Tropical Island Bed & Breakfast

A Homey Bed & Breakfast for Brothers & Sisters
 


 

Samana, Dominican Republic
 MarilynPereira@usa.net  Phone: 809-538-2829 / 809-693-3134
http://www.tropicalislandbb.com/

 

THINGS TO DO IN SAMANA


1.  EVENINGS:

Stroll along the "Malecon" of the little town or pueblo; comfortable benches along the sea to sit and relax...

Nice restaurants for dining:  Italian Pizza, French sidewalk cafe, Chinese/International foods; ice cream parlors nearby; towers to climb for picture taking.

       
 

2.  TROPICAL FLEA MARKET:

Visit  Samana's Tropical Flea Market in the park across from the dock and meet  the many brothers and sisters who have stalls there, selling paintings, jewelry, clothing and all kinds of  island souvenirs!

   

 
 

Ask for Domingo, Laura, Eliseo, and Susanna. Items purchased from these brothers & sisters may be paid for by credit card payment (online) .  See: www.tropicalislