The Dominican Republic isn't just Punta Cana resorts – Las Terrenas on the Samaná peninsula is where the country gets interesting. French bakeries next to colmado shops, humpback whales breaching in the bay from January to March, and beaches you'll actually have to yourself. We spent over a week exploring the Samaná area, and most of our guides below focus on what you can do from Las Terrenas as a base.
December – April
Dry season. Jannuary – March for whale watching in Samaná.
Dominican Peso (DOP)
1 USD ≈ 60 DOP
Live rate
$40 – 80 USD / person
Mid-range: private room, local food, transport
Spanish
Limited English outside touristic places. Basic Spanish goes a long way.
Generally safe
Standard precautions. Avoid motorbike taxis at night.