Going into the sea from the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, the Samana Peninsula, a natural paradise, is as coveted today as it was in the 16th century. The pirates used their lush palm forests, secluded beaches and hidden caves as hiding places, while European and Haitian troops disputed the deep waters of their bay.
Today, Samaná, often abbreviated to refer to the entire peninsula, is well connected by land and air, however, it remains the paradisiacal and remote escape from wild beaches, coconut plantations and rainforests of the Dominican Republic. Its undulating mountains and valleys form the crystalline rivers that flow into the Atlantic as they rush towards bright 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 Samaná Bay each year, appreciate this natural splendor as much as the visitors. These giant mammals return every 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 Samana 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 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.
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