Where to go for 1 week

H

Hvieira

Guest
Hello,
I need some advice about where to go for 1 week.
I will be arriving in Santo Domingo in the end of the month and I will be staying in the DR for 1 week.
I want to go somewhere quiet, cheap and surrounded by nature, with very good snorkeling and where I can do scuba diving far from touristic spots. I speak Spanish so language is not a problem. I've been looking online and I've stumble upon Parque Nacional del Este and Saman? Peninsula.
What do you think?

Thank you very much! :)
 
S

silkesmo

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Jan 17, 2014
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For what you are looking for, I think Samana would be nice. Playa Rincon has good scuba diving and if you get lucky and go far enough you might be able to see some whales. It's ending their calfing season but there may still be some straglers. Rincon is a 30 min drive from Samana. Samana is a small town, tourist-like, but not with all the hustle and bustle. Their only attraction is the whales and like I said that season is almost over.

I would also look into Barahona as well
 
S

silkesmo

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Jan 17, 2014
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For what you are looking for, I think Samana would be nice. Playa Rincon has good scuba diving and if you get lucky and go far enough you might be able to see some whales. It's ending their calfing season but there may still be some straglers. Rincon is a 30 min drive from Samana. Samana is a small town, tourist-like, but not with all the hustle and bustle. Their only attraction is the whales and like I said that season is almost over.

I would also look into Barahona as well
 
Xavier_Onassis

Xavier_Onassis

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Aug 6, 2006
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Barahona is vastly different from Saman?. You will not meet many tourists there, though the scenery on the highway to Pedernales is beautiful. The best beaches that are accessible are at San Rafael and Los Patos. Barahona itself is a place whose glory days were back in the 1920's during the sugar boom. It is buzzing with motorcycles and pasolas and there is always a lot of commotion going on along the Malecon. It is my favorite place because it is so untouristy and the people are so friendly.
 
H

Hvieira

Guest
Thank you Silkesmo and Xavier for the quick replies. I really enjoy everything I've seen about Samana and Playa Rincon looks very good for Scuba diving. Barahona, Parque Nacional Jaragua and Pedernales look very beautiful too.
Not an easy choice.. I wish I had the time to see both.
 
S

Salsafan

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Aug 17, 2011
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No madding crowd in Las Galleras at this time, sleepy little town. Don't know about diving in Barahona, but in Las Galleras its very good. The whole Samana is awesome.
 
H

Hvieira

Guest
I understand Barahona will be more "authentic" and I would love to see it but it seems Las Galeras will be a better fit for me at this time mostly because of the diving. Since the whale season will be finished by then hopefully will be very quiet and there will be not many tourists around. If the weather allows I will be getting my Padi Advanced Open water certification :)
Thank you all for being so helpful!
 
Xavier_Onassis

Xavier_Onassis

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Aug 6, 2006
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I don't know of any diving attractions in Barahona. I have not seen any parasailing or surfing. The ocean along much of the coast is pretty rough, and they best places to swim are the freshwater streams at San Rafael and Los Patos. I hear that the Playa las Aguilas has a great sandy beach, but it is not easy to get to. Barahona is far more undeveloped than the North Coast of the Samana Peninsula.

In the town of Samana, there is a long "pier to nowhere" jutting way out parallel to the coast. There was a plan to build a fancy restaurant at the end of the pier, but they ran of out of money, investor, or both.

I am not familiar with Las Galeras, and I have not been to Las Terrenas for over a decade, but the beach there was beautiful and there never was an excess of people there. There is a beautiful waterfall with a nice freshwater pond at the bottom to visit after a hike of perhaps two or three miles.

Wherever you go, have fun.
 
M

Matilda

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Sep 13, 2006
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You should also think of Bayahibe if you want to take your PADI AOW. Best diving in the island, not too many tourists if you stay in town and plenty of good dive schools to choose from.

Matilda
 
M

Matilda

RIP Lindsay
Sep 13, 2006
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You should also think of Bayahibe if you want to take your PADI AOW. Best diving in the island, not too many tourists if you stay in town and plenty of good dive schools to choose from.

Matilda
 
D

Dolores1

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May 3, 2000
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Your two best options, as suggested above are Bayahibe and Las Galeras, two of the best diving spots in the Dominican Republic. These places are quiet during the week and with excellent diving facilities in the small towns.

