The Samana peninsula is a thin strip of land that extends from the Dominican Republic’s northeast shore. The region boasts a coast that is lined with stunning beaches which epitomise the Caribbean ideal of powdery white sand and crystal clear turquoise water.
The Samana peninsula is a thin strip of land that extends
from the Dominican Republic’s northeast shore. The region boasts a coast that
is lined with stunning beaches which epitomise the Caribbean ideal of powdery
white sand and crystal clear turquoise water.
Although the beaches are undeniably the biggest draw to this
area, many visitors also come to see the thousands of humpback whales that
migrate to the Bahía de Samana during the winter (between mid January and mid
March). Most whaleboats depart from the largest town on the peninsula, Santa Bárbara de Samana (normally shortened
to Samana).
Samana is a pretty harbour town. Its winding streets and
friendly people make it a delightful place to stay. The centre of activity is
the city's Malecón, a broad boardwalk
across the street from numerous outdoor cafés, storefront shops and patches of
park.
The beaches make
Samana a very attractive location in which to relax. But the number of natural
attractions makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for an active
holiday.
Samana’s climate is moderately tropical
with very few seasonal extremes. Although the rest of the Dominican Republic
experiences a variance in temperature between winter and summer, the ocean’s
influence moderates the differences on the Samana peninsula.
The average monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
28 |
29 |
29 |
30 |
30 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
29 |
28 |
|
Night |
19 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
22 |
21 |
21 |
20 |
19 |
The Samana peninsula isn’t a place for
serious shoppers. Most of the shops comprise of small boutiques offering
t-shirt, beach wear and souvenir stores. Most of these are found in Las
Terrenas, Samana and Las Galeras.
Popular items to buy include local art
works (some of these are sold by the road side but the better quality paintings
are available in galleries in the towns), wood and whale bone carvings,
jewellery, amber and Dominican cigars.
There is always plenty of music and
dancing happening in the local bars, restaurants, clubs and beaches of Samana
and the local area. Below are the names of a few places you might like to try
out.
·
El Mosquito, Las Terrenas
·
El Toro Sobre El Techo. Las Terrenas
·
Kick’n Ass Bar & Grill, Las
Terrenas
·
Syroz Bar, Samana
·
Naomi, Samana
·
La Loba, Samana
If you fancy a flutter you can try
Cacao Beach Casino in Las Terrenas.
We have already seen there are number
of things to see and do during your stay. However you may
want to look a bit further afield. Your hotel will be able to provide you with
details of possible excursions but below are a few suggestions to get you
started.
·
Las Terrenas
·
Las Galeras
·
Cayo Lavantado
·
Playa Rincon
You should always
use bottled water (be careful of salads as they may be washed in tap water) for
drinking, cleaning your teeth etc. Make sure you drink plenty, wear a high
factor sun block and that you have plenty of mosquito repellent.
Although Samana is a
safe area you should always take care of your valuables when out and about,
keeping them out of sight.
Medical facilities
are good but you will be required to pay for any treatment you receive
therefore you are strongly advised to make sure you have comprehensive health
insurance in place before travelling.
