President Luis Abinader and Mexican-based ITM Group have announced that Port Samaná is scheduled for inauguration on 24 November 2026. The terminal is under construction in Arroyo Barril on the south side of the Samana Peninsula. The driving distance from Arroyo Barril to Santa Bárbara de Samaná is approximately 13.2 kilometers. The travel time is estimated at 18 minutes via the Autopista Nagua-Samaná.
The driving distance from Arroyo Barril to Samaná El Catey International Airport (AZS) is approximately 32.8 kilometers. The trip typically takes 35 minutes via the Autopista Nagua-Samaná, depending on traffic conditions. The proximity opens opportunities for home porting bookings where people fly in and then take a cruise.
The project, a themed cruise terminal, is expected to create 1,000 direct jobs. ITM Group is the same company that currently operates the Pedernales-Cabo Rojo Port and the Taino Bay Port in Puerto Plata.
During a strategic meeting, Mariana Perrillat, Corporate Vice President of ITM, detailed the project’s growth trajectory, noting that the port aims to handle one million passengers annually by 2030. The terminal is preparing for the arrival of the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, scheduled to dock in Samaná Bay in May 2027.
Public-private collaboration
The development is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom), the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), the Ministry of Public Works, and the General Public-Private Partnerships Agency (DGAPP).
Once fully operational, the Samana Port will have capacity to handle 10,000 passengers on days when two ships dock simultaneously.
Regional Investment and Sustainability
Tourism Minister David Collado reported that the government has allocated over RD$185 million to pave 29 streets (approximately 6.14 km) surrounding the Arroyo Barril terminal.
ITM Group also committed US$200,000 toward tourism infrastructure in El Limón and Los Haitises. Furthermore, the company has committed to build a flagship Community Center in Sánchez to provide technical training and entrepreneurship programs for local residents.
Environmental and legal oversight
The Presidency press release indicates that the project includes a focus on strict environmental standards required by cruise lines, particularly regarding whale watching and waste management. Additionally, the President has instructed Apordom and the Legal Consultancy at the Executive Branch to expedite land title regularizations to provide legal security for the project area and resolve pending inheritance claims for local families.
The ITM model has been criticized for its all inclusive resort-style attractions that keep most of the tourists in port and with less incentives to go out and discover the destination.
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Presidency
7 April 2026