If we talk about the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic and the thrill of swimming in the sea, the natural paradise of the Samaná Peninsula is desirable as much as the love and care it was given back in the 16th century. Pirates hid in lush forests, isolated beaches, and hidden caves lined with palm trees, and European and Haitian forces competed in a protected bay in the deep ocean. Samaná has earned the title of being called the paradise of the Dominican Republic because of its wild beaches and the natural coconut trees. For me, this is one of the most complete places in the Dominican Republic and it is not that big either. I went on a moped, which I rented for $20 a day and went all over the north eastern part of the Island. It is amazing the places you can see.
Las Terrenas
Las Terrenas is a resort on the Samana peninsula in the northeastern part of the Dominican Republic. It is famous for its beaches, which goes by the same name as the resort. Other beaches include Bonita, Coson, and Las Ballenas. Which are a must for you to visit while in this part of the island.
Las Terrenas is known for its untouched white sands, so spending time here can’t be neglected. Playa Bonita, which is not only uncrowded but also a splendid beach, it literally means “beautiful beach.” Isn’t it all in the name? Examples of coastal areas include bars and restaurants located on the shores of Pueblo de los Pescadores, many of which are open. It is a wild experience for everyone to have the best times when in this part of Samaná. I would recommend renting either a car or a motorbike or moped depending on the family number and budget. In my case, I went two times, one by car and the second alone, using public transports, cheap and quick, however while there I rented a moped and covered the hole of the Samaná peninsula in one day. The moped cost me $20USD per day plus fuel, which was not that expensive. If you want to visit the hidden beaches which are off route, this is a must.
El Limon waterfall
The 52-meter El Limon Waterfall is surrounded by stunning views of the mountains and the roaring conversations that these mountains hold. The lovely natural pool below can be an ideal place to remove sweat and grime while traveling. The small town of El Limon is just 30 minutes from Las Terrenas. There are about 12 crossings (horseback riding) on the highway along with the city and in the direction of Samaná. Try Santi or Paradara Manzana. The horse ride to the waterfall is a very good experience. However, I have been told that most prefer to experience the walk to say they did it on foot rather than by horse. During 2019, there was a bit of a dry spell where there was no rain in this part of the island for a while and the waterfall dried up. With El Limon being a quite popular touristic place you can imagine people started complaining and creating awareness of climate change and how we negatively use water. Anyways, a few weeks after that it poured down and the waterfall is back to its normal-self. A reality check?
Playa El Valle
Explore the beautiful Playa El Valle beach between two tropical mountains and adjacent estuaries. The combination of rivers and beaches makes it an ideal place for overwhelming trends as people can swim in the river and stay away from the sea. The hotel is located on the north coast of Samaná and connected by a 12 km road. There is also the magical scene of leaving footprints behind in your memories. It is amazing as you drive from Samaná “city centre of Santa Barbara” and you feel that you are in the jungle when you arrive to El Valle, lush green vegetation. Surrounded by the beauty of the tropical ocean and breathtaking views of the green mountains, this spot will make your day memorable.
The view from the drone just shows how green and beautiful this area is. The hotel, Unique Exotic Eco Hotel is very expensive and worth spending the night at least, they provide breakfast and dinner, food not drinks. The rooms are very hut like, at least the ones on the beach front were. They charge between $150 to $200 a night depending on which rooms and locations, beside the beach or a 1km walk from the beach. Like I said, it is worth spending the night but not more than that giving the prices they charge. The food is really good, but for the price, I would prefer to stay in a better hotel in the city and visit El Valle giving that it is only 12km away by car.
Las Galeras
Located on the northeastern corner of the Samaná Peninsula, this remote fishing village has some of DR’s most beautiful beaches, including the world-famous Playa Rincon Beach. Crowds of the day gather here and take a boat trip to Playa Rincon, Playa Madhoma, and Playa Fronton. White sandy beaches spread along the spectacular rocky coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, offering a world of snorkeling and diving. However, nature lovers have many exciting activities to play here, such as hiking, fishing, snorkeling, dominoes at local bars, and relaxing lunches at La Playita Beach.
Playa Rincon
Here you can spend the day, camp, go by 4×4 or a quad bike and enjoy the relaxing sea and the stunning sunset of the Caribbean, away from the stress of everyday life. Located near Las Galeras, you can explore one of the most intimate and quiet beaches in the Dominican Republic. This popular beach is ideal for a relaxing break or an adventure on a quad bike. We hired a quad bike for about 4 hours, the owner came with us on a motorbike and showed us a way to get there through the back roads and villages, which made the experience even better and then to the beach, where we were for about 2 to 3 hours. It was well worth the money and as the access to the beach is really bad and the road they have is literally “broken” you would need a 4×4 with a high suspension. Now, this was in 2017, so the road might have been repaired by now.
There is also a river beneath the mountain where the water is freezing, so what people tend to do, is to swim in the sea to then jump into the river and get the salt of their bodies and then have a piña colada or drink coconut water. We had a private tour with just the 2 of us with the guide. Nowadays, from what I see is that they try to get as many people as possible on quad bikes and go, making it less personalized and a lot slower too.
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