Here are links with guides to the province and links to hotels in the different pricing options.

http://dr1.com/travel/laromanaguide.pdf
East & Southeast / Bayahibe - Directories, Dominican Republic.

http://dr1.com/travel/samanaguide.pdf
Northeast / Las Galeras - Directories, Dominican Republic.
 
D

Dolores1

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May 3, 2000
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Your two best options, as suggested above are Bayahibe and Las Galeras, two of the best diving spots in the Dominican Republic. These places are quiet during the week and with excellent diving facilities in the small towns. Barahona is less an option because it does not have the good dive shops that Bayahibe and Las Galeras has.

Here are links with guides to the province and links to hotels in the different pricing options.

http://dr1.com/travel/laromanaguide.pdf
East & Southeast / Bayahibe - Directories, Dominican Republic.

http://dr1.com/travel/samanaguide.pdf
Northeast / Las Galeras - Directories, Dominican Republic.
 
R

RonS

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Oct 18, 2004
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There is a good diving shop in Las Galaras along the main road into town near the last intersection before the road meets the ocean. Paul & Diane run the shop and diving school there, along with a small cafe at the corner that serves up good Mexican fare and good a good internet connection. Las Galaras is a great choice. You won't find a horde of other tourists there. It is a laid back, quiet, little village at the end of the road, which I think is the name of Paul & Diane's place.

Ahh, found it! http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...leras_Samana_Province_Dominican_Republic.html
 
Last edited:
G

ggparts

Member
Mar 20, 2003
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What she said

Matilda said:
You should also think of Bayahibe if you want to take your PADI AOW. Best diving in the island, not too many tourists if you stay in town and plenty of good dive schools to choose from.

Matilda
Click to expand...

Bayahibe has what you are looking for without being in a bus for 30% of your trip.

ggparts
 
W

william webster

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Jan 16, 2009
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RonS said:
There is a good diving shop in Las Galaras along the main road into town near the last intersection before the road meets the ocean. Paul & Diane run the shop and diving school there, along with a small cafe at the corner that serves up good Mexican fare and good a good internet connection. Las Galaras is a great choice. You won't find a horde of other tourists there. It is a laid back, quiet, little village at the end of the road, which I think is the name of Paul & Diane's place.

Ahh, found it! Awesome Food! - Review of The End Of The Road, Las Galeras, Dominican Republic - TripAdvisor
Click to expand...

literally, the end of the road.... you just turn around and follow your crumb trail back.

the end of road is a good thing.... very quiet....
sounds like good advice to me

have fun
 
R

RonS

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Oct 18, 2004
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william webster said:
literally, the end of the road.... you just turn around and follow your crumb trail back.

the end of road is a good thing.... very quiet....
sounds like good advice to me

have fun
Click to expand...

I was just there in January. It was very relaxing! I had a very good time.
 
I

IslandDreaming

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May 5, 2007
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Hvieira said:
Hello,
I need some advice about where to go for 1 week.
I will be arriving in Santo Domingo in the end of the month and I will be staying in the DR for 1 week.
I want to go somewhere quiet, cheap and surrounded by nature, with very good snorkeling and where I can do scuba diving far from touristic spots. I speak Spanish so language is not a problem. I've been looking online and I've stumble upon Parque Nacional del Este and Saman? Peninsula.
What do you think?

Thank you very much! :)
Click to expand...

Probably not much help, but I stayed at a hotel on beach in Baharhona a couple times and was real happy Great empty beaches, decent casino, restaurant was spotty but plenty in town. sort of made me think of what the rest of DR might have been in 50-60's can't think of name, maybe someone will help It was only casino/hotel I could find at time, I think one lady and her kids ran it though it was pretty large, 30 plus rooms. Again, not sure but for some reason I recall it as being green

If you are renting car this is good jumping off spot for Perdenales (sp) (Gorgeous) , Lake Enriquillo (sp) and Haiti if so inclined
 
H

Hvieira

Guest
Thank you Dolores for the guides and the rest of you for sharing your opinion. My wife got 3 days off work plus weekend so she will be coming with me too. I had already decided to go to Las Galeras before but because of my wife now I'm considering Bayahibe because it's a bit closer to Santo Domingo. I will keep researching and the day I arrive in SD I will see where the bus takes me :)
Thank you again all!
 
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