"Taking gua guas from Saman? to Las Terrenas is more complicated, is not a direct Gua gua from the market in Saman? to Las Terrenas"
I can speak to this. Although it is going to take me some time, and I like to ramble. Just pretend you're taking your first lesson in Dominican Patience 101.
First. You take a gua-gua from The Main Gua-Gua Center in Las Galeras (near Club Bonito Hotel) to the gua-gua headquarters of Samana (in the hectic market area, way past the Maelcon). Don't get off too early in Samana, or you will be doin some walkin honey.
Then, you will see all the gua-guas parked in bays and foks waiting. You simply ask "Las Terrenas" repeatedly until someone points you to his gua-gua. In this case expect a pickup truck. My favorite has only one handle to roll the windows up or down - you just pass it around as needed. Or sit in the back, with no seatbealt - yippee!
You do not go direct. As you were warned, it is a long journey. But one so beautiful that I would hesitate to say it is too long.
You pass by Salta de LIMON (waterfall/horse rides), over hills and in vales and have some great bay views to your left. Then up the hill and you will all be likely dumped in a small village whose name escapes me. (Could it possibly be called "Sirena"?)
There, on main street, across from a CD music store with no posted prices, there wil be 3-4 gua-gua drivers taking a break there and soon they will ask you if you want to go to Las Terrenas. I usually end up with the blond lady driver. She is the only woman gua-gua driver I've had, and a foreign one at that. (Sorry - writer's curiosity is just killing me - where did she come from and why does she stay....) . I would say she is European, so don't count on getting any English out of her.
She will take you to Las Terrenas.
Now, as for what it cost me. I think 100 pesos, each way, for one person. So 200 pesos round trip. And I tipped a bit.
This was about a year ago.
I prefer the guagua to a taxi. I speak Spanish very well and don't stand out. I like the journey more than the destination, and I count the days until I can ride in the back of a pickup truck with no seatbelt. That's just me.
If you want a taxi, there are many good ones. I have one that I recommend and use who is the father of a friend, speaks English and German as well, and can also do double duty as a tour guide. Honnest and Christian. If that matters. For me, it does not matter but does make for very interesting talks on long rides.
PM me if you like -- Sam