Bavaro - Samana

[drmaniac]

Hi There!
In August I am going to stay at Grand Palladium in Bavaro and I would like to make a four days trip to Samana peninsula from there.
I read about take-off flights, but they are out of my budget (fare should be 99 dollars one way) and airplanes land on El Portillo airport in Las Terrenas (I want to make Samana city as base for my excursions...).
Renting a car is expensive as well and roads are horrible as I read!
So, is there any cheaper option to get there (bus or smtg similar)???? I guess passing throug Higuey up to Sabana de la mar...
How many hours does the journey take?
Tnhx

[CatherineD]

I just did this in the opposite direction last week. You need to take a taxi or motoconcho from your hotel to the Bavaro bus stop and get the bus to Higuey(about 100 pesos). There are express buses every hour. We actually took a local bus and it was pretty quick. They will drop you off at the bus stop for the express bus to Alto Mayor. They leave every hour, possibly on the half hour as well(115 pesos). They will drop you in the bus stop for Sabana de la Mar(80 pesos). I am not sure when the return ferries(150 ferries) are from Sabana to Samana. I just read in an old dr1 post that they are at 11AM, 3PM and 5PM. I would think you would be okay if you get there by 3PM. 5PM may be pushing it and you don't want to get stuck in Sabana. Each of the bus drives mentioned and the ferry is about an hour. Some people may tell you to go from Higuey to Sabana via Mitches, but I have been told by pretty good sources that the roads are terrible and make a very uncomfortable trip. Also I think there are more express buses connecting Alto Mayor and Sabana because it is the way they go to the capital. It is not a bad trip at all.

Catherine
Casa Dorado :: Las Galeras