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Dominican Republic · North-east

Samaná travel guide

Humpback whales, waterfalls and wild beaches

Playa Rincón on the Samaná peninsula. Photo: Danu Widjajanto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

9hflight from London
AZSnearest main airport
28° in Augwarmest month
25° in Jancoolest month

The Samaná peninsula is the green, wild side of the Dominican Republic, with palm-covered hills, empty beaches and the El Limón waterfall.

From mid-January to March, thousands of humpback whales come to Samaná Bay to breed and calve, one of the best places in the world to see them.

Good forWildlifeBeachesNatureHiking

What Samaná is known for

  • Humpback whales

    January to March.

  • El Limón waterfall

    A jungle cascade.

  • Playa Rincón

    A wild, empty beach.

  • Los Haitises

    Mangroves and caves.

Top things to do in Samaná

  1. 1

    Whale watching

    Boats from Samaná town.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    El Limón waterfall

    Hike or ride to the falls.

    Find tours and tickets
  3. 3

    Playa Rincón

    One of the best beaches in the country.

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  4. 4

    Los Haitises National Park

    Boat trips through mangroves.

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See all tours and tickets in Samaná

Where to stay in Samaná

Find a hotel in Samaná

Best time to visit Samaná

Best value: May, Oct–Nov. January to March for whales; December to April for dry weather.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
24.7 C25°J24.9 C25°F25.4 C25°M26.3 C26°A26.9 C27°M27.6 C28°J27.8 C28°J27.9 C28°A27.8 C28°S27.3 C27°O26.2 C26°N25.3 C25°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Samaná, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 9h from London to AZS, and flights from most UK airports. How long is the flight from your airport?

Fly to El Catey or drive about 2.5 hours from Santo Domingo.

Airport transfer to Samaná

Find flights to Samaná (AZS)

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Good to know

  • Book whale trips with operators that follow the rules.
  • Some beaches are reached by boat.
  • Bring cash for smaller towns.
Dominican Republic guidesWhen to goFlight times

Samaná FAQ

When is whale season?

Mid-January to March.

How far is it from Punta Cana?

About 3 to 4 hours by road.

More places in Dominican Republic

Back to the Dominican Republic travel guide + Add Samaná to your bucket list