It was all talk over the weekend in Samana. Would Shakira invest in a property in El Valle Beach? Had she done so already? The isolated and little visited beach is a smaller version of Playa Grande in Maria Trinidad Sanchez province, but it should measure at least one kilometer wide. The beach is framed by lush tropical vegetation, lofty waves and a river spring that runs parallel to the beach and surfaces from May to August when the tides are lower. There is a sign on the road from Samana that indicates the road to take to Playa El Valle, but the road is not recommended but for those traveling in all-terrain vehicle or hardy pick-ups because it is a dirt one and at two points is interrupted by a winding river. The drive takes about 30 minutes from the Samana highway.
Diario Libre first released the news story about Shakira buying property adjacent to El Valle beach last week. The leading Colombian artist was expected in Samana on Monday, 5 May to review the property. She is scheduled to perform in Santo Domingo, Tuesday, 6 May at the Quisqueya Ball Park. According to press reports, her plans are to build a private home and recording studio on the El Valle site. The main motivation is that the paradisiastic site is hard to get to and thus she would be truly secluded from her fans.