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The Little Town of Samana

Nestled in between one of the Peninsula’s many little inlets along its southern coast, is situationed the little town of Samana’.  Samana’ is a quaint little village, and in many ways not unlike life in the 18^th century. Life is very simple, quiet, peaceful and non-materialistic on the Peninsula, particularly throughout the hills, small mountains, and countryside where most of the population of approximately, 60,000 persons, are said to reside.

From almost any vantage point in the town of Samana, there is a beautiful view of the sea.

Along the “Malecon” or street along the sea, often Dominicans can be seen working on, selling or displaying their crafstmanship, or “artesanias” or selling fruits, vegetables & homemade “tortas” or cakes & “empanadas” or pastries

Homes in the town itself, for the most part, are more modern having been constructed of cement,
but “Ranchitos”--small colorful wooden houses with  tin roofs--are often nestled inbetween and around them them.

Most people in the town have running water and electricity at least some of the time.  Dominicans “in the campo” or country areas do not have electricity and water and can often be seen on donkeys lugging water from springs and rivers. 

The Peninsula’s beaches are among the most beautiful in the country, if not the world, and are located along Samana’s southern coast, which borders the Great Bay or “Gran Bahia.  Several of the most beautiful are found on the tiny Island of Cayo Levantado, known also as “Bacardi Island”. This one mile square island is accessible by small ferries from the main dock in Samana’ and is a beautiful 15 minute ride. 

Small buses and “conchos”, which are little covered wagons,  are conveniently located in the little town along this Bay for transportation to these beaches.  The nearest beach is a  five-minute ride from town

and other outlying beaches are between 15 and 20 minutes away, the furthest, Las Galeras Beach, which is a  lovely 30-minute scenic ride along the coast to the end of the Peninsula.  

Further to the east and nearing the northern coast of the Peninsula is the outstandinly beautiful Rincon Beach with mountains as its backdrop. There are a number of brothers in the Samana’ congregation who are tour-guides and chauffeurs who offer tours to this beautiful beach.

During the little over one-hour scenic ride to Rincon Beach, visitors can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the sky to sky coconut trees framed by picturesque mountains and hills.   

Along the way, throughout the countryside, the "campesinos" can be seen washing their clothes in rivers, or cooking their rice and beans or fish on charcoal on little homemade  “grills,” in little outdoor kitchens with thatched roofs.

Since there is very little work outside of agriculture in these areas of the “campo” or country, farmers and other local people, even young children, can often be seen on donkeys lugging water or transporting coconuts and platanos to help their family. Along the way other “campesinos” can be seen harvesting coconuts, coffee bean, cacao (chocolate), bananas, mangos, pineapples, avocados bananas, plaintains and other fruits and produce.

Young children can also be seen working,catching & selling fish, filling water jugs, lugging water jugs from springs or rivers.

NEWS!

Samana and Rincon Bays (Dominican Republic)

Samana voted most beautiful bay Samana Bay and Rincon bays in northeastern Samana province have won the bid and Samana has now been named one of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World. The designation is awarded by the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club, formed in 1997, sponsored by UNESCO. The bays are only the second in the Caribbean to receive the distinction.

10 November 2009
 

Newspaper : La Republica - 11/8/2009

The Samana Bay and Rincon have been admitted to the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club, making them the first in the Caribbean region to obtain this recognition. The information was disclosed yesterday during a meeting of the club's steering committee in this city. The Samana and Rincon Bays officially enter this club and are the first from the Caribbean, following the Bay of Saintes (Guadeloupe), to be recognized as one of the most beautiful in the world, making them part of the club. The Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club, unites some 30 bays throughout the world, in over 20 different countries and is sponsored by UNESCO. Created in 1997, with its headquarter in France, it pursues objectives of preservation, enhancement and promotion of the natural, cultural and economic holding bays, with the participation of the Communities. The Executive Board that met in the palace of La Magdalena in Santander, Friday, November 6, 2009 formalized the admission of the bay of Yeosu (South Korea) and the bays of Rincon and Samana (Dominican Republic).

http://www.world-bays.com/two-new-bays-have-been-admitted-to-the-most-beautiful-bays-in-the-world-organization-15-185.html

http://www.world-bays.com/samana-and-rincon-bays-(dominican-republic)-join-the-club-15-187.html

 www.world-bays.com