North Vs. the NE Coast?

Sounds like NE would suit you better than N but wait for the people from there to come on with specific recommendations as to where on the Peninsula would be best for you.

Cabarete has all the sports you could want.

Las Terrenas!

LoriK said:

We are a very active family that LOVES nature. We are interested in being located on the beach for all the great water sports. (kayaking and snorkling especially), BUT, we absolutely love to explore and hike and even moutain bike. I have read a lot about some great waterfall and canyon hiking ect. We do not want to have to travel very far to get to some good hiking and great nature spots to explore. We do NOT care about night life, golf, or casinos. We look for less-touristy, less-crowded, not as built up, areas.
Any comments or recommendations?

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LoriK,

As tourist who has been to the north coast and the NE coast a number of times, I think your family would be better suited to stay on the Samana peninsula of the NE coast.

This area is mostly undeveloped but it is getting more developed every year so now is the time to go and see a real jewel of nature before it becomes another tourist super destination.

You can stay at a resort on the beach, and be very close to the mountains, hiking, waterfalls, and other things you mentioned. Snorkeling is only mediocre here but it is about the same as the north coast unless you go to Punta Ruscia. If you want wind-surfing and Kite-surfing though, Cabarete is the area for you. You can get to the other attractions from there also...just not as easily.

PM me if you want specific information about something or some area.

bob

Lorik,

All the North Coast is a gem, so much see and do, but like Lambada & Appleman it has to be the Samana Peninsula.

You can PM me for some details.

Hard choice because both are excellent options, you will need to make two trips.

Samana -- El Limon cascades -- great hike. Playa Bonita and Cozon for waves. Samana is beach with a backdrop of lots of hills all over the place. For snorkeling, the Japanese underground coral park near Casa Marina hotel in Las Galeras Beach.

Puerto Plata -- Damajagua falls (28 cascades you jump down,), La Isabela Mountain, you can go up by skylift or hike up to the extraordinary botanical gardens on the top. Cabarete, with its world class windsurfing and kiteboarding and nearby El Choco hikes. Some snorkeling in great Sosua beach, but nothing to rave about. They are working on restoring the corals, but they are not yet fully back.

All activities are available in both areas but I would say the North Coast has more infrastructure, more hotels to choose from, and more organized excursions - compared to the Samana peninsula. You will feel more isolated in Samana, but it sounds like that thats what you want.

Hi Lorik,

Well if its Las Terrenas, i can recommend La Dolce Vita, right on the beach at
Punta Popy, check out there web-site, Las Terrenas, Samana: Hotel. Appartamenti da affittare

My son and I arrived in POP for our first visit to the DR on 12/30/06. I fell in love with the island. Anyway, we stayed in Cabarete for two days. New Years eve is a great family time on Cabarete beach. We tried windsurfing for the first time and overall we loved Cabarete. Two days is enough in Cabarete

Samana Penninsula is a real unspoiled treat!

We took the 6:30am bus for 200 pesos each to Samana (about 3hours) and then took a gau-gau from Samana to Las Galeras (about 45min.) Our first time on both types of transportation. I very much enjoyed the bus ride to Samana-a great experience. (diesel fumes and helping the driver reattach the bumper which fell off-included)

I counted ,driver included, 17 people climbed in the gau-gau. It really was a blast.

We stayed in Las Galeras for a few days. We rented atv"s and went all over-Rincon and El Valle beach included. El Valle is a real gem-a must visit-plan to have the locals make you lunch on the beach.

Bring gifts for Dominican kids.

The "bus" ride back to Cabarete for one more day and then back to NJ.

Watch the mosquitos. My attitude was repellent/shmellent other people catch tropical diseases. Yea me-5 days after returning I came down with Dengue Fever. No fun,but; not a big deal. My very experienced doctor was thrilled-it was the first time he ever diagnosed Dengue.

I will be returning in February to look for property and vacation.
This time I will bring repellent and i will use it.

Las Galeras -- at least for some of your stay. Hiking opportunities galore.

Las Galeras is small-very small-a "one horse town". If you do go there have breakfast at a little restaurant behind the art store. Two French ex-pats Pedro and his wife cook terrific food.

Pedro made an omelet for every morning. I believe it was called the Rincon omelet-BEST omelet I ever had.

There is great hiking though out at the end of the penninsula. You can hike to both Playa Fronton and Rincon.

there is a restaurant cafe on the right hand corner going to the beach that makes the truely most horrible coffee ever....i think it was evaporated milk and made with cold water, I was still tasting it when i got back to sosua..Perhaps she did it on purpose because we didnt order any food ...lol