Samana Time
Once a sleepy, little fishing village on the North Coast of the Samana Peninsula, today's Las Terrenas is a prime vacation destination for visitors to the Dominican Republic.
The island's majestic terrain was described by Christopher Columbus as "the most beautiful land in the world," and today the Samana Peninsula is acknowledged as the jewel in the crown of the Dominican Republic.
With miles of undeveloped white-sandy beaches and protected inshore waters, this city of over 12,000 people is a bustling center of activity. And although fishing is still an important part of local life, the allure of this tropical paradise has fueled its growth to become an important part of the world's rapidly growing, recreational market.
The balmy climate with it's ever-present trade winds and the warm temperature of the sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean combine to provide this part of the island with year-round, delightful weather with only a few degrees difference in temperature between winter and summer.
There are plenty of cafés and oceanfront restaurants where people can be found sipping wine, over long, leisurely lunches, or having a mid-day break over a café latte.
Shops there offer a variety of arts and crafts, many of them unique handmade items, like amber jewelry, that can be difficult to find elsewhere in the Dominican Republic. Activity-wise, you can enjoy watersports like snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and kiteboarding. The 4-wheel drive and horseback riding trips are also popular because they allow you to see otherwise non-accessible areas of beauty.
If you just want to plant yourself on a beautiful beach you can also visit close by Playa Bonita or Playa Las Balleras.
