Samaná Vacation Packages

The coral reefs and shipwrecks in the water of the Samaná area make diving an especially exciting adventure here. Perfect for history buffs, the scuba diving excursions in Samaná add a little culture to an already amazing experience. If you head to Las Terrenas, you’ll see the beautiful coral nicknamed “the three whales.” Further east, Las Galeras has sunken shipwrecks and rock formations in the sea. More advanced divers should check out “Cabo Cabron,” which has a 120-foot descent into the ocean.

To see an untouched, picture-perfect beach vision in person, you have to visit Playa Rincon. Three miles of soft, white sand lined with lush palm trees team up with cerulean water and majestic mountaintops to create a stunning view of flawlessness. The beach is secluded, unspoiled and gorgeous, so if you’re the type of person who loves catching nature in its original state, this is the place for you. You can catch a boat from Las Galeras to set sail toward this slice of heaven. Because it's untouched, you'll have to remember to bring your necessities. Conveniences like food, drinks and lounge chairs are available for a price but are well worth it for the view and experience.

The biggest attraction in the area comes to Samaná each January to March. During this time, thousands of humpback whales migrate through the Samaná Bay to mate and give birth to their young. The journey to these waters is a ritual and is an exciting event for the people who are lucky enough to see it. Visiting this area during this time of year to share with these amazing mammals up close is an experience of a lifetime. Excursions depart to catch the frolicking giant creatures in action. Grab the best seat on the boat to watch them splash and spout water and don't forget your camera! You'll want a keepsake of your time with these majestic sea mammals.

Language: Spanish

Currency: Peso (RD$)

Electricity: Same voltage as North America, but the sockets are two-pronged.

Passport/Immigration: All U.S. citizens must have a valid passport when traveling to and from the Dominican Republic.

Drinking Water: Drink only bottled water. Avoid tap water and drinking beverages with ice cubes.

Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (UTC/GMT -4 hours)

Peak Season: December to February, July to August and Semana Santa (the week before Easter)

Venture just outside Samaná to the town of Cabrera, where you’ll find the Dudu Caves. Locals hang out there to swim, jump off cliffs into the deep lagoon, and hop from rope swings over the water. You'll even see expert divers show up to explore the undergrounds of the caves. The best part is after you've done discovering cliff diving, you can munch on something yummy at the snack bar.

Spend the evening in the beautiful and swanky Café del Mar Puerto Bahia where you can enjoy cocktails and delicious meals with live music and the gorgeous Samaná sunset in the background. The restaurant is inside the Bannister Hotel in Puerto Bahia, right off the coast of Samaná, and the Latin kitchen cooks up treats ranging from Spanish recipes, Mexican salsa and even vegetarian specialties.

Samaná has two airports that service via CheapCaribbean.com. Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) is a major regional airport for the Dominican Republic. It’s located 20 minutes from Santo Domingo in Punta Caucedo. Samaná is a 1-2 hour drive north from Santo Domingo. El Catey Samaná International (AZS) is a smaller airport with seasonal flights from certain US cities. However, it’s located on the Samaná peninsula and is a much shorter drive. Each visitor entering the Dominican Republic will be required to purchase a Tourist Card upon arriving. It is recommended for guests to purchase their card prior to arrival to skip the lines at the airport. Tourist Cards may now be purchased online through the following link: https://www.dgii.gov.do/Tturistaweb/Order-en.

At the immigration desk, you will have to purchase a 30-day tourist card instead of a visa. The DR requires a departure tax that’s usually included in your airfare. Your flight attendant will typically give you customs paperwork to fill out on the plane. After you’ve been through the immigration desk at the airport and you’ve picked up your luggage from baggage claim, you’ll go to customs, where officers will possibly check your bags.

CheapCaribbean.com has partnered with Amstar as our premier transportation company in Samaná. They’ll provide you with safe, comfortable and professional transportation from the airport to your hotel and back. They’ll also provide transportation to any excursions booked through our site that you’d like to take while you’re in your destination.

It’s easy to find your Amstar team when you arrive at the airport. They’ll be standing in the ground transportation waiting area, holding a CheapCaribbean welcome sign. They wear floral shirts. All drivers are fluent in English, friendly and knowledgeable about the culture, history and things to do while you’re there. By the end of your ride, you’ll have made a new friend. Vehicles are all clean, modern and reliable.

Amstar is also the official transportation rep for CheapCaribbean.com excursions when you book vacations to Samaná on our site. The majority of our partner hotels have an Amstar desk in or near the lobby so they’re easy to find, should you need them. For this reason, we suggest that our guests do not rent cars while in the Caribbean or Mexico as traffic laws and road quality and street signs are not the same as they are in the US.

You can get around your resort area most conveniently on foot, but if you plan on taking trips outside of the resort area, we recommend you use Amstar Tours. Excursions to fun activities include transportation to and from the hotel, so you can count on a convenient and dependable ride.