Las Terrenas
A town in the Samaná province and once a fishing village, has become a developed and modernized area due to the arrival of Europeans, particularly the French. The beaches of Las Terrenas, are the most prestigious of the whole island especially Playa Bonita and Playa Coson.
Places to Sleep
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Fata Morgana Hotel: A six-bedroom hotel, each with a bathroom, a communal kitchen, Wi-Fi, BBQ area and parking located in between the tourist beaches of Las Terrenas and Playa Bonita. $18-$44/night​
La Ceiba, near the french school
Email: editdejong@hotmail.com
Tel: 809-836-5541 or 809-240-9602
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Casa Los Holandeses: All rooms include warm water, a fridge, ventilator, WiFi and a private terrace in this cozy inn. Minutes away from the beach and nightlife. $26-$77 night
Calle Mariano Vanderhorst No. 14
Email: casalosholandeses@hotmail.com
Tel: 809-866-1028
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Hotel Casa Robinson: Located near the beach, grocery, bars and restaurants, Casa Robinson has a beautiful garden and spacious kitchenette apartments. Starting at $29/night​
Email: info@casarobinson.it
Tel: 809-240-6496
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Casa del Mar Neptunia: A colorful and charming 10 room hotel minutes away from the beach. Continental breakfast included. $43-$70/night​
Avenida Emilio Prud'homme #1
Email: casadelmarneptunia@gmail.com
Tel: 809-240-6884
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Jurassic Park Hotel: Located on a hill, 3 minutes away from the main town of Las Terrenas, the hotel offers clean and simple bungalows, spring water swimming pool, Wi-Fi and a peaceful stay surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers. $45/night​
Carretera Las Terrenas - Sanchez​
Tel: 829-435-2390
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Las Cayenas Beach Hotel: Administrated by a Swiss man, this hotel is appropriately located on one of Las Terrenas' beautiful beaches. Starting at $55/night​ per person​
Playa Las Terrenas
Tel: 809-240-6080
Things to do
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Horseback ride up to Salto El Limon: If you do nothing else, but lay on Playa Bonita all day, make sure to do this!!​ Taking a horse up and down the mountain and through rivers is one of the best experiences anyone could ever have!​
Directions: Take a guagua from La Bodega nightclub. Tell the driver you want to go to El Limon and he will tell you the stop to get off to take the other guagua to El Limon. When you are on the second guagua, tell the driver you want to go to the ranch where you can rent horses to go up to the waterfall: "Donde esta el sitio para rentar caballos?" The driver might point you to the direction or take you there, usually for an extra cost. It is 400 pesos including a guide; 600 pesos with lunch.
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​Natural swimming pool: T​he guagua, back from El Limon will pass by an area that is playing music and people swimming in a natural spring water pool. Get off there, grab a table and chill under the shade. The water is cold but refreshing. ​I recommend it!
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Play beach volleyball on Sundays: Almost every Sunday, people randomly gather on the beach and take turns to play beach volleyball together.​
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Take a dip at the surrounding 14 beaches: The beaches of Las Terrenas are known to be the best of the island especially Playa Bonita and Playa Coson because of it's clear, blueish water and soft, powdery, white sand.
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Rent an ATV: Las Terrenas is probably one of the only appropriate places in the DR to ride an ATV because of its wide streets and hills​.
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Eat Coco Fish: Samaná's traditional dish is pescado con coco and arroz con habichuelas. El Cayuco is especially known for its seafood. Beach Front, Close to Hotel Allise​
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Day trip to Las Galeras: Only 30 minutes away, many people raved about Boca del Diablo, a small rock where the water slams into, causing a jet of water 10 meters high. Playa Madame is also another gem of Las Galeras because of its white and pink sand and caves! Don't forget to bring a flashlight and food, there are no restaurants there!
Nightlife
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Two weeks before I arrived the owner of the hostel I was staying at told me the strip where all the clubs, bars and restaurants were located, burned down. The town was very sad.
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​La Bodega Bar: One of the main places, where locals go now. La Bodega is a typical Dominican spot that play bachata, dembow, and merengue with a blend of tourists looking for a "happy ending" with the locals. Sex tourism is very evident here. Across from cemetery​
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El Mosquito/Mambo: I was told both of these places were one of many burned down in the fire. They have now been rebuilt and joined together as a bar/lounge and dance floor. It quite chic with a European​, chill vibe to it.​
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El nuevo mundo del toro:​ A lively nightclub with a mix of Italian and French residents and Dominican-born locals. The music compliments the eccentric crowd playing everything from house to bachata. What I liked about this club was that it is clear Europeans have integrated into the island's culture, dancing to Dominican music and speaking Spanish.
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Live music: My first night in Las Terrenas, the only other girl staying in the hostel was my roommate. We hit it off right away because her mission was to only dance as well. She had just met a "motoconcho" earlier, who was very cute and he invited her to a live music perico ripao concert. She didn't even have to ask because I invited myself before the words even came out her mouth.
The live music was located in an outdoor setting with the band playing on a small stage surrounded by locals. One thing I noticed was that homosexuality is not so oppressed here because two men were really getting down on the dance floor in front of everyone. It was a true Dominican night, completely different from my previous stop, Cabarete.
I think the only way to know about these events would be to make friends with the locals.