Visit Samana

A bay where humpback whales come to give birth every winter, palm groves sloping into the Atlantic, a waterfall deep in the forest and limestone islets covered in mangroves: the Samaná peninsula is the wildest corner of the Dominican coast.

Why go to Samaná?

From mid-January to late March, Samaná Bay is one of the best places in the Caribbean to watch humpback whales from a boat. The rest of the year, the peninsula draws visitors with its lightly developed beaches, El Limón waterfall and Los Haitises National Park, reached by boat from town.

Samaná's must-sees

A waterfall, islets and wild beaches, all less than an hour from Samaná town.

El Limón waterfall

A fall of around forty metres deep in the forest, reached by a muddy trail on foot or on horseback. A cool swimming pool waits at its base.

Cayo Levantado

A wooded islet in the middle of the bay, about twenty minutes by boat. A public section with beach and restaurants, the rest taken up by a luxury hotel.

Playa Rincón

A long curving beach lined with coconut palms near Las Galeras, with a freshwater river flowing into the sea at its western end.

Playa Frontón

An isolated beach below a cliff, reached by boat from Las Galeras or by a forest trail. A reef good for snorkelling when the sea is calm.

Playa Cosón

A wide pale sand beach west of Las Terrenas, fringed with palms and quieter than the resort centre. Check the swell before swimming.

Los Haitises caves

Caves in the national park decorated with Taíno pictographs and petroglyphs, such as Cueva de la Línea and Cueva de San Gabriel, visited on boat trips.

Bridge to the cays

A footbridge linking two islets opposite the Samaná Malecón. A short, free walk, lovely at sunrise, with views over the bay.

What to discover on the Samaná peninsula?

Santa Bárbara de Samaná and its seafront

Founded in 1756 by settlers from the Canary Islands, the small town of Santa Bárbara de Samaná stretches along a Malecón facing the bay, where all boat trips depart. In 1824, freed African Americans settled here: their descendants, some of whom still speak an old form of English, gather around the Methodist church nicknamed La Churcha, a story unique in the Dominican Republic. Half a day is enough for the town. It remains the best base in whale season, as boats leave right below the hotels, often from 9 am.

The bay, a humpback whale sanctuary

Every winter, humpback whales from the North Atlantic reach the warm waters of the bay to mate and give birth. The season runs from mid-January to late March, peaking in February and early March. Trips last three to four hours, with viewing governed by the marine mammal sanctuary rules: minimum distance and limited time near each group. Pick an operator with a naturalist guide on board, and take a seasickness tablet, as the swell builds at the mouth of the bay.

Las Terrenas, the north coast

About forty minutes from Samaná by the mountain road, Las Terrenas is the liveliest resort on the peninsula, with a strong French and Italian community, seafood restaurants and a wide range of accommodation. Its beaches run for several kilometres, from Punta Popy to Playa Cosón. It is the ideal base for a week outside whale season, as long as you accept motoconchos or a rented scooter to get around. El Catey airport is only about half an hour away.

Las Galeras and the eastern tip

At the end of the road, about 28 km from Samaná, the village of Las Galeras remains quiet and lightly built. It gives access to the finest beaches on the peninsula, several of which can only be reached by boat or a track, such as Frontón and Madama. Allow two to three nights to enjoy them without rushing, and book boats the day before with the village fishermen. Services are limited: cash machines do not always work, and few restaurants stay open after 10 pm.

The south shore and the mangroves of Los Haitises

Opposite Samaná, across the bay, Los Haitises National Park protects a karst landscape of mogotes, forest-covered limestone hills, along with mangroves and islets home to frigatebirds and pelicans. It can only be reached by boat, a 30 to 45 minute crossing depending on the starting point. The half-day trip combines cruising through the mangroves and visiting caves decorated with Taíno petroglyphs. Trips are cancelled in rough seas: keep a spare day in your plans, especially from December to February.

Frequently asked questions about Samaná

When can you see humpback whales in Samaná Bay?
From mid-January to late March. February and the first half of March give the best chances of seeing breaches, mothers with calves and competing groups of males. Outside this period, no whale-watching trips run.
Can you swim with whales in Samaná?
No, it is forbidden in the bay, where whales are watched only from boats. Supervised in-water encounters take place only on the Silver Bank, offshore north of the country, during multi-day cruises departing from Puerto Plata.
El Limón waterfall: on foot or on horseback?
On foot, the trail takes about 40 minutes to an hour each way, with river crossings and plenty of mud after rain. A horse spares the effort, but choose a ranch whose animals look healthy. Closed shoes are essential either way.
How do you visit Los Haitises park from Samaná?
Only by boat, on a half-day trip booked in town or at your hotel. The bay crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes. In season, some trips combine Los Haitises with whale watching or a swim stop at Cayo Levantado.
Las Terrenas or Las Galeras: where to stay?
Las Terrenas offers restaurants, nightlife and plenty of accommodation, ideal for a week. Las Galeras appeals to those seeking calm and wild beaches, with fewer services. In whale season, spend at least one night in Samaná for the early departures.
How do you get to Playa Rincón?
From Las Galeras, a partly unpaved road leads there in 20 to 30 minutes by car or motorbike taxi. Village fishermen also offer the crossing by boat, often combined with Playa Frontón or Madama. Bring water and food, as shacks are few.
How long does it take from Santo Domingo to Samaná?
About two and a half hours on the north-east toll highway, from the capital or Las Américas airport. Las Terrenas is reached in a similar time by the same road. Direct buses link Santo Domingo and Samaná several times a day.
Is Cayo Levantado entirely reserved for a hotel?
No. Most of the islet belongs to a luxury hotel, but a public beach with restaurants and sunloungers welcomes day visitors. It gets very busy on cruise ship days: arrive early or in the late afternoon for more peace.
Where does Samaná's English-speaking community come from?
It descends from freed African Americans who arrived in 1824, during the Haitian occupation of the island. They kept their Methodist faith, their cooking and, among the oldest, a form of English. La Churcha, the church in town, recalls this unique history.

Plan your trip to Samana

Build your day-by-day itinerary and manage budget, bookings and packing in PlanTripNow.
Aperçu de l'application PlanTripNow