Things to see and do Samaná Peninsula

It is accessible by car via a tarred road (follow the signs, 7 km outside the village) and visited by the whole lot of travel agencies and resorts in the area, and even by a few crooks attracted by the tourist windfall (be careful!). As you can see, with its miles of sand and its transparent water, it is far too beautiful to have it all to yourself. At the end, a small river allows a refreshing swim. And then, take a break in the local restaurants offering seafood and lobsters!

From mid-January to mid-March, join whale expert Kim Beddall on board the Pura Mia, a two-deck boat that can accommodate up to 65 passengers. For 4 hours, the boat cruises the bay in search of marine mammals. Kim has been commenting on the encounters in several languages for over 30 years with the help of translators. There is also a full day formula with a stop at Cayo Levantado. Kim wishes to demonstrate that responsible whale watching is a viable economic alternative to whaling.

After walking along narrow paths through the rainforest, crossing several rivers (be sure to take a dip!), climbing many steep inclines, you will be rewarded by the discovery of a natural pool into which a 50 m high waterfall flows, surrounded by deep caves. The water is pure and fresh and the panorama sublime. A well-deserved swim, after the efforts of the climb, is divine. You can also rent horses in the ranches located along the road (it climbs!). To leave well shod.

Rather wild and quiet, the beach is really beautiful, but beware of mosquitoes. The access to this paradisiacal and almost deserted area is to be deserved, but the game is worth the candle (we will leave our car about 300 meters before arriving at the beach). The colors are magnificent, between the intense blue of the sea, the golden of the fine sand, the green of the coconut trees which border the beach... There is no restaurant, except for a few young people who sell piña colada. It is better to bring a picnic.

Playa Fronton and its neighbor Playa Madame are only accessible by boat or horseback. It takes 25 minutes to reach them through extraordinarily beautiful coastal landscapes. Impressive cliffs fall steeply into the ocean. Coconut trees, almond trees and cactus vegetate the fine sandy beach. Playa Fronton is a beautiful diving site with corals and tropical fish. Don't forget your mask and snorkel (and bring water shoes to protect you from corals and sea urchins!). An excursion not to be missed from Las Galeras.

If you want to discover the most beautiful secrets of the peninsula, you will call on Wilfredo, a trained sailor and connoisseur of the flora of the Samana region! Used to working with large groups, Wilfredo also offers tours for smaller units. The options are numerous: Cascada Limón or Castaño, Playa Frontón or Ermitaño, Cabo Cabrón... Depending on the duration (30 minutes to 5 hours), a meal can be provided. Walking sticks included

It holds passages for Cayo Levantado there, excursions for the observation of whales in season, as well as excursion for Los Haïtises.

This islet closes the bay of Samaná, opposite the city. The cayo has no other interest than to offer the sea a vast panorama over the city. At dusk, couples will taste the embrasement of the… sun. Many sailboats at mooring take advantage of this natural shelter.

The market beats every morning in the open air, but it is particularly animated on Saturday when small farmers come to sell their weekly harvest. The peasants, the head of a straw hat, are moving by mule in the middle of the pallaradant bikes, fruit sellers, vegetables, used clothing, and merenee and bachata Cds. The music escapes in dense waves from the cups to sheet roofs. It hurts, it shouts, it's merchantable to whom better in a joyful blast, anyway, it's typically Dominican…

Managed by CESBE, an NGO that campaigns for the protection of Samaná Bay, this modest centre presents an exhibition on the fauna of the region, notably parrots, but above all, whales; for example, you will see a real humpback whale skeleton, which is particularly impressive (even though the head is fake!) You will learn more about the life of whales, their diet, their migration and the dangers they face on a daily basis. There is also a handicraft shop which helps the NGO's coffers.

It is part of the city's oldest heritage. This moving Victorian wooden church was brought from England piece by piece in 1823 to serve as a place of worship for the Wesleyan Methodist Church. For many years, the services were conducted in English and the name is a Dominican transformation of the word church. In 1861, the Gothic influenced building was transformed into a hospital. Today it has been restored and is home to the Evangelical Dominican Church.

Located 4 km from Samana in the direction of Las Galeras, this beach was the scene of the first battle in history between Europeans and Aborigines. The Spaniards confronted the Ciguayo Indians on January 13, 1493. The skirmish was so intense that Christopher Columbus wrote in his diary: "I had never seen so many arrows flying"! If you were thinking of stopping there to take a dip, you should know that the site was covered in all kinds of rubbish during our last visit, so it's better to go swimming at the next beach.

This small cove of fine sand is completely wild, superb and very little frequented. A real postcard with its golden sand wet by a crystal clear water of a radiant blue and its tropical vegetation. Attention, the access is done by a private property, the guard will surely ask you to leave your car at the entrance and to continue on foot (it is necessary to count 30 minutes if one arrives since Las Galeras). Big waves can make swimming dangerous, but the visit is worth it. Moreover, the beach is often deserted!

This small beach of Las Galeras is only 5 minutes away from downtown. Nicknamed playita by the locals, it is a long strip of white sand bordered by leaning coconut trees and beach restaurants. The water is clear and gently undulating. A very pretty and popular site (especially on weekends), suitable for swimming. You can rent deckchairs for 150 pesos. Note also the presence of the cave Cueva Duarte, on the left when leaving the beach. A visit to be made in complement of the main beach of Las Galeras.

Frank, a multilingual Swiss Romansh speaker, offers personalized tours in very small groups. A lover of Samaná who has lived here for eight years, his tours reflect his love of the region. He offers original tours. On the program: camping on the beach and boat trip, meeting the locals, information on the local flora and fauna. Suitable for groups of friends who want to share a unique experience. See the "Intimate Samaná" tour, a cultural outing that presents the history of the peninsula's city centers.

This beautiful and large beach located at 7 km from Samana, languishing on the north coast, has always escaped the flood of tourists. Yet, it is very easily accessible. The road is indeed paved along its entire length since spring 2018. The sight is breathtaking when you arrive at the beach, a paradise of golden sand and crystal clear shores. If you go up to the left of the beach, you will come across a small river flowing into the sea. Take a picnic if you want to isolate yourself at the end of the beach. It is deserted.

A natural aquarium created off the beach and the brainchild of Japanese biologist Kaio Morita, who created this aquatic garden using rocks and succeeded in attracting a wealth of underwater fauna, with a view to protecting the region's marine fauna. The snorkelling trip is therefore particularly rewarding! From the beach, boats take you to the aquatic reserve. Equipment can be borrowed on site. The trip takes about two hours. A fun outing.