Península de Samaná

Samaná · Hato Mayor · the Dominican Republic

Península de Samaná

Humpback whales in the bay from January to March, the El Limón waterfall, Cayo Levantado, the beaches of Las Terrenas and Playa Rincón, and the mangroves and caves of Los Haitises.

Samaná e Nordeste

In the photo: El Limón Waterfall

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

A Península de Samaná é um braço de terra verde e montanhoso no nordeste da República Dominicana, entre o Atlântico e a baía de Samaná. Coqueirais cobrem as encostas até o mar, rios descem em cachoeiras e a costa alterna praias longas, enseadas escondidas e falésias. A região guarda uma história própria: no século 19 recebeu imigrantes afro-americanos vindos dos Estados Unidos, cujos descendentes mantêm igrejas e sobrenomes ingleses.

O grande espetáculo da região acontece no inverno. De janeiro a março, milhares de baleias jubarte vêm do Atlântico Norte para acasalar e ter os filhotes nas águas quentes da baía, e os barcos saem de Santa Bárbara de Samaná para vê-las saltar. No resto do ano, a baía é o caminho para Cayo Levantado, uma ilhota de praia branca, e para o Parque Nacional Los Haitises, do outro lado, com morros de calcário, mangues e cavernas com pinturas taínas.

Cada canto da península tem um perfil. Santa Bárbara de Samaná, a capital, tem porto, malecón e os barcos de passeio. Las Terrenas, na costa norte, é uma vila animada, com forte presença de europeus, restaurantes, praias como Cosón e Bonita e a cachoeira El Limón perto. Las Galeras, na ponta leste, é tranquila e dá acesso a praias isoladas como Rincón e Frontón. Sabana de la Mar, do outro lado da baía, é a porta de Los Haitises.

É o destino para quem quer natureza, praias selvagens e um ritmo menos padronizado que o de Punta Cana, com hospedagem variada, de pousadas a hotéis de praia.

This destination brings together 4 cities: Santa Bárbara de Samaná, Las Terrenas, Las Galeras, Sabana de la Mar.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Península de Samaná is
Las GalerasSabana de la MarSanta Bárbara de SamanáLas Terrenas

Limites: Oficina Nacional de Estadística / OCHA-HDX / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Península de Samaná

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional El Catey (AZS), in El Catey · 40 km to Santa Bárbara de Samaná

Confirm before purchasing. El Catey International Airport (AZS) is on the peninsula itself, between Sánchez and Samaná. From Santo Domingo the Nordeste highway takes about two and a half hours; from Punta Cana it's four hours or more.

Suggested arrival point: Santa Bárbara de Samaná

The local experience

Things to do in Península de Samaná

Observação de baleias na baía de Samaná
Santa Bárbara de Samaná · Samaná · Boat trip

Observação de baleias na baía de Samaná

From January to March, thousands of humpback whales enter Samaná Bay to mate and calve, and boats leave the town's port to watch them breach.

Parque Nacional Los Haitises
Sabana de la Mar · Hato Mayor · Park

Parque Nacional Los Haitises

A park of limestone mogotes covered in forest rising from the water, mangroves, bird islets and caves with Taíno paintings, visited by boat from Sabana de la Mar and from Samaná.

Playa Cosón
Las Terrenas · Samaná · Beach

Playa Cosón

The longest and most beautiful beach in Las Terrenas: kilometers of golden sand and coconut palms west of town, with the neighboring Playa Bonita, known for waves and surfing.

Playa Rincón
Las Galeras · Samaná · Beach

Playa Rincón

One of the most beautiful beaches in the country: about 3 km of light sand and palm groves without development in a bay at the eastern tip of Samaná, with a cold-water river at one end.

See 4 more places in Península de Samaná
Cayo Levantado
Santa Bárbara de Samaná · Samaná · Island

Cayo Levantado

A small islet covered in vegetation in Samaná Bay, with a public white-sand beach and calm water, a classic stop after the whale tour.

Playa Frontón
Las Galeras · Samaná · Beach

Playa Frontón

A wild beach at the foot of a limestone cliff northeast of Las Galeras, with very clear water and reefs, reached by boat or trail.

Pueblo de los Pescadores
Las Terrenas · Samaná · Neighborhood

Pueblo de los Pescadores

The old fishing village in central Las Terrenas: colorful wooden cottages on the sand, now restaurants and bars by the sea, with the sunset in front.

Salto El Limón
Santa Bárbara de Samaná · Samaná · Waterfall

Salto El Limón

A waterfall of about 40 meters in the middle of the peninsula's forest, reached on foot or by horse via trails among coconut trees and plantations, with a pool for swimming.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From January to March humpback whales are usually in the bay, with the highest concentration in February. From December to April there is less rain. From June to November is hurricane season, with more rain from August to October, but the peninsula is green and rainy year-round with short downpours.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Four to five days: one for the whales (in season) and Cayo Levantado, one for the El Limón waterfall, one for Playa Rincón or Frontón, one for Los Haitises and a beach day in Las Terrenas. A week allows splitting your stay between Las Terrenas and Las Galeras.

Which city to stay in

Las Terrenas has the largest offer of guesthouses, apartments and restaurants, with nightlife and walkable beaches; it is the most practical base. Santa Bárbara de Samaná is close to the port, ideal in whale season. Las Galeras is quiet and near the isolated beaches. There are beachfront all-inclusive hotels on Cayo Levantado and along the coast between Samaná and Las Galeras. Sabana de la Mar has simple guesthouses, close to Los Haitises.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Península de Samaná

When to see whales in Samaná?

From January to March, with more animals in February. Tours depart from the port of Santa Bárbara de Samaná and last about three hours.

What is the best base on the Samaná Peninsula?

Las Terrenas, for its variety of guesthouses, restaurants and beaches. In whale season, Samaná is closer to the boats; for isolated beaches, Las Galeras.

Can you go to Samaná from Punta Cana?

Yes, but the road trip takes four hours or more. Many excursions do whales and Cayo Levantado in one long day, and there are options that cross the bay by boat from Sabana de la Mar.

Do I need a car on the Samaná Peninsula?

It helps a lot, because the beaches and the waterfall are spread out. Without a car, use local vans (guaguas), moto-taxis and organized tours.

How to get to Los Haitises National Park?

By boat, departing from Samaná, which crosses the bay, or from Sabana de la Mar, which is closer; there are also tours from Las Terrenas.

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