The PENINSULA SAMANA

 

The exotic  Samana is one of the most popular peninsulas in the world.

Coconut trees there are a dime a dozen - you are constantly tripping over them .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Peninsula is on a arm of the mountain and is a wetland with a rich vegetation, consisting mainly of coconut trees.

Between six to seven million coconut trees grow and thrive in the peninsula and produce every year around 550 million coconuts.

The region's capital is Santa Barbara de Samana and was founded in 1756 as protection from pirate attacks.

 

The old fishing village on the bay was rebuilt as a colorful tourist colonial city with hotels, restaurants and Casino and is a popular tourist destination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The peninsula Samana on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic is known for its impressive bay, which in the winter months  is visited by hundreds, humpback whales annually. Visitors from around the world come from mid-January to late March for whale watching. 

 

 

 

TIP: The walk to the small island 

of Cayo Vigla worth it.

 

 

 

 

On the peninsula there are three tourist destinations: Las Terrenas, Las Galeras and Santa Barbara de Samana, Samana briefly mentioned.

Upstream is the small island of Cayo Levantado.

Here one of the first Bacardi commercials was shot many years ago.

For those who are looking for an active holiday, a stay in Samana, in a paradise for ecotourism worth.

 

The National Park Los Haitises with its mangrove swamps, islets, caves with cave paintings and abundant nature is something special. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transport

 

Caribe Tours offers daily bus service from Santo Domingo via San Francisco de Macoris, with a stopover in Sanchez, from where another bus or a taxi can be taken to the village of Las Terrenas (half an hour away). The same bus continues its trip to Samana, from there you can take another transport to Las Galeras (less than half an hour away).

Also drive Metro buses from Santo Domingo to Samaná with stops in San Francisco de Macoris, Nagua and Sanchez. Buses from Santiago offer twice daily trips to and from the city of Samaná and Las Terrenas, with several stops along the route, for this journey can take up to 5 hours.

 

From Puerto Plata there is a public bus that leaves at 6am at the hospital from Puerto Plata to Samana.

For the rest of the trip there are no fixed stopping time because it can be held up anywhere along the route that people would like to be taken.

The trip takes about 5 hours  to  Samana and costs 300 pesos.

The new highway from Santo Domingo to Samana also makes it possible  to take one of the many scheduled flights that arrive at the international airport of Las Americas (SDQ).

At all beaches of the province also taxis are available.

The cheapest (but also most insecure) version of locomotion are the so-called "Motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis)

 

 

Cayo Levantado ( also Baccardi Island called )

 

An island due to remoteness, coves and white sand beaches, remind of the adventures of Robinson Crusoe.

You can reach the island by boat after a short drive from the port of Samana, Las Galeras and Playa Cala Blanca. A dream island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Las Galeras

 

Las Galeras is a fishing village at the end of the road to Samana.
It is an excellent destination for snorkelers.

It is also the preferred location for boating to the beach Playa Rincon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playa Cala Blanca is a beach with shallow waters due to its favorable natural conditions. 

 

Playa Portillo is a  beach section in the range El Portillo and his residential area. It’s very popular with kite surfers.

 

Playa Popy - This beach with its calm, turquoise waters and white sand beaches is located between Las Terrenas and El Portillo and is often frequented by guests from small hotels located on its northern side.

 

Whale watching

From January 15 to March 30 humpback whales can be observed emigrating to the warm waters of the Caribbean to mate and care for their pups in the Bay of Samana.

In whale season there are daily excursions from the port of Samana and from Sabana de la Mar, on the other side of the bay, as well as a new observation station in Punta Blandra. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIP:  This natural spectacle is not o be missed. It is indescribable!  

Guided tours are offered by several operators.

The whale watching are subject to strict conditions which are constantly monitored. It’s only  allowed to drive a limited number of boats on a group of whales. For example, in the bay itself, there are speed limits for speedboats and more.

 

 

The Whale Museum  in Samana shows interested visitors the long journey of humpback whales from their sphere of life in the North Atlantic to the Dominican coast and in the bay of Samana.

 

The Whale Museum is located right on the harbor and is for all visitors from Monday to Friday from 8:00am -3:00pm open.

 

The entrance fee is only $ 2.00 and visitors are lovingly received by Noeli Kelly.

 

Señora Kelly speaks english and speaks with a lot of love about the history of the peninsula.She speaks lovingly about their residents before she describes details then visitors the habitat and behavior of humpback whales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Park Los Haitises

 

The main water reserve for the country, and since 1974 a protected area.

Los Haïtises is a Taina word for mountain country.

This area is dotted with limestone hills, which have a height of 20 to 40 meters, with many  caves, which give the coast of a very special flair.

TIP: Best you go there by boat. Once across the bay, tropical rainforest with its birds.

The excursion to the biggest estuary in the Caribbean (with an area of ​​740 km2) gives visitors a glimpse of the dense mangrove forests, the diversity of tropical birds and allows exploring various caves.

This tour traverses the entire rock islands, which is upstream of the coast.

To reach Los Haitises of Samaná, take the ferry to Sabana de la Mar and then the transport to the station of the Ministry of the Environment in the vicinity of "Caño Hondo" and continues with one of the official leadership in the National Park.

Afterwards you can enjoy a delicious Dominican lunch in the Hotel-Restaurant "Caño Hondo".  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diving

 

There is  a wide range of diving excursions to various locations that are easily accessible from the coast.

A Japanese resident maintains eager its "coral garden" near the Grand Paradise Samana Beach Resort, which you can visit for a fee.

In the "Nautilus Ecomarine Park", between Cayo Levantado Cayo Farola and in the Bay of Samana, you can swim with various marine animals in the sea.

 

 

Nightlife

 

The nightlife in Samana usually takes place around the restaurants, pubs and so-called "Colmados", which are often frequented by young people from the local tourism industry.

The beach restaurants and nightclubs make a party every night, where locals and tourists meet to do merengue, bachata and salsa dancing.

 

Das Nachtleben in Samaná spielt sich meist um die Restaurants,  Bierlokale und sogenannten “Colmados“ ab, die häufig von jungen Leuten aus der lokalen Tourismusbranche frequentiert werden.