Samana

Stretching from the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic and basking in the ocean, the natural paradise that is the Samaná Peninsula is as coveted today as it was in the 16th century. Pirates hid in its lush palm forests, secluded beaches and secluded caves while European and Haitian troops fought over its protected deep-water bay. It remains the paradisiacal and secluded getaway par excellence of the Dominican Republic, with its wild beaches, coconut plantations and tropical forests. Its mountains and undulating valleys give rise to crystalline rivers that flow into the Atlantic, forming waterfalls that descend to beaches of brilliant white sand, stretching for hundreds of kilometers along the peninsula’s rocky coast. It is as if the nearly 1,500 humpback whales that visit the Bay of Samaná every year enjoy this natural splendour as much as the visitors do. These giant mammals return each year to the waters of this special place in the Dominican Republic to mate, give birth and rest in this beautiful tropical landscape. In addition to the seasonal boat excursions to watch the whales in the picturesque Samaná Bay, other eco-tourism adventures are as the crow flies: bodyboarding and kitesurfing in Las Terrenas; hiking, bird watching and visiting caves in Los Haitises National Park; canyoning or horseback riding to reach the El Limón waterfall; and boat excursions to reach the beautiful white sand beaches at the foot of 90-meter cliffs.