Samana, Dominican Republic

Evangelical Church

Near the church that people here simply call La Churcha, there is an amazing story. It was built in England and, in 1824, crossed the ocean in sections in order to be assembled in the Dominican Republic - the religious structure was intended for Black congregants of the Methodist Church, former slaves. In 1946, La Churcha was one of the few buildings in the city to survive the fire (when the dictator Rafael Trujillo, known for his brutal acts of intimidation, ordered Santa Bárbara de Samaná to be set on fire). Unfortunately, the historic church was not spared by the 2004 hurricane - the building was damaged, and it was repaired in part thanks to donations from the congregation. Today, the temple belongs to the Evangelical Church of the Dominican Republic. It is a beautifully preserved example of Victorian architecture.

El Limón Waterfall

The locals in the Dominican Republic have nicknamed El Limón the “waterfall of millionaires,” although nobody knows why. They say that while swimming in the waterfall, a suitcase full of money could fall onto your head, but whether that’s luck or bad luck is another question. El Limón is the highest waterfall in the Dominican Republic (50 meters). You can reach the waterfall from the village of El Limon, where there are several ranches offering guided horse rentals. The water in the lake is cool, but after a half-hour horseback ride and a descent through the jungle, taking a dip in it is pure pleasure. If you swim under the flow, you can end up in a small grotto. There are quite sharp stones at the bottom of the lake, so it isn’t recommended to jump into the water from the rocks (although locals love to perform expert jumps “for tips”).

Museum of Wrecked Ships

The Museum of Sunken Ships in Santa Bárbara de Saman opened in 2010 specifically for tourists. The museum is private; it is owned by the company Deep Blue Marine, which is involved in searching for and bringing up to the surface sailing vessels that sank at different times in the waters of the Caribbean basin. Naturally, the company has access to the most interesting finds made underwater, and many of them are brought into the museum as exhibits. The core of the collection consists of items from the 18th-century French sailing ship “Scipion.” You can see antique weapons, tableware, and many other items. And you can also visit the laboratory, where you can see how objects that have lain for many decades in salty sea water are restored and preserved.

Beaches of the Peninsula

Samana Peninsula is famous for its beaches. The snow-white 5-kilometer Coson is considered the best beach near Las Terrenas and, at the same time, remains one of the most quiet and secluded places for swimming. By criteria of scenic beauty, Rincon Beach is included in the top ten in the Caribbean Sea. Here you’ll find white sand, plenty of palm trees, and a bay-an excellent place for swimming and snorkeling. Rincon is easy to spot: this long beach lies at the foot of a 2000-meter mountain. There are no hotels at Rincon, but in the small restaurants here you can always enjoy freshly caught lobsters, fish in coconut sauce, and other local dishes. A few kilometers west of Las Terrenas lies Bonita Beach, a crescent-shaped beach with yellow sand, swaying coconut palms, and turquoise water, dotted with wavelets.

Los Aitises Reserve

The huge reserve includes an countless number of bamboo groves and mangrove thickets. Here, unique species of evergreen trees and shrubs grow, adapted to live right in salt water. The most convenient way to visit Los Haitises is by boat-during a sea cruise along the Samaná Bay, where on many small islands you can watch pelicans and frigatebirds, and at the same time visit the caves that served as homes for the Taíno Indians, where ancient rock paintings have been preserved. Of course, there’s no way around swimming: on the way back, the boat makes a stop to splash around in the waves off Levantado Island.

Pirate Park

Near the city of Santa Bárbara de Samaná, among the damp wild jungles, a new thrilling attraction has opened. The park’s landscape vividly brings to mind the islands from the much-publicized epic “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The adventures begin with a safari through the jungle. A stop along the way-at the dam on the San Juan River-offers a chance to catch your breath at a colorful ranch and enjoy one of the local drinks. But the highlight, without a doubt, is the Zip-Line attraction. These are 12 enormous platforms raised high above the ground, along which tourists will move using special devices. The platform from which the attraction begins is shaped like a pirate ship. The final point of the Zip-Line tour is at El Valle Beach-wild, secluded, and hidden away among the forest.

Whale Watching

Samana can boast the fact that every year from January to March, humpback whales sail here for the mating season. In these warm waters, the miracle of the birth of these amazing mammals takes place. After arriving on the peninsula, you can take an excursion to the namesake bay and watch the humpbacks. A short time ago, a new Whale Watching Center on land was built for this purpose. If you want to see them up close, you can set off on a half-hour boat trip and see individuals reaching 50 tons in weight and 18 meters in length from the closest distance.

Cayo Levantado

Levantado is a small resort island near Samaná. This is considered one of the best resorts in the world. Here you can enjoy true Caribbean fishing (you won’t have to worry about the catch), perfect white-sand beaches (hotels carefully maintain their stretches of coastline), excellent diving for scuba divers of all levels, and snorkeling for those who prefer minimal equipment. A day trip to Cayo Levantado is a great opportunity to spend the day on magnificent beaches, enjoy lively music to the sound of the sea waves, and even chat with sea lions.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can view them after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.