What to Do In: Las Terrenas

This past weekend I went to Las Terrenas in Samana with a few friends. Las Terrenas is a town in the Samana Peninsula in the north-east part of the island. A relatively new toll road brings travelers from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas in about two hours. Here’s our trip in a nutshell with a few photos and recommendations for those who are planning a weekend trip there.

Accommodations: We stayed at Hotel Leon, a very affordable budget hotel. No air conditioner or hot water but it was perfectly located!

Food and dancing: On Friday night, we met one of my friends for dinner at Lazy Dog on the Pueblo de los Pescadores and had a great meal and drinks. This strip had plenty of cuisine options and late at night, the bars are crowded with people dancing and enjoying themselves. The following night we ate pizza at Pizza Playa. Both restaurants had great service.

Beaches: Saturday morning, we went to Playa Coson, which we were told was one of the most beautiful beaches. Due to stormy weather, we moved a bit further along the coastline to Playa Bonita which was true to its name. I loved floating in the waves, and other visitors brought their surfboards.

Outdoor Exploration: After a relaxing day at the beach, we put on our sneakers and drove to Samana to trek to Salto Limon. It is one of the best known waterfalls in the country. It is only accessible on horseback and after that, following a short, but strenuous, hike. We went to “Parada Esperanza y Colon” where we met our guides and horses. I was nervous to get on the horse, but I was paired with “Pinto” who knew his way around. Two young guides helped our group through the rocky terrain. Finally we arrived at the waterfall, locals swam in the freezing water until the rain started up again. We hiked back up to the horses in the pouring rain.

When it cleared, we mounted and made our way back to the ranch where we were served a delicious Dominican-style lunch with moro (rice and beans), pollo (chicken), zanahoria y tayota (carrots and chayote), and ensalada (salad). Being the sole vegetarian I swapped the chicken for two fried eggs. Despite the weather we had an amazing time at the waterfall and definitely worked up an appetite.

I was glad we didn’t schedule too much to do – after all, what are weekends out of the city for if not relaxing and seeing some new sights? What are your favorite things to do in Las Terrenas?