Samana

Where to stay

Budget beds cluster in the old town uphill from the harbor, particularly along Calle Mella and the streets branching off it toward Av. Circunvalacion. Staying here keeps you within walking distance of the plaza, local guesthouses, and the main bus station, though it means a short walk or taxi ride down to the waterfront for whale-watching boats and ferry departures.

Getting around

• The town itself has no major beaches, so use it as a base for day trips. Shared taxis and guaguas run frequently along Highway 5 to Playa Rincon, Los Hidalgos, and Las Terrenas, which are far cheaper than private tours and give you the full day to explore.
• Humpback whales migrate to Samana Bay from mid-January through March. Book your boat tour with a local operator in town rather than through a hotel; they offer the same routes to the whale pods for a fraction of the resort markup.
• Bring cash in Dominican pesos. ATMs in Santa Barbara de Samana are limited and often run dry, and the small guesthouses and roadside vendors in the old town rarely accept cards.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest from May through November, outside the whale-watching window and the December-January holiday rush. Prices spike and beds fill fast from mid-January to March when the humpback whales arrive, and again during the Christmas and New Year holidays when domestic tourists flood the peninsula.