Palm trees, beaches, crystal clear waters and, of course, sun - lots of sun - are some of the most recurrent topics that usually come to mind when thinking about the Caribbean, and places like Punta Cana or Playa Bávaro, like the top destinations in the Dominican Republic.
However, years of tourist exploitation have turned these places, undoubtedly of great beauty, into fashionable destinations, although somewhat overcrowded. They are no longer the paradisiacal and solitary places pursued by many travelers who are looking for virgin and authentic landscapes in which to disconnect in the middle of nature. If this is your case, if you are looking for a destination of spectacular beauty, quiet and deserted landscapes, take note: its name is Samaná.
First of all, place it on the map. Samaná is a peninsula in the northeast of the Dominican Republic, the setting of pirate movies. This paradise, still unknown, has infinite reasons for you to enjoy it before it is conquered by tourists. Take note!
Virgin beaches
It might sound like an advertisement, but the truth is that Samaná can boast of having some of the most incredible beaches in the Caribbean. Diverse and, above all, wild, their turquoise waters and white sands offer an idyllic, almost unreal image. Lined with coconut palms and overflowing with nature, they stretch out alone for miles.
Although virgin, the best known is, without a doubt, Playa Rincón, in various rankings considered one of the best not only in the Caribbean, but in the world. Next to it, others stand out such as Las Galeras, Las Terrenas (where you can book a luxury villa), El Frontón, Las Flechas - the first one that Christopher Columbus stepped on - or Bacardí, all of them accessible to the public. And it is that the beaches of the Dominican Republic are public, which means that there is no impediment to being able to walk and bathe in any of them.
Exuberant nature
The climate, the mild temperatures and the beaches cannot make tourists forget that Samaná is not only a destination for sun and sand, but also a perfect place for lovers of wild nature. In short, for lovers of ecotourism.
The high rate of rainfall in the area means that it has a large -protected- swampy area, a highly prized territory of exuberant jungle vegetation. In it we find humid forests, mangroves, caves with rock art, trails and rivers that form natural pools, and spectacular waterfalls, such as the Salto del Limón, whose crystal clear waters plunge 40 meters.
We are referring to Los Haitises National Park, a name of Arawak origin -the native language of the indigenous people of Samaná- which means high or mountainous lands, in a clear allusion to the highest area of the peninsula.
Its fauna
Pelicans, vultures, royal gulls, hawks or earwigs are some of the species that lovers of ornithological tourism will undoubtedly enjoy. And it is that among the fauna present in Samaná there are numerous native and migratory birds.
Although possibly one of the animals that arouses the greatest attraction has its habitat underwater. It is the humpback whale, a mammal that during the mating season, between the months of December and March, concentrates in the area to reproduce. It is estimated that between 3,000 and 3,500 individuals migrate from the cold waters of the North Atlantic each year.
The show is impressive. The songs of the males to attract the females can be heard from a radius of 30 kilometers, and their jumps impress those who visit the Banco de Plata, a sanctuary created more than three decades ago for the protection of the whales, where the sighting and the observation justify the trip.
Active tourism
Kitesurfing in Las Terrenas or El Portillo; scuba diving and snorkeling at Las Ballenas beach or at Rincón beach; speleology in the caves of the Taino Indians and hiking in Los Haitises National Park; baths in waterfalls like the one in Lulú; horseback riding to Salto el Limón and fishing aboard a catamaran, getting on a jet ski...
The active tourism options on the peninsula are endless. You can do many of them on your own, although the place has local guides and an interesting range of activities that respect the environment.
Its people and their customs
Dominicans, and especially the inhabitants of Samaná, have deservedly earned a reputation for being happy, simple people and welcoming hosts. It is easy to strike up a conversation with them. They live without haste, something that on arrival can surprise, but that over time, ends up impregnating the traveler.
Music and dance, with merengue, salsa and bachata, are always present, as are rum, beer or Mamajuana, the liquor with supposed aphrodisiac powers that has become a symbol of the place.
If you travel to the peninsula, do not be afraid of gastronomy, we assure you that you will enjoy eating. Its Creole cuisine, coffee and cocoa will surprise you.
You can't forget to try the salty sweets, the coconut milk or the picapollo -fried chicken in batter, with yucca and fried plantain-, the delicious tropical fruits that you will find in any corner, or the fish and crustaceans such as lobster. Try it grilled, you'll love it.
An affordable destination
Samaná is very affordable for the pocket of the Spanish, one more point in its favor when opting for this destination. The currency is the Dominican peso, although you can easily use the euro or the US dollar, especially in places aimed at tourists.
As far as accommodation is concerned, unlike what happens in other areas of the Dominican Republic, full of large hotel facilities, in this region, the offer is nourished above all by small, typically local establishments, basically of a family nature. Although it is true that there are some resorts -few- these are perfectly integrated into their surroundings and their prices are affordable.
Do not fear for your safety. Warnings about the need to take precautions never hurt - like everywhere - but, as a general rule, tourists have no problems. Just a piece of advice: if you buy at markets, haggle. Your appearance gives you away and sellers are likely to try to overcharge you... Happy trip.
Article by La Vanguardia.
