Nature in Samaná
The small, picturesque island of Cayo Levantado sits just five kilometers (three miles) from Samaná Bay, and boasts brilliant white sand and palm-fringed beaches. Spend the day swimming, sunbathing, kayaking or paddle boarding, and enjoying fresh fish.
Beaches, Boating Attractions, Ecotourism, Excursions, Family-Friendly, Islands + Cayes
Off the beaten track of Las Galeras village, La Playita is lovely white sand, crescent shaped stretch shallow enough to walk for several feet. With a beachfront casual restaurant–crystal clear azure waters, and distant views of Playa Rincón, it is a favorite among those who find its shores.
Beaches, Family-Friendly
Los Haitises National Park is one of the crown jewels of the Dominican Republic’s national park system. Los Haitises attracts numerous visitors who come here by boat to see its magnificent series of high rock formations; also, it boasts extensive mangroves along its bay, dotted with keys and caves.
Bird Watching, Boating Attractions, Caving, Ecotourism, Family-Friendly, Hiking, National Parks + Protected Areas, Wildlife Spotting
Thousands of visitors flock to Samaná every year for its chief seasonal attraction: the equally large number of humpback whales that return to court, mate, and birth in the Atlantic waters off Samaná Bay–an area officially declared a Marine Mammal Sanctuary in 1986.
Ecotourism, Family-Friendly, National Parks + Protected Areas, Wildlife Spotting
The private beach club near Samaná city offers changing rooms, a restaurant, nice bathrooms and rental loungers. Day passes available.
Beaches
Playa Bonita is as pretty as its name suggests–a crescent-shaped, cozy white sand beach lined with a variety of boutique hotels, villas, and restaurants. The western edge of the beach is as still as a swimming pool, while the eastern side offers active waves for the adventurous.
Beaches, Family-Friendly, Surfing + Kitesurfing
Among the top three most stunning beaches on the Samaná Peninsula, this golden, soft-sand stretch is ideal for long walks, popular for kitesurfing–with on-site classes–and body surfing, and there are a handful of boutique hotels flanking its western and eastern sides.
Beaches, Family-Friendly, Surfing + Kitesurfing
Few visitors make it to the pristine, brilliant white shores of Playa El Limón; make the effort to reach Playa El Limón and you’ll enjoy one of the peninsula’s quietest stretches. For more adventure, hop on a hiking excursion that will take you to this beach by wading your way down the Limón River.
Beaches, Family-Friendly
Flanked by towering bluffs, and dotted with fishermen canoes, the undeveloped Playa El Valle is a great spot to get away from the crowds. Enjoy a seafood lunch on the beach, and take long hikes amid this rugged landscape while fishers bring in their catch or head out to sea.
Beaches, Family-Friendly
Reached by boat from Las Galeras, Playa Frontón’s stunning shoreline is a sight for sore eyes. Its brilliant fine white sand sits at the foot of a 90 meter (300-foot) metamorphic, rocky cliff, with its shoreline dotted with bright green coconut trees.
Beaches, Caving, Family-Friendly
