family
Cayo Levantado
A small island in Samaná Bay with a public beach section, calm clear water and a luxury resort on the rest of the key
Samaná Peninsula
Palm-backed Atlantic beaches, boat-only coves and Samaná Bay's winter humpback whales
The Samaná Peninsula juts out from the north-east coast of the Dominican Republic, with the Atlantic on one side and the sheltered waters of Samaná Bay on the other. It is greener, hillier and far less built-up than Punta Cana, and its beaches range from the long, undeveloped sweep of Playa Rincón and the boat-access coves of Frontón and Madama near Las Galeras to the walkable town beaches, surf and small hotels of Las Terrenas.
The peninsula has three bases: Las Terrenas for food, nightlife and variety, Las Galeras for quiet and remote beaches, and the provincial capital Santa Bárbara de Samaná for boat trips to Cayo Levantado and Los Haitises National Park. From mid-January to the end of March, thousands of humpback whales gather in Samaná Bay to mate and calve, and whale watching becomes the main event. Samaná El Catey airport (AZS) is about 30 to 40 minutes from Las Terrenas, and Santo Domingo is roughly 2 to 2.5 hours away by toll highway.
Beaches
Beaches in Samaná
family
La Playita (Las Galeras)
A small, calm beach on the west side of Las Galeras village, against the forest and popular in the afternoon
surf
Playa Bonita
A small-hotel beach just west of Las Terrenas, with surf on one end and a short trail to Playa Escondida
long walks
Playa Cosón
A long, uncrowded Atlantic beach west of Las Terrenas, lined with palms and a few upscale hotels
wild
Playa El Valle
A wild, cliff-framed bay on the north coast reached by a winding road from Samaná town
secluded
Playa Frontón
A remote strip of sand under limestone cliffs east of Las Galeras, reached by boat or a long forest hike
family
Playa Las Ballenas
The broad, palm-lined beach on the west side of Las Terrenas, named for the small islets offshore
secluded
Playa Madama
A small, sheltered cove in the forest east of Las Galeras, reached by a short hike or a boat
wild
Playa Morón
A wild, mostly local beach near El Limón with cliffs, strong waves and a rough access road
natural
Playa Rincón
Roughly 3 to 4 km of undeveloped, palm-backed sand near Las Galeras, with a cold river swimming hole at the west end
kitesurfing
Punta Popy
The breezy east end of the Las Terrenas beach, home to the town's kitesurfing scene and long palm-shaded sand