ATRACTIONS
Near Cambrí Hotel, they are the best attractions of our country. Let us show you.
SAMANA
Leaping whales, sun-drenched white sandy beaches, coconut-covered mountains, tropical rainforests with clear, cold mountain streams rushing to meet the sea; Samana's beauty attracts many visitors not only once, but for a second and third visit as well.
Las Terrenas.
This long stretch of the North coast offers some of the nation's finest beaches. At low tide you can walk right out to the coral reefs. A small village highly recommended as a place to go and relax. Secluded Playa Bonita is situated around the headland to the West, and Portillo lies to the East. Humpbacked whales can sometimes be spotted off of the coast in season.
A local activity is diving into the sea in search of lobsters that hide in coral-covered cavities. After underwater exploring, let's see what we can discover on land.
A road from Las Terrenas reaches the toen of El Limon. At this point, on horseback, you'll ride past farms and streams on a road that climbs to 300 metres in altitude. On one side you can admire the deep blue ocean, on the other, your gaze will span centuries-old trees and carob, banana and cofee platations. You'll proceed on foot to the El Limon waterfall whose waters, after a drop of over 30 metres, from a lake which few can resist the temptation to dive in to.
Las Galeras.
Las Galeras is a fantastic beach in the
extreme east of the Samana peninsula, very charming place, a beach of white
sand at the shape of a "U".
Los Haitises.
As part of the largest estuary in the insular Caribbean, the 208 km2 Los Haitises National Park is a protected area in the northeast of the country (see map), which offers the visitor a rich variety of natural wonders to explore, including: large expanses of mangrove, humid subtropical forest, seagrass beds, and pristine keys scattered along the length of the coast.
The irregular topography of small, vegetation covered hills so characteristic of Los Haitises is the result of erosion subsequent to uplifting of the underlying limestone bedrock, formed over millions of years by marine organisms.
Guided tours of the park leave from Sabana de la Mar on the south coast of Samaná Bay, and from the community of Samaná on the north coast.
These organized excursions, carried out by trained nature guides, give you the opportunity to view the rich diversity of animal life, as well as visit the many keys and fascinating caves found in the park. Some of these caves contain pictographs (drawings) and petroglyphs (rock carvings) left by the Amerindians who once inhabited this unique area.
Cayo Levantado.
Cayo Levantado, is a little island in Samana Bay . The Bounty Hunters came in search of Paradise, and found it on Cayo Levantado. This jewel of a tiny island lies just off the Samaná Peninsula and is our destination for a day of pure escapism. The sand is white and powdery, the turquoise waters are crystal clear and perfect for snorkeling or gentle swimming. A large number of birds can be found here, including parrots, owls, and gannets. Notable are also the ìjutíaî and the solenodonte. Birds include gannets, Hispaniolan parrots, and owls.
This Island is also called the Bacardi Island because some palm trees look like the ones in the Bacardi advertising spots. It is a quite beautiful island with several hundred tourists coming every day. And you can walk through the island in only 15 minutes. So you can imagine how it looks like. But the beaches are fantastic and it is worth to rest for a few hours.
Salto del Limon.
El Salto del Limón, as the waterfall is locally known, is found in the northeast of the Dominican Republic in the attractive peninsula of Samaná.
There are four access routes to the falls located about midway along the road joining Las Terrenas on the north coast with Samaná on the south coast. Four small communities-Rancho Espanol, Arroyo Surdido, El Café and El Limón-have organized entry points, or 'paradas', offering guided horseback treks to the falls. Food and beverages, local produce such as coffee, cocoa, grapefruit, coconuts and handicrafts can also be purchased at these paradas.
The native Ciguayos were driven out of the region with the arrival of Colombus and the Spanish. The main period of settlement occurred during the 1820's when hundreds of freed slaves from Philadelphia came here at the invitation of the President of the country.
These so called Ingleses brought with them their language, customs and beliefs and many of our older residents speak English to this day. During the latter half of the 19th century more immigrants from other islands were attracted to the area by the economic boom in neighboring Sanchez. The region of Samaná and its communities is, therefore, characterized by a rich ethnic mix and cultural diversity.
The Whales of Samana.
One of the most beautiful tour in Dominican Republic is the Visit to the Sanctuary of Humpback Whales in Samana, Dominican Republic. Samana's whales are well known. Each year 3 to 5 thousand humpback whales return to Bahia de Samana and adjacent waters to give birth and mate for the following year. From January until March, frolicsome males can be observed vying for the attentions of demure females. Sky-rocketing, standing on their tails (and heads, too!), flippering, tailing; all sorts of antics may be observed under carefully controlled conditions aboard excursion boats staffed by knowledgeable personnel. Excursions leave from Samana Harbor and several other points along the north shore of the bay. Samana's whales are truly an international treasure and are fully protected by the Dominican government.
The establishment of the 20 square mile Bancos de Plata Parque Nacional (Silver Bank National Park) under the protection of the Dominican government insures a hassle free environment and the continued breeding, calving and survival of these incredible whales in this, the largest humpback breeding grounds in the world.
