Public Transportation from Samana Airport to Las Galeras

[TravelBugDiary]

Hi folks,
Just booked my first DR vacation! I'll be flying directly into Samana from New York on JetBlue, staying for 6 nights. I'm staying at La Hacienda in Las Galeras. Here's my question:

How do I get from Samana Airport to Las Galeras using public transportation? How much time/money does it take? Are there any tricky transfers?

I speak ok Spanish, so I'll be ok asking for directions, but I want to know what I'm looking for when I get off the plane.

Thanks!

 

[Africaida]

There are no public transportation in Samana Airport. You might have to take a taxi up to Samana town, then take the guagua there to get to Las Galeras.

 

[CG]

You could probably get a taxi to Sanchez (cheaper than to Samana) and local transport from Sanchez to Samana and on to Las Galeras. Sadly I don't know much about the local transport network, good luck & enjoy !.

 

[TravelBugDiary]

Two more questions:
1. How much should pay for the taxi from the airport to Sanchez?
2. Where do I go in town? Is there a street or bus station I should request?
Thanks!

 

[LTSteve]

If you can afford it take a taxi from El Catey/Samana airport directly to Las Galeras. Going to Sanchez you will be back tracking and then have to find a bus to Samana City and then another to Las Galeras. If you get a taxi direct it is approximately an hour 15 minute ride. The other way may end up taking you 3 hours or more. Bite the bullet and pay the extra money. It is well worth. I would contact your hotel and have them make arrangements with a reliable taxi driver out of Las Galera. They will get you a good price and better service. Buenos Suarte!

LTSteve

 

[2020]

By car, the ride from the Samana airport to Las Galeras should take about an 1 hour & 30 minutes at a leisurely pace.

 

[Salsafan]

If you can afford it take a taxi from El Catey/Samana airport directly to Las Galeras.
LTSteve

I quess it would be about 2000p, against 200p and 3 hours with public. But you have a good chance the public one being more fun. If you have much luggage (more than you can easily carry), the taxi is the only alternative.

 

[Memo]

Sanchez is actually on the way to Samana and Las Galeras from El Catey, Nagua is back-tracking...

From the airport to the highway is a long hot walk, but then you should have no trouble with a gua-gua to Sanchez, or a bus to Samana or even direct to Las Galeras, depending on your timing. In Sanchez you could catch a CaribeTour bus to Samana, as another option.

Perhaps you could hitch a ride on the charter bus to the Casa Marina resort if your scheduled flight arrives near to the time of a charter flight, but I do not know this for sure.

I suppose it is worth asking if Karin would pick you up in Las Galeras and carry you the final couple of kilometers up to La Hacienda.

Enjoy.

 

[frank12]

Why not just rent a car and enjoy the amazing sights at your own leisure?

Frank

 

[Salsafan]

Seems to me nobody currently online is able to give exact info about the publicO connections from Samana City to LG. So I'll see and report it in the next weeks. As they say, the way is the goal.

 

[Dolores1]

Hi folks,
Just booked my first DR vacation! I'll be flying directly into Samana from New York on JetBlue, staying for 6 nights. I'm staying at La Hacienda in Las Galeras. Here's my question:

How do I get from Samana Airport to Las Galeras using public transportation? How much time/money does it take? Are there any tricky transfers?

I speak ok Spanish, so I'll be ok asking for directions, but I want to know what I'm looking for when I get off the plane.

Thanks!

Samana is best seen by having a vehicle. But it is doable by public transportation. You need to take a taxi to Sanchez for US$30 and from there you can take a public bus to Samana or Las Galeras town for RD$100 fares. These leave on the half an hour until 6pm. Ask the taxi to drop you off at the public bus stop. Once you are in Las Galeras, your option will be the motoconchos for cheap fares. For more information on getting around in Samana, see the Useful Information section of the Samana Guide.
http://dr1.com/travel/samanaguide.pdf

 

[Salsafan]

Great link, Dolores. Thanks

 

[caipiranha]

@TravelBugDiary

Why don?t you send a mail to La Hacienda? Karin certainly knows the best way to reach Las Galeras:classic:.

Saludos

 

[fr0gman]

Seems to me nobody currently online is able to give exact info about the publicO connections from Samana City to LG. So I'll see and report it in the next weeks. As they say, the way is the goal.

In Samana Central, on the right side of the road where all the motochonchos are parked you will find the guagua to Las Galeras. Most of them are pickup trucks with metal frames on the back. It is a fun and adventurous ride and you should not pay more than $300 RD for the experience.

There are no taxis in Las Galeras. If you are there and you need someone to take you from the corssroads, where the guagua drops you off to your hotel, drop in to The Dive Academy and ask Diane to call "Yes Papa." He will take you wherever you need to go for $200 RD.

Enjoy Las Galeras. It is my favorite part of the DR.

 

[Salsafan]

Current rates for guaguas:
- Samana city to Las Galleras: 100p oneway, takes one hour. They leave every 15 min til 6pm. The scenery is amazing.
- Samana city to Las Terrenas: 70p to El Limon, then 50p to Las Terrenas, you pay separately for each bus. Also one hour.
You can choose between truck and minibus. The drivers are friendly (as opposed to the ones from Puerto Plata, which cheat you if you don't know the prices).

 

[LTSteve]

Bite the bullet and take a taxi from El Catey to Las Galeras. YOU are on vacation. Don't complicate you life. You can be at your hotel in an hour and a half, relaxing and sipping on a Cuba Libre. Bring the extra cash and go direct. You will be happy that you did. Have the hotel arrange a taxi and the price and tell them to add it to your bill.

LTSteve

 

[TravelBugDiary]

Thanks for all your responses. I'm checking the thread again now that I'm about leave next week, and I think I have all the information I need.

I agree that a direct taxi would be more efficient - but 2000DR is $50. But I'm unemployed right now, and have more time than money to spare.

 

[william webster]

Given your situation, you have a couple of options.

You might be able to mooch on a tour bus going to a resort by offering 100-200 pesos for a lift to where ever they are going

or

you walk out to the main road and stand on the far side (wanting to go to the left of the entrance)
Hang your thumb out for a free ride...

or

watch for the guagua to come by and jump on... won't be much 100-150 pesos again, all the way to to Las Galeras

(Nagua to Abreu - about 1 hr - is 100 pesos)