Samana: the unspoilt peninsula

To the south of the Samana peninsula, 15km from the port of the town of the same name, Los Haïtises National Park is a remarkable 208km² natural sanctuary that is best appreciated by boat (40-minute journey) from Samana. In any case, it is very difficult to reach by road...

Nicknamed the "Halong Bay of the Caribbean", it is home to mangroves, a multitude of islets, mogotes (58 at last count) riddled with caves, covered in cactus and lush vegetation, a rich tropical forest, multicoloured tropical birds and manatees. Pirates used to hide their booty here... Who knows, maybe you'll find some treasure?

Los Haïtises literally means "mountainous land" in the Taino Indian language. The five-hour excursion includes a visit to the "bird sanctuary" where frigatebirds, egrets and pelicans nest, and a tour of three caves (out of 135) decorated with pre-Columbian cave drawings and inhabited by bats and owls. There are also pictograms and petroglyphs depicting whales, sharks and owls. You can also bathe in freshwater springs.

It's like being on a film set. In fact, TV crews from all over the world come here to film Koh Lanta-style reality shows. A mysterious place brimming with local legends and ghost stories... This former pirate lair is the largest national park in the Dominican Republic.

Where to stay in Los Haïtises park?

⭐ Paraiso Caño Hondo

Located 9 km from the town of Sabana de la Mar, the Paraiso Caño Hondo ecolodge hides in the heart of Los Haïtises National Park. A paradise boasting eleven natural pools and waterfalls, the perfect opportunity for a refreshing swim!

From late December to mid-March, during the mating season, humpback whales put on a show in the warm waters of Samana Bay. The game of seduction played by these large cetaceans spreading their tails guarantees unforgettable emotions!

Between 3,000 and 5,000 whales take advantage of the bay's warm waters to calve in this sanctuary. A memorable sight to be admired on a boat trip or from the cow floor, for example at the whale observatory in Punta Balandra. To do this, park your car on the side of the winding road that links the town of Santa Barbara de Samana to the tourist village of Las Galeras, then take a small path that goes deep into the vegetation.

Whale watching (and dolphin watching if you're lucky) lasts around 4 hours and ends with a picnic on the paradise island of Cayo Levantado. This is your chance to take a dip in one of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic: flour-soft white sand, crystal-clear turquoise water and coconut palms - a real paradise!

Where to sleep in Santa Barbara de Samana?

⭐ The Bahia Principe Grand Cayacoa 5*

The Bahia Principe Grand Cayacoa is an upscale adults-only all-inclusive resort located high above Santa Barbara de Samana. It boasts two superb beaches, a spa and a wide choice of restaurants. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic views over Samana Bay.

This heavenly islet off the coast of Samana is one of the Dominican Republic's proudest natural treasures. Surrounded by two beautiful beaches with coconut palms sloping over the crystal-clear waters, lush green lawns stretch out and bucolic paths wind through a small tropical forest. The scene is set.

Playa Grande is close to the landing stage, while Playa Honda is accessible via a signposted path. The sand is white, the water translucent and infinitely beautiful - in short, a dream setting! Part of the island is reserved for guests of Cayo Levantado Resort, a luxury hotel for adults only. A popular picnic spot for visitors and Dominicans alike, these beaches should be avoided at weekends, as the tiny islet quickly becomes overcrowded.

It is reached after a 5-minute crossing by small motorboat, to the south-east of the Samana peninsula. The island of Cayo Levantado offers a privileged vantage point for observing the humpback whales that come to reproduce in Samana Bay between January and March.

Where to stay in Cayo Levantado?

⭐ The Cayo Levantado Resort 5*

Reserved for adults, the Cayo Levantado Resort is a top-of-the-range hotel with a 24-hour all-inclusive formula. You'll find two huge, superbly appointed pools, a spa, a choice of five restaurants including four à la carte, very comfortable rooms and a picture-postcard beach reserved for resort guests.

The village of las Galeras is located along a superb wooded beach, 30 minutes from the town of Santa Barbara de Samana, at the eastern end of the Samana peninsula. The name comes from the presence of two galleys off the coast, whose role was to intervene against the ships of privateers and pirates.

The beaches spread their fine sand for kilometres, a long white line that marks the boundary between the blue of the sea and the green of the coconut palms. They are nothing like those of Punta Cana: here, the sand is not always white but sometimes dark brown, the coastline is wild and very green and there are very few hotels. A true paradise! The most famous are Playa Rincon, Playa Madame and Playa Fronton.

Just 300 metres off Las Galeras beach, the Kaio natural aquarium is a recreational and ecological park designed to protect marine life and observe fish in their natural environment. This natural aquarium houses 50 pools, ranging in depth from one to two metres.

