Samaná Vacation Guide (What to Do and How to Get There)

A natural treasure filled with pristine beaches, bays, coves, waterfalls, mountains and panoramic vistas, Samana offers adventure travelers lots to explore with activities such as nature treks, body-boarding and whale-watching. Although expensive, flying is the fastest and safest way to get to Samana.
Samana Vacation Guide
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Most tourists heading to Samana will enter the Dominican Republic via an international airport.

It is therefore vital to know how to get to Samana from the airport in the safest, easiest and cheapest way possible, to ensure that your vacation starts well.

Read on for the essential guide to traveling to Samana.

Where is Samaná Peninsula?

The Samaná Peninsula is a peninsula located within the province of Samaná, in the northeastern part of the Dominican Republic.

Situated to the north of Samana Bay, the Samaná Peninsula is linked to the rest of the country by the isthmus of Samaná.

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the peninsula boasts many beaches, particularly within the city of Santa Bárbara de Samaná.

Where is the Main Tourist Center of Samaná?

The main tourist center of Samana is in Las Terrenas, a town situated along the northern coast of Samaná Bay.

An important tourist destination, Las Terrenas is also the main hub for whale-watching tours within the Caribbean region.

What is Samana Known For?

Samana is known for:

  • A natural treasure trove of bays, coves, beaches, mountains, waterfalls and breathtaking views. There’s a lot to explore, via nature treks, whale-watching and body-boarding.
  • A breeding spot for humpback whales. Between January and March, thousands of humpback whales arrive at the coast off Samaná to mate and give birth.
  • Natural features such as mangroves, protected islands serving as nesting sites for pelicans and frigate birds, and caves with pre-Columbian petroglyphs and pictographs.
  • The famous Bacardi Island. Officially known as Cayo Levantado, Bacardi Island got its name from an ad campaign for Bacardi rum that made the island famous.
  • One of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Located in Las Galeras, Playa Rincon offers a stunning contrast between sea and mountain, with miles of gorgeous white sands in between.

When Can You See Whales in Samaná?

The whale-watching season in Samana Bay begins on 15 January and runs until 31 March each year.

Is Samaná Safe for Tourists?

Yes, Samana is safe for tourists to visit.

Besides opportunistic crimes like petty theft, pickpocketing and bag-snatching that are typical in major tourist areas, crimes against tourists rarely occur in Samana.

Moreover, you can avoid falling victim to crime in Samana by using your common sense and sticking to the well-traveled tourist areas.

How Do You Get to Samaná?

The best way to get to Samana is by flying, but this will require a bit of effort as there’s a short supply of direct international flights into the Samana El Catey International Airport.

As such, most visitors heading to Samaná use connecting flights from Punta Cana.

Others opt to go by road on a 2-hour drive from Santo Domingo, along the new and modern highway.

Can You Fly to Samana?

Yes, it is possible to fly to Samana.

Visitors going to Samana can fly into the Samana El Catey International Airport (AZS), which accepts both domestic and international flights.

Does Samana have an Airport?

Yes. For international travel, Samana is served by the Samana El Catey International Airport (AZS).

Commonly known as Samana Airport, this airport is located 46.3km away, and is accessible by a one hour drive from Samana using the Autopista Nagua-Samaná road.

That said, while El Catey is the closest airport to Samana, it doesn’t receive a lot of direct international flights.

Consequently, the majority of tourists headed for Samana will opt to use connecting flights from the airport in Punta Cana.

What Airport Do You Fly Into for Samaná?

The best airport to fly into for Samana is the El Catey International Airport (AZS).

Also known as the Aeropuerto Internacional Presidente Juan Bosch (AISA), this airport mainly services international flights into the province of Samana by JetBlue via JFK, along with several European and Canadian carriers.

Which Airport is Closest to Samana?

Samana El Catey International Airport (AZS) is the closest airport to Samana.

Located 46.3km away, it takes approximately 1 hour to drive from this airport to Samana.

What Airports Fly to Samana?

The airports in the Dominican Republic that fly to Samana are:

  • Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ): Most tourists going to Samaná use connecting flights from this airport which is located in Punta Cana.
  • Cibao International Airport (STI): Located in Santiago, this airport mostly receives flights from the United States.
  • Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP): Located in Puerto Plata, this airport is the fourth busiest airport in the Dominican Republic.
  • Las Americas International Airport (SDQ): Located in Santo Domingo, this airport receives flights from all around the world.

Which Airport is Closer – Punta Cana or Santo Domingo?

Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo (160.6km) is closer to Samana than the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) in Punta Cana (309.7km).

To get to Samana, you will need to drive about 2.5 hours from the Santo Domingo airport and 4 hours from the Punta Cana airport.

How Far is Samaná from the Airport?

The distance to Samana from the Samana El Catey International Airport (AZS) is 46.3km.

