The town of Santa Bárbara de Samaná, better known simply as Samaná, is the hub of activity in the beautiful Samaná Peninsula.  The Samaná Peninsula is full of palm-shaded white sand beaches, and offers a combination of busy tourist towns and “off the beaten path” isolated beaches.  We highly recommend the whale watching trips onto Samaná Bay from which you will also have the opportunity to see a variety of seabirds and wading birds.  Highlights include petrels and shearwaters, Brown Booby, Brown Pelican, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret and Osprey.

Birding in the Bay of Samaná means birding while whale watching. Whale watching services may be found at the Samaná Tourist Service office on the Malecón (809-538-2848) or at the port, but please make sure in advance that your selected tour adheres to whale watch regulations.  While on the boat, be sure to also inspect the many cays and small islands for roosting and foraging herons and egrets, and look further out towards the ocean for flying petrels, shearwaters and other seabirds.

Brown Booby, Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigatebird, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Osprey, Royal Tern, Ashy- faced Owl

The Samaná Peninsula is easily reached from Santo Domingo via a new toll road.  From Santo Domingo, head east towards Las Americas International Airport.  Before arriving at the airport, look for a turnoff on the left for Samaná.  This road enters a short tunnel, and then a second left turn takes you onto the marginal road.  Almost immediately there is a right turn which is the entrance to the new toll road.  Have your change ready; you will encounter tolls on both your outbound and inbound drives. At the terminus of the new toll road turn right at the T-intersection and follow signs for 20 km (12.4 miles) east to arrive at Sánchez at the base of the Samaná Peninsula. On the outskirts of Sánchez follow signs and bear left to continue on the C-5 highway to Samaná. In 1.6 km (1.0 mile) the highway turns into a boulevard, passes through several rotary’s before reaching the boat docks on the bay.  Total driving time should be less than 3 hours.