Playa Rincon

Playa Rincon is about 10 minutes from the village of Las Galeras. Due to the rocky dirt track, the beach is difficult to access unless you have a 4x4. You can also negotiate with the locals for a lift on the back of their motorbikes for a small fee.

There are often parties in this area, close to the handful of beach café-cabanas to the south of the beach. You can also take part in horse-riding excursions along its 5km of wild, unspoilt coastline.

Playa Fronton and Madama

Located in Las Galeras, these two beaches are accessible by boat, on horseback or on foot. They are two of the wildest beaches in the country and well worth a visit! The nearest hotel-restaurant, El Cabito, organises low-cost excursions.

Where to stay in Las Galeras?

⭐ Hotel Villa Serena 4*

Located in the heart of the village of Las Galeras, the Villa Serena is a small, charming hotel with personalised service that will appeal to romantic souls. Isolated from the rest of the world, it is an ideal refuge for tired holidaymakers and honeymooners, who will find peace and serenity here. A favourite address with its swimming pool in the middle of an 8,000 m² tropical garden facing the sea and an excellent restaurant serving local recipes.

To the north of the Samana peninsula, Las Terrenas has been home to a large French community since the 1970s, hence its nickname of the French village. Renowned for its lively, friendly local life, this fishing village boasts numerous bars, discos and restaurants right on the water. A village of colourful houses, where life is bustling to the rhythm of the merengue and bachata: you're bound to meet new people!

Take a leisurely stroll through the streets of Las Terrenas and discover real Dominican life at your own pace. The atmosphere is typical, and the people are extremely friendly and used to rubbing shoulders with the French. For surfing fans, Las Terrenas has a surf and bodysurf school run by the Dominican Republic's national champion! Horse riding, mountain biking and quad biking are also available nearby.

In Las Terrenas, you can see the reconstruction of an 18th-century colonial house housing offices and banks, a hotel in the shape of an ocean liner, the beautiful beach with its colourful fishermen's boats, and the calle des bars, narrow wooden streets on the seafront housing numerous bars, restaurants and discos!

Las Terrenas by night

Las Terrenas is renowned for its nightlife. Don't stay in the soulless discos of the resorts, come and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of Las Terrenas by night! And unlike Punta Cana, you'll be able to meet the locals. Many bars and restaurants line the seafront promenade, some with their feet in the sand, all to the sound of merengue and bachata!

Playa Coson

Located 5km from Las Terrenas, Playa Coson is a huge, wild beach fringed with coconut palms. A surf and bodysurf spot with its rollers. There is just one restaurant, Luis, where you can eat fresh fish, lobster, lambis, octopus, etc.

Playa Bonita

This huge, palm-fringed, unspoilt beach is one of the most beautiful in the region. The aptly named Playa Bonita (pretty beach) has no facilities and is unsupervised. Beware of the waves and the sometimes strong current. In any case, it's an excellent spot for surfing and bodyboarding!

Carolina, a charming Dominican surfing champion, gives lessons from 10.30am to 6pm. Offshore, you can see the three whale-shaped islets known as Ballenas.

Where to stay in Las Terrenas?

⭐ Le Sublime Samana 5*

Le Sublime Samana is a luxury boutique hotel on a human scale housing comfortable and spacious suites and private villas along the paradisiacal beach of Playa Coson. Surrounded by verdant mountains, this favourite address boasts two superb designer pools, one of which is reserved for adults, a gourmet restaurant and a spa.

The village of El Limon, 10 km from Las Terrenas, is the starting point for a visit to this superb waterfall. An excursion to the El Limon waterfall is like an expedition worthy of Indiana Jones! You reach it after a 50-minute ride on donkey or horseback up a mountain covered in tropical forest, after fording a river where the villagers bathe, along a path lined with mango, banana, cocoa and coffee trees.

Once you've reached the top, you can admire a panoramic view of the forest and the Atlantic Ocean. The last quarter of an hour is spent walking downhill. The sight of this superb 45-metre-high waterfall is breathtaking.

You can bathe in clear, soft water in the heart of the jungle. The more adventurous will brave the spray for a massage under the powerful jets of water that hide small caves. Paradise!

Where to stay near the El Limon waterfall?

⭐ Bahia Principe Grand El Portillo 5* hotel

The Bahia Principe Grand El Portillo is a huge colonial-style resort with a 24-hour all-inclusive concept that delivers on all the promises of a hotel in its category. Natural surroundings, a superb sandy beach, a choice of six restaurants and a variety of facilities are all part of the recipe for a successful stay. Children will love the water park. In the evening, the pueblo is the place to be for all kinds of entertainment: shops, billiards, bar, snack bars open all night, shows and discos!