in the region thanks to its range of restaurants and bars and its varied gastronomy and entertainment.
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