Jutting out of the DR’s northeastern shore, the Samaná Peninsula has long lured travelers with wild beaches, coconut plantations, rainforests, rivers, and a dramatic rocky coastline. Each winter, around 2,500 humpback whales return to Samaná Bay to mate and calve, thrilling visitors on seasonal boat excursions.
Beyond whale watching, adventures abound: body-boarding and kitesurfing in Las Terrenas; trekking, birding, and caving in Los Haitises National Park; canyoning or horseback rides to El Limón waterfall; boat-hopping to white-sand coves below 90 m cliffs or to Cayo Levantado.
Thousands of Europeans have settled here, lending Las Terrenas a cosmopolitan vibe of cafés, bistros, and beachfront lounges—while local heritage remains vibrant, with coconut-rich cuisine and Afro-descendant traditions.
Access is easy: El Catey (AZS) airport, winter cruise calls, full-service Puerto Bahía Marina, and modern highways from Santo Domingo (Route 7) and the Boulevard Turístico del Atlántico.