Entering the sea from the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, the Samaná Peninsula, a natural paradise, is as coveted today as it was in the 16th century. Pirates used its lush palm groves, secluded beaches and hidden caves as hiding places, while European and Haitian troops fought for the deep waters of its bay.
Today, Samaná, often abbreviated to refer to the entire peninsula, is well connected by land and air, yet it remains the paradise and remote escape of the wild beaches, coconut plantations and rainforests of the Dominican Republic. Its rolling mountains and valleys form the crystalline rivers that flow into the Atlantic as they rush towards sparkling white sand beaches that stretch hundreds of kilometers around the rocky coast of the peninsula.
It is as if the approximately 1,500 humpback whales that visit the Bay of Samaná each year appreciate this natural splendor as much as the visitors. These giant mammals return each year to this special corner of the Dominican Republic to mate, give birth and enjoy this glorious tropical landscape.
In addition to the seasonal whale watching excursions by boat in the picturesque Samaná Bay, there are more ecotourism adventures: bodyboarding and kitesurfing in Las Terrenas; hiking, bird watching and caving or caves in Los Haitises National Park; canyoning or horseback riding to reach the El Limón waterfall; and boat trips to the magnificent white sand beaches, at the base of 90-meter cliffs, or to the coast of the island of Cayo Levantado.
