Category:

Ecotourism

Adventure

Religious

Location:

Samana bounded on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean, south by the Bay of Samana and Monte Plata province in the southwest and west by the provinces Duarte and Maria Trinidad Sanchez.

The province is divided into three municipalities and three municipal districts. The municipalities are: Santa Bárbara de Samaná, Las Terrenas and Sánchez. Los municipal districts are: Arroyo Barril, El Limon and Las Galeras

About Samana:

• According to some authors there is evidence that until the mid nineteenth century Samaná was an island.
• Samana Peninsula was separated from the rest of the island and was surrounded by water but eventually the river Yuna closed the Strait that separated the two lands.
• It was founded on 21 January 1756 and its name comes from the queen Barbara Braganza.
• Each year in the months of February and March during the breeding season Samana is visited by humpback whales, which provide an impressive show for the visitors. The whale sanctuary is on its way to Cayo Levantado.
• Christopher Columbus named part of Samana Bay as Gulf of arrows, because on his arrival Aboriginal Tainos were throwing arrows to the Spanish ships. This occurred in the Rincon Bay, north of the village of Las Galeras.
• The town local festivities are celebrated on December 4.

Weather:

Samana Peninsula offers a pleasant climate all year round, with temperatures consistently above 18 ° C.

In summer the temperature reaches 32 º C.

How to get there?

• By air: The nearest international airport is the Samaná El Catey International Airport (ACZ), located between the province of Nagua and Sanchez and at the end of the Santo Domingo-Samana Highway. From this airport you can reach all areas of the Peninsula with a short taxi ride. By the Arroyo Barril National Airport located in the town of Arroyo Barril between Sanchez and Samana (Kilometer 12) is the airport with  the highest flow for domestic flights in the area. Also by the Airport El Portillo road located in the El Limon - Las Terrenas, is the pioneer of the area and receives only domestic flights.

• By car: Through the Santo Domingo-Samana Highway starting from Las Americas Highway up to the intersection of Rincon Molinillos. On this highway light vehicles currently pay 3 tolls that actually add up to total sum of RD $ 650.00. You can also reach via highway from San Francisco de Macoris, in this way light vehicles pay tolls only once of RD $ 30.00 but the journey is much longer.

Attractions:

Cayo Levantado:

Is a small piece of extension land of 1 km located in the Bay of Samana on the Samana Peninsula. The cay is the highest part of the barrier reef that protects the bay from the mighty waves of the Atlantic, has a rainforest vegetation, paradisiacal white sandy beaches and crystalline waters, nestled in a beautiful landscape.

It is a place where you can watch whales during the humpback whale season from January to March and is a perfect place to escape for a day and ideal for snorkeling. You can walk through the island in only 15 minutes. This island is also known as Bacardi Island because there are palm trees that appear in ads for Bacardi rum brand.

Humpback Whale Museum:

The museum is open from 9:00 to 2:00 pm Monday through Saturday and is located at the street La Marina corner with Tiro al Blanco. The cost of entry is $ USD$2.00.

Nautilus Eco-marine Park:

The Park is located between Cayo Levantadao and Cayo La Farola two kilometers from the Bay and in the first open sky aquarium throughout the area. Currently the park has two aquariums with a depth of three meters and both an area of 18m x 24m.

In the aquarium, visitors can also practice water sports like diving, snorkeling, sailing, parasailing from boat, Jet Ski, banana boat and speed boats as well as enjoy the vast array of marine life. The tours depart from the Anadel Beach from 9:00 to 5:00 pm.

Santa Barbara Church:

Established in 1824 by African American slaves who came from North America. Open on Sundays from 9:00 to 11:0 am, where you can listen to gospel hymns.

Salto del Limon (Lemon Waterfall):

Is a spectacular waterfall with crystal clear water located in the community of Limon of the Samana Peninsula about 300 meters above sea level. El Limon is visited by thousands of eco tourists each year.

The cascade is composed by three starts flowing water that slides over a solid greenish wall turned like that due to the ferns and the presence of a high level of humidity in the area, and culminates in a natural pool formed by cool, clear water, where you can enjoy a relaxing and refreshing bath.

Sanchez: This town was named Sanchez in memory of one of our Founding Fathers Francisco del Rosario Sanchez, on May 31, 1886. Sanchez is one of the starting points for tours to the Haitises National Park and to tropical rivers Barracote and Yuna. This city is famous for seafood, especially shrimp, fishing and tourism are major activities in the area.

Once here you should not miss to visit the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, located on Libertad Street in the center of town. It was built in 1924 at the request of the wife of then President Horacio Vásquez on the occasion of a promise made to bear children. It is a chapel which retains its wooden architecture and is one of the first in the Northeast.

Haitises National Park:

Located in large proportion in the province of Samaná Bay including part of the Bay and is also part of the provinces of Monte Plata and Hato Mayor with an area of 2,000 square kilometers. Due to its characteristics, the Taino Aborigines named this area as “Los Haitises” because it means “area of mountainous highlands”. This park was declared protected area on June 3, 1976 because of its valuable natural resources. It has a subtropical rain forest that contains a variety of species of native and endemic plants and provides habitat for large species of native and migratory birds.

It also has a large area of mangroves and a system of caves and caverns where there are petroglyph and pictographs with great historical and archaeological value. This park contains the largest sample of Caribbean mangrove, consisting predominantly mangrove species such as red and white mangrove.

Collective or private visits must be approved by the National Parks Directorate (DNP).

Las Terrenas:

Located on the north coast of the Samana peninsula, 20 kilometers from Sanchez, Las Terrenas is the most tourist town of Samana Peninsula and consists of some of the best beaches on this coast. The 18 km of its beaches offer peace and tranquility, even in high season, plus all the services you need. And something rare in the Dominican Republic, the beaches here are truly public.

According to some historians the name of Las Terrenas is the French who sailed around the peninsula of Samana in 1643 which they called The Terriene which means the landlord believed that by her beauty.

Cosón Beach:

Is one of the Blue Flag certified beaches in the world, certification granted to beaches that meet certain requirements such as quality of bathing water, information security, among others. There are 6 miles of spectacular beach and is located 10 miles from Las Terrenas.

Playa Bonita:

The beach is about 4 kilometers from the village of Las Terrenas and consists of 4 miles of white sand beach and wild waters, ideal for surfing. Its boundaries are marked by Point Bonita to the west and east of Loma Bonita.

Portillo Beach:

Lies between El Limón and Las Terrenas, is a beautiful beach that has all the charms of nature.

Ecotopía Park:

Located in the outskirts of Las Terrenas with over 30 hectares, Ecotopia is a natural park with more than 1,000 species of trees, including native plants, native and exotic species, some hundreds of years old; and is inhabited by thousands of birds and reptiles of various species.

Las Galeras:

Is located in the northeast of the Samana Peninsula, 28 km from Santa Barbara, and capital of the province. The road ends at the beach. On the outskirts of Las Galeras are some of the jewels of the Samana Peninsula: Rincon Beach, Madama Beach, Fronton Beach. Here you can enjoy some water sports like diving and good food from local Dominican to Italian.

Playa Las Garitas:

Located on Highway Sanchez - Santa Barbara a few minutes from the city, is a virgin beach of warm waters with striking beauty.

• It is advisable to travel in a vehicle 4 x 4.
• Wear cool clothing, hat, insect repellent and sunscreen.
• Bring you camera for beautiful landscapes.