Samaná town
Whale boatsOn the bay.
Peninsula guide
Things to do in Samaná
Humpback whales in the bay from mid-January to March, the karst islands of Los Haitises, and at the peninsula's quiet eastern tip, Las Galeras, with boat-access beaches like Playa Rincón and Playa Frontón.
3
Hostels in the city
8.0
Average, from 96 reviews
Jan–Mar
Whale season
3–5
Days
Whales, bays and the quiet end
Samaná is the green, hilly peninsula in the north-east of the Dominican Republic, and its main town, Santa Bárbara de Samaná, usually just called Samaná, sits on a wide bay. Every winter, thousands of North Atlantic humpback whales come to the bay and the banks offshore to mate and give birth, and from mid-January to March the town fills with whale-watching boats.
Across the bay is Los Haitises National Park, with mangroves, caves with Taíno rock art and limestone islands rising straight out of the water. Just offshore, Cayo Levantado is a small island beach.
At the far eastern end of the peninsula, about 30 minutes away, Las Galeras is a small village with little development and some of the best beaches in the country: Playa Rincón, Playa Frontón and Playa Madama, reached by boat, rough road or on foot. This guide covers both Samaná town and Las Galeras. Give the area three to five days.
Where to base yourself
Samaná town for the whale boats and Los Haitises, or Las Galeras for quiet beaches.
Las Galeras
Quiet beachesThe village at the eastern tip.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 3 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Samaná
Between mid-January and March, take a whale-watching boat from Samaná town into the bay to see humpbacks breaching, singing and nursing calves. Take a boat across the bay to Los Haitises National Park to explore mangroves and caves with Taíno drawings, and spend an afternoon on Cayo Levantado.
In Las Galeras, take a boat to Playa Frontón for snorkelling under the cliffs and to Playa Madama, a tiny cove. Spend a day at Playa Rincón, a long, palm-backed beach with a freshwater river at one end.
Hike to Cabo Cabrón for clifftop views, or visit the Salto El Limón waterfall on the way to Las Terrenas.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The beach at Las Galeras and walking the Samaná town seafront, the Malecón, are free.
Hiking to Playa Frontón and Playa Madama from Las Galeras costs nothing, though the trail is rough and a guide helps.
Whale-watching boats, Los Haitises and the boats to the beaches are the main costs.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Samaná's speciality is fish or prawns in coconut sauce, a legacy of the African-American settlers who arrived here in the 1820s. Beach shacks at Playa Rincón grill fresh fish and lobster.
Comedores in Samaná town serve la bandera for €3 to €6, and Las Galeras has a few French and Italian restaurants.
Restaurant bills add 18 per cent tax and a 10 per cent service charge by law, so check whether menu prices include them; a little extra for good service is appreciated.
Nightlife
Going out
Samaná town has bars and colmados along the Malecón, busier in whale season. Las Galeras is very quiet, with a couple of beach bars.
For more nightlife, Las Terrenas is about 45 minutes away.
A Presidente costs €1.50 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around
Caribe Tours buses run from Santo Domingo to Samaná town in about two and a half to three hours. El Catey International Airport is about 40 minutes from Samaná town.
Guaguas link Samaná town with Las Galeras in about 30 minutes, and with Las Terrenas.
Boats from Las Galeras reach the beaches, and motoconchos cover short distances.
Costs
What Samaná costs
Beds start at around €15 to €25 a night. La bandera costs €3 to €6.
Whale-watching trips cost about €50 to €70, plus the sanctuary fee, and Los Haitises tours about €60 to €90. Boats from Las Galeras to the beaches cost about €15 to €30 per person, depending on group size.
Carry pesos; there are few cash machines in Las Galeras.
Safety
Safety and scams
Samaná and Las Galeras are generally safe. Do not leave belongings unattended on the beach.
Choose whale-watching operators that follow the sanctuary's rules on distance and time. Sea conditions in the bay can be rough; boats should carry life jackets.
The trail to Playa Frontón is steep and remote; go with others. Do not drink the tap water; bottled and refill jugs are cheap everywhere. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Islands, parks and beaches.
Las Terrenas
Beaches and food.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Whale season and the patron saint.
Mid-January to March
Humpback whale season
Samaná Bay
Thousands of humpbacks come to breed.
Early December
Fiestas Patronales de Santa Bárbara
Samaná town
The town's patron saint festival.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Samaná, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
Humpback whales are in Samaná Bay from mid-January to March, the busiest time. December to April is the dry season. May to November is hotter and wetter, with hurricane season from June to November.
Jan
Whales arrive
Feb
Peak whales
Mar
Whales
Apr
Semana Santa
May
Rain begins
Jun
Hurricane season opens
Jul
Hot
Aug
Hot, wetter
Sep
Peak hurricane risk
Oct
Wet
Nov
Rain easing
Dec
Patron saint, holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Rain is possible in any month.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Samaná prices.
Treat these as a guide. Boat trips cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Samaná questions
The ones we get asked most.
When can I see whales in Samaná?
From mid-January to March, with February the peak.
How much is whale watching?
About €50 to €70, plus the sanctuary fee.
Samaná town or Las Galeras?
Samaná town for the whale boats; Las Galeras for quiet beaches.
How do I get to Playa Rincón?
By boat or road from Las Galeras.
How do I get to Samaná?
By Caribe Tours bus from Santo Domingo in 2.5 to 3 hours, or via El Catey airport.
Can I visit Los Haitises from Samaná?
Yes, on a boat tour across the bay.
Is there a cash machine in Las Galeras?
There are few, so bring pesos.
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