By air
Samaná El Catey International (AZS), ~40 km by road
North America · Dominican Republic
Samaná, Dominican Republic
Whale-watching bay, waterfalls and quiet beaches
Getting there
Best time to visit
January to March for humpback whales; December to April for drier weather
Don't miss
El Limón waterfall
Los Haitises National Park
Cayo Levantado
Playa Rincón
Things to do
Whale watching
Horse riding to El Limón waterfall
Boat trips into Los Haitises
Beach days
Where to eat
What to pack
Swimwear, insect repellent, a rain jacket
A quieter corner
Playa Rincón, a long, quiet beach on the far side of the peninsula
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Samaná?
January to March for humpback whales; December to April for drier weather. What to pack: Swimwear, insect repellent, a rain jacket.
How do I get to Samaná?
Fly into Samaná El Catey International (AZS), ~40 km by road.
What is there to do in Samaná?
Whale watching, horse riding to El Limón waterfall, boat trips into Los Haitises, beach days. A quieter find: Playa Rincón, a long, quiet beach on the far side of the peninsula.
What should I eat in Samaná?
Fish cooked in coconut sauce, fried plantains, coconut sweets, fresh fruit.
About Samaná
- Coastal
- Hills
Where it is
Samaná is a peninsula in the north-east of the Dominican Republic, with green hills, palm-lined beaches and a wide bay along its southern shore.
History
The town of Santa Bárbara de Samaná was founded by the Spanish in the 18th century with settlers from the Canary Islands. In the 1820s free African Americans from the United States settled on the peninsula, and some of their descendants still speak English and keep their own churches.
People
The peninsula's people speak Spanish, and a small community descended from 19th-century African American settlers keeps an English dialect and Protestant churches alive.
Known for
- Humpback whales in Samaná Bay
- El Limón waterfall
- Los Haitises mangroves and karst
- Palm-lined beaches
Did you know?
Each winter thousands of humpback whales come to Samaná Bay and nearby waters to mate and give birth.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.