It takes about one hour to drive from the airport to Samana via the Autopista Nagua-Samaná road.

How Long Does It Take to Get to Samana from the Airport?

It takes about 1 hour to get to Samana from the Samana El Catey International Airport (AZS).

How Far is Samaná from Santo Domingo Airport?

The distance from the Santo Domingo Airport to Samana is 160.6km.

It takes about 2.5 hours to drive from the Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) to Samana via the Carr Juan Pablo II and Autopista Nagua-Samaná roads.

How Do You Get from Santo Domingo to Samaná?

The best way to get from Santo Domingo to Samana is by bus.

A bus ride offers the cheapest and easiest means of transportation along this route.

How Long Does It Take From Santo Domingo to Samaná?

It takes about 2.5 hours to get from Santo Domingo to Samana.

How Long is the Drive from Santo Domingo to Samaná?

The drive from Santo Domingo to Samana takes about 2.5 hours.

How Much is a Taxi from Santo Domingo to Samaná?

A taxi from Santo Domingo to Samana costs around US $200.

How Long is the Bus Ride from Santo Domingo to Samaná?

The bus ride from Santo Domingo to Samana takes about 3 hours.

There is a direct bus that departs from the Santo Domingo Terminal Caribe Tours and arrives at Samaná, 3 times a day each day.

How Far is Puerto Plata from Samaná?

The distance from Puerto Plata to Samana is 214.6km.

It takes about 3.5 hours to drive from Puerto Plata to Samana via the Autopista Nagua-Samaná road.

How Do I Get From Puerto Plata to Samaná?

The best way to get to Samana from Puerto Plata is by flying.

How Long Does it Take from Puerto Plata to Samaná?

It takes about 3.5 hours to get from Puerto Plata to Samana.

How Much is a Taxi from Puerto Plata to Samaná?

A taxi from Puerto Plata to Samana costs around US $200.

How Long is the Bus Ride from Puerto Plata to Samaná?

The bus ride from Puerto Plata to Samana takes about 4 hours.

Is Samaná Close to Punta Cana?

No, Samana is not close to Punta Cana.

The distance between Punta Cana and Samana is 309.1km.

It takes about 4 hours to drive to Samana from Punta Cana using the Autopista Del Coral road.

How Far is Samaná from Punta Cana?

The distance from Punta Cana to Samana is 309.1km.

It takes about 4 hours to drive from Punta Cana to Samana via the Autopista Del Coral road.

How Do I Get From Punta Cana to Samaná?

The best way to get from Punta Cana to Samana is by flying.

Although expensive, direct flights offer the fastest mode of transportation along this route.

How Long Does it Take from Punta Cana to Samaná?

It takes about 4 hours to get from Punta Cana to Samana.

How Long is the Drive from Punta Cana to Samaná?

The drive from Punta Cana to Samana takes about 4 hours.

How Much is a Taxi from Punta Cana to Samaná?

A taxi from Punta Cana to Samana costs around US $400.

How Long is the Bus Ride from Punta Cana to Samaná?

The bus ride from Punta Cana to Samana takes about 6.5 hours.

Keep in mind that there is no direct bus from Punta Cana to Samaná. Rather, there are bus services that depart from Punta Cana and arrive at Samaná via Santo Domingo.

How Far is Samaná from Las Terrenas?

The distance from Las Terrenas to Samana is 40.3km.

It takes about one hour to drive from Las Terrenas to Samana via the Carretera Las Terrenas road.

How Do I Get From Las Terrenas to Samaná?

The best way to get to Samana from Las Terrenas is by taking the bus.

How Long Does It Take from Las Terrenas to Samaná?

It takes about 1 hour to get from Las Terrenas to Samana.

How Long is the Drive from Las Terrenas to Samaná?

The drive from Las Terrenas to Samana takes about one hour.

How Much is a Taxi from Las Terrenas to Samaná?

A taxi from Las Terrenas to Samana costs between US $45-55.

How Long is the Bus Ride from Las Terrenas to Samaná?

The bus ride from Las Terrenas to Samana takes just over 1 hour.

How Far is Santiago from Samaná?

The distance to Samana from Santiago is 200.1km.

It takes about 3.5 hours to drive from Santiago to Samana via the Autopista Nagua-Samaná road.

How Do I Get From Santiago to Samaná?

The best way to get from Santiago to Samana is by flying.

How Long Does it Take from Santiago to Samaná?

It takes about 3.5 hours to get from Santiago to Samana.

How Long is the Drive from Santiago to Samaná?

The drive from Santiago to Samana takes approximately 3.5 hours.

How Much is a Taxi from Santiago to Samaná?

A taxi from Santiago to Samana costs around US $200.

How Long is the Bus Ride from Santiago to Samaná?

The bus ride from Santiago to Samana takes around 4 hours.

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