What to do/see in Samana

[Thistle]

Hello
We will be visiting Samana in early April when our cruise ship stops there from 9am to 5pm. We are not the type who like to just lay on a beach all day, we prefer to see what the sights are by tour, or to do something fun. Everything I've been able to read so far seems more for those who are staying much longer than just the short time we'll be there.

Are there any tour companies that offer shorter excursions for cruise ship visitors?

Is Samana a safe place to walk around? What sights should one go see while there? Is there a particular restaurant we should go to, and what type of food should we try?

Anyone have any suggestions for what we can do in the short time we have that will give us a good experience in Samana?

Any information that anyone could provide will be very much appreciated. Thank you

[cobraboy]

9 to 5 won't give you a whole lot of time to see much of the peninsula.

[WebDev]

Originally Posted by Thistle

Hello
We will be visiting Samana in early April when our cruise ship stops there from 9am to 5pm. We are not the type who like to just lay on a beach all day, we prefer to see what the sights are by tour, or to do something fun. Everything I've been able to read so far seems more for those who are staying much longer than just the short time we'll be there.

Are there any tour companies that offer shorter excursions for cruise ship visitors?

Is Samana a safe place to walk around? What sights should one go see while there? Is there a particular restaurant we should go to, and what type of food should we try?

Anyone have any suggestions for what we can do in the short time we have that will give us a good experience in Samana?

Any information that anyone could provide will be very much appreciated. Thank you

Soon as you arrive at the pier, you will be swarmed by people with offers to sell tours, tour company such as "Extra tours" and "Estilo tours", both with offices on the Malecon, are reputable, IMHO.
The tours offered vary, from tour to Las Galeras and Playa Rincon to "The fountain of youth" trip.
I am sure on board of ship you will offered the same type of tours at much higher price.
To walk half a mile to the new "Pueblo" for shopping, is one other option, don't expect much.
Samana is a safe city, but don't stray from the core area in to the barios, be safe.
Restaurants offering good lunch, IMHO, are "La France" on Malecon and "El Chino" (chinese) up on the hill.

Hope this help,

WebDev

P.S.
Friends of mine got a complimentary "day pass" for GBP Cayacoa, from the ship. They stay a little at the hotel beach, went shopping to the new "Pueblo", back to hotel for late lunch and lazy by the pool till the time to get back to the ship in the afternoon. On your cruise ship, might have the same offer.

[Thistle]

Thank you WebDev for your reply.
The ship offers an excursion to the caves and mangroves of Los Haitises national park, a Cayo Levantado Beach escape (their private island) or a trip to Las Terrenas which would be of interest except it is by non air conditioned bus and that would not work well for my traveling companion.

I wish I had more time in Samana, it looks like it's a beautiful place and I'd like to see how life is like for the locals, but with limited time, I'll probably just go with the coves and mangroves excursion.

Thank you again for your information, I do appreciate it.

Thistle

[London_Calling]

The Samana Peninsular is beautiful though the town of Samana IMO is a real disappointment - except for the old church (near the Chinese Restaurant) any old buildings left were distroyed in the 1970's and all you have now is a concrete built town with a rather scruffy Malecon. The town is really a base for going somewhere else.

If there is a tour to Las Galeras and Rincon I would go for that as the beach there is beautiful. The option of Los Haitises would also be worth considering.

[fightfish]

Go to La Haitisis by boat from the govt dock to see a very beautiful natural estuary. It i a fun ride by go fast across the bay.Other worthwhile tours will be limited by your time frame. In the park just across from the govt dock will be a little touristy art sale going on. If you want to see a bit of ral samana, get a cab to take you to a comida tipica somewhere in town for some mangu, platinos and chicken or fish. Or a trip to Rincon by taxi would show you a little of the penninsula, and a gorgeous beach where you can grab a local lunch as well.

[Uzin]

I think the waterfalls at El Limon (sp?) is not too far away for a day trip, you need to go on horse I think, not sure how far from main road it is (I missed out on that as we ran out of time)....

[fightfish]

The waterfall at Limon is about a 25 min car ride to the beginning of the ascent by horseback given your limited time. Once on your trusty steed you give another couple/three hours to go up, do some swimming and return down to the road. Basically a half day or better. Just get in a taxi on the Malecon, tell him to take to Salto Limon.

[web]

Aren't the Humpback Whales in season now? For my money that would be worth the whole cruise.

[jruane44]

Originally Posted by web

Aren't the Humpback Whales in season now? For my money that would be worth the whole cruise.

They are now but I dont think they are in the first week of April.