SD-Samana,Tropical Lodge, Exploring Samana

sshabazz · #1 08-01-2008, 11:41 PM

Hello All,

My boyfriend and I are planning to travel to Samana from SD by Caribe Tour Bus next Friday:
1. Has anyone taken the Caribe Bus to Samana before? Anything we should know before departing at 7 am from SD?

2. Would anyone recommend the Hotel Tropical Lodge in Samana? We want to be frugal but don't want to sacrifice safety or cleanliness.

3. If not, would you recommend some other hotel? (cheap, clean, safe, good location)

4. Is it reasonable to base out of Samana and take day trips to other places like Las Terranas, Las Galeras, Sabana dela Mar (i.e. Is the transportation to/from cheap and easy to find)? Or should we just stay 2 days and 2 days somewhere else?

5. What's the best way to get to Puerto Plata from the Samana Pennisula? Time? Cost?

6. Will the guagua drivers have a problem with us traveling with luggage? (Large backpacks)

7. Best things to do on the Samana pennisula?

I know this is a lot of info I'm asking for, so thanks in advance for whatever advice you have to offer.

PGerace · #2 08-02-2008, 05:07 PM

Saludos!
While in the Samana area my favorite areas for you to visit are: Playa Rincon, Cayo Levantado, & the Limon Waterfalls.
You can see my photos of those locations here at DR1 in the media gallery seciton at Paul Gerace - DR1 Media Gallery or at my website Welcome.
Gracias.
Paul Gerace

fightfish · #3 08-03-2008, 04:21 PM

Samana penninsula is a beautiful part of the country,generally very safe and affordable.
To try to answe some of your questions....
The Caribe tour bus is pretty straight forward. Luggage can be stored underneath like on any large greyhound style bus.

Tropical lodge hotel is just up the street from the Caribe Tours station. I believe that Tropical Lodge is one of your most expensive places to stay in town. Other choices would be te China Hotel uphill from the Bayfront(clean, nice, good restaurant and quiet), Bahia something, just behind the new strip mall on the bayfront(clean, safe, 800rd more or less), also a good restaurant below. There are several other hotels in town, all safe and inexpensive.

Daytrips are all easily done from Samana eliminating the need to travel with your gear and change hotels. Guaguas run all day between your list of daytrips, including a boatride across te bay, and are all very inexpensive.

A guagua leaves daily for PP from the park across from the government dock in the afternoon. The cost is also affordable, your bags can go in the trailer. The travel time is about 5 hours. This bus can get quite full quickly, so arrive early to get seats.

The Limon falls are beautiful, as is Playa Rincon. Las Galeras is a neat little beach town. Avoid Boca del Diablo(a blowhole towards Las Galeras) as it is a frequent target for robberies of tourists, even those accompanied by a guide or motoconcho.

Trips across the bay to the Los Haitises park are well worth the ride and the beauty of the place.

A beer and some food on the malecon on a nice night is good entertainment and people watching. Pick a plastic chair, have some chicken and tostones and enjoy the wheelies being performed by the locals. Lots of music, often many songs playing loudly at once.
Have fun!!

sshabazz · #4 08-03-2008, 08:41 PM

Thank you guys for the info! Very helpful!

FightFish,

One thing, will our luggage be safe in the trailer of the guagua? Either way we'll probably be on that guagua, but just want to know if we need to be super vigilant. Again, thank you so much.

fightfish · #5 08-04-2008, 01:31 PM

Hi. Yes, I think your backpacks or luggage will be safe on the POP guagua. It's a trailer they pull behind, and they put everyone's luggage, pollos and motos back there to allow more passengers to squeeze on the bus. As I said before that bus can get super crowded. I actually would prefer to ride on top, but they won't allow it(amazingly). It's the only direct route from Samana to POP. They make a stop for 15 or 20 minutes for an empenada and a beer, then on the road again.

London_Calling · #6 08-06-2008, 05:37 AM

IMO I would not stay in the town of Samana - nothing much to recommend it. Instead get off the Caribe Tour bus at Sanchez and go to Las Terranas/Playa Bonita - try Fata Morgana for a cheap option here - in land but nice garden, cheap and walking distance from Playa Bonita.

Alternatively stay on the bus to Samana and then gua gua to Las Galera - small village with a number of cheap options + fantastic beaches and access to Rincon.

jalencastro · #7 08-06-2008, 11:35 AM

i havent been to the Samana peninsula yet and am looking forward to it. Is there a Malecon in the Terrenas area? I will be staying there later this year!

fightfish · #8 08-06-2008, 02:15 PM

Las Terrenas has a small beachfront road with a few small restaurants in the sand and others across the two lane drive. But it's not a malecon as you would find in Samana, POP or Santo Domingo.

jalencastro · #9 08-06-2008, 02:48 PM

thanks for the info fightfish....wish there was a nice malecon but oh well.
how far a drive is it from Las Terrenas to Samana so I can see this malecon? is it safe at night?

fightfish · #10 08-06-2008, 05:32 PM

The malecon is Samana is very safe. Obviously on Friday and Saturday nights there is more action, but its a nice place to sit, eat, drink and watch the town and the bay. From LT to Samana driving your own vehicle should be 40 minutes more or less. It is a windy road, though in great condition, so take your time.