SOSUA
Sosua is located in the heart of the popular beach area of the Atlantic Coast, about 20 km east of Puerto Plata and 14 km west of Cabarete. It is divided into two separate villages which are separated by a bay at whose base is a beautiful sandy white beach more than half a mile long.
In addition to sunbathing, it is the scene of a variety of watersports such as sailing, waterskiing, jet-skiing, and just offshore a short distance there are banks of coral that are excellent for scuba-diving. Not far away to the east is another beach where the conditions are great for surfing (with just a board, without sail). Sosua is great place for nightly entertainment too.
RIO SAN JUAN
Laguna Gri-Gri.
This is one of the most beautiful places in the northern side of the island: lots of birds, lots of green stuff, lots of out-of-the-water-root's trees.
PUERTO PLATA
The city
of Puerto Plata is geographically privileged, located on the North Coast of
the Dominican Republic, sharing with the Republic of Haiti the Hispaniola
Island.
It is surrounded by beautiful beaches, rivers and green mountains. To the
south is the magnificent Isabel de Torres mountain, with an altitude of 800
Mts, over sea level. You can reach the top by Cable Car in seven minutes and
admire a vast botanicle garden with more than 594 varities of plants and the
great statue of Cristo el Redendor.
Puerto Plata was founded in 1502 by Fray Nicolas de Ovando and today
its population is approximately 100,000.
Fort "San Felipe" is the principal colonial monument of the city of
Puerto
Plata. It has a great similarity with the architecture of the San Augustin
Fort in Florida. It is said that the same plans and people were used to
build it.
The corsairs and pirates were constantly invading the city and rob its
citizens, so in 1569 started its construction and was terminated in 1577. In
1605 the fort was dismantled and rebuilt in 1739 and equipped with military
personnel to guarantee the safeguard of the city.
Since 1974 the Cultural in heritage Office has converted the Saint Felipe in
a Colonial Museum.
COFRESI
The
north cast enjoys mile after mile of fine golden beaches. Along this amber
coastline lies cofresi, one of the most infomaus pirates of the Carribbean!
Cofresi today, is a beautiful resort area with hotel and private villa
accommodations and sweeping panoramic ocean views.
Most wanted Pirate in 1800's
Roberto Cofresi was a notorios pirate whose name lives on in Puerto Plata.
Born June 27, 1791, in Cabo Rojo on the southeast tip of Puerto Rico, the
son of a German - Jewish immigrant named Franz Gustav von Kupferstein, he
would prey upon the ships in the Mona Passage. His most popular hideout were
the cave on Mona Island, Saona Island, Samana and along the south coast of
Puerto Rico.
On March 19, 1825, he was trapped in a bay and most of his men were killed.
Thed 12 who survived were imprisoned in the El Morro Fort of San Juan. On
March 29, at eight o'clock in the morning, executed along with his men.
His name was also given to a bay just west of Puerto Plata for reasons no
one knows.
CABARETE
Cabarete's
seemingly endless beach, constant breezes and protective coral has made this
one of the most popular windsurfing and kite boarding destination's in the
Caribbean considered among the top 10 places for these exiting sports. It is
also a paradise for people who like mountain bike, golfing, sports and
nature lovers.
A variety of lodging facilities, from all inclusive resorts, hotels,
suites, condominios,
villas
pensions, bed & breakfast.
Cabarete is renown for its dining on the beach setting, unique in the
country…
PLAYA DORADA
Playa
Dorada has the largest concentration of resorts. It offers a country club
setting, with hotels spread out through a very lush and appealing
garden-golf course setting. All the buildings are low- rise, maximum three
stories so the natural vegetation dominates. The whole setting is done
really in quite good taste. There are 14 different hotels in this complex,
located about 5 kilometers from the edge of historic Puerto Plata.But it
doesn't feel dense because of the low rise building code. Some are on the
beach, others around the golf course but all in all you are basically on the
beach. The golf course hotels all
have their own oceanfront beach clubs and even though it's walking distance
they have golf carts and other means of shuttling those who don't feel like
walking
LUPERON
The
seaside city of Luperon serves as a port that welcomes sailboats from around
the world. It is known as the "Caribbean Refuge" thanks to the protection it
offers to sailors from hurricanes.
LA ISABELA
Site of the first European Settlement in America 12 miles from Luperon, you
will find La Isabela, site of the first constructed Spanish settlement and
today a protected park, testament to the true beginning of America.
The area around La Isabela Bay offered favorable conditions for building a
settlement. A river of crystal clear water flowed into the bay. There was an
elevated outcrop to build on. Forests provided plenty of wood and rocky
cliff supplied the stone they
needed to build with. And, not far away was the promise of gold in the
mountains of the Cibao.
For the 1200 men who had just spent 100 days crammed into 17 ships,
suffering the stench and perpetual motion of the sea… this was paradise.
Columbus named the site La Isabela in honor of the Spanish Queen. Situated
in what is known today as Puerto Plata Province, so was established, in the
early days of January 1494, the first organized settlement in the new World.
THE REGION
