samana beaches where to start?

kapitan75

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Jun 3, 2005
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Im looking for a good base point ,in samana, that i can visit the most beaches from. We are a couple and 1 toddler. A1's are not of importance and we will have a car for our travels. We love the idea of eating local food all week and discovering the pretty beaches everyone is talking about. any thoughts??
 

susan77

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Jan 19, 2008
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You will love Las Terrenas!

I highly recommend Las Terrenas as your base point-- The local playas Bonita, Coson, Ballenas and Popy are fantastic and there are dozens of great restaurants- We have an affordable rental house with private swimming pool just 300 steps from Playa Popy that's perfect for small families- Please send me a PM for more info-
All best-
Susan
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
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Las Galeras is a good base for visiting Playa Rinc?n, either by road (rough conditions) or water taxi.
 

bluebayou

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Jan 26, 2010
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Atlantis

I highly recommend Las Terrenas as your base point-- The local playas Bonita, Coson, Ballenas and Popy are fantastic and there are dozens of great restaurants- We have an affordable rental house with private swimming pool just 300 steps from Playa Popy that's perfect for small families- Please send me a PM for more info-
All best-
Susan
I second LT, close to the airport if you're flying in. Check out the Atlantis, run by a French couple, he used to be the head chef for President Mitterand.
Playa Bonita is in their backyard.
Say Hi to Tony the bartender...if he's still there. He will show you around on his day off.
 

Africaida

Gold
Jun 19, 2009
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Las Terrenas is nice with beautiful beaches around. Although beautiful, Playa coson is NOT a beach for toddlers.
You won't eat that much local food in LT though since most restaurants are owned by expats. But with a car, it should be easy to do by going to nearby towns such as Limon.

I have never been to Las Galeras and heard it is really nice too. Probably, more of a local flavor if that's what you're looking for.
 

caipiranha

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Feb 15, 2008
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Las Terrenas is nice with beautiful beaches around. Although beautiful, Playa coson is NOT a beach for toddlers.
Yes, the sea can be very rough at Cozon (exeption: the area between Playa Bonita and "Los Nomades", where water is calm and flat). I also made the painful experience of sandflies at parts of Cozon.
Playa Moron and La Cana are beautiful beaches,too, but also might be dangerous for a toddler, with a kid I?d prefer Playa Limon or the beach around El Portillo.

I have never been to Las Galeras and heard it is really nice too. Probably, more of a local flavor if that's what you're looking for.
At Las Galeras you have some smaller very nice beaches around, protected by a reef, and Playa Rincon. LG still is a quiet village, also a good base for other excursions to Los Haitises, Samana, Bocas del Diavolo and El Valle. And I love the phantastic views from the "El Cabito" and "Samana Inn" near LG.

Saludos
 

RonS

Bronze
Oct 18, 2004
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I vote for Las Terrenas. Either the Colibri or Alsei are wonderful affordable apartments complete with an equipped kitchenette, great pool areas with a kiddie area, and they are a stones throw to one of the most beautiful beaches in the DR. the Alsei has a nice restaurant on site and both are within walking distance of LT [you can also lease a four-wheel vehicle to get around LT and the surrounding towns]. There is a nice French bakery in town other restaurants, fruit and vegitable merchants, and supermarkets to stock the kitchenette in the apartments.
 

julija

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Apr 15, 2010
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same question, except that i'm a solo traveler. Why Samana hasn't been mentioned as a base point? Looking at the map it seems like a good location to reach both Las Galeras beaches and Las Terrenas ones. Are 4 days enough to visit Las Galeras, Las Terrenas, El Limon and Los Haitises national park??
 

thurston

New member
Apr 21, 2007
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Im looking for a good base point ,in samana, that i can visit the most beaches from. We are a couple and 1 toddler. A1's are not of importance and we will have a car for our travels. We love the idea of eating local food all week and discovering the pretty beaches everyone is talking about. any thoughts??

Hi Kapitan 75,

If in Las Terrenas you could try Hotel La Dolce Vita, clean safe and a nice pool, if in Las Galeras Hotel El Marinique, both on the beach. Playa Cozon is very nice, but not good for small kids.

Have Fun
 

drloca

Silver
Oct 26, 2004
2,097
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I fully endorse LT and a visit to Playa Rincon. I suggest you rent a 4x4 to get there as the road is pretty challenging, particularly after a lot of rainfall.

Enjoy, it is a truly spectacular part of the DR.
 

vlokje

New member
May 13, 2004
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Why not spend some day in LasTerrenas ans then move over to Las Galeras and spend some time there?You can discover all the beaches without having to drive too much.If you rent a car see if you can get a jeep,something high on the wheels,roads are not very good.
Samana is a good place if you go whalewatching which is in january,february and March,it has no beaches,its a plce you pass through,not really to stay.
Las Terrenas have a look at Fata Morgana,is a plce for travellers,
Vlokje
 

El Tigre

El Tigre de DR1 - Moderator
Jan 23, 2003
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That was at the Iberostar Puerto Plata. It was sooooo good I went for seconds :)
 
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CatherineD

New member
Sep 3, 2006
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A vote for Las Galeras

Las Galeras has a great beach for toodlers: La Playita. We own Casa Dorado Bed & breakfast and it is an easy walk to that beach. And Rincon is close by as well. Las Galeras has a nice local feel and is less hectic that Las Terrenas, so it depend son what you are looking for.

You asked why no one is recommending Samana. The main reason is there are no beaches right in Samana, you must drive quite a ways to good beaches. Please there are not a lot of good places to stay. It is a bit noisy and not particularly charming visually(I don't know how else to say it.)

Enjoy your stay!

Catherine
Casa Dorado :: Las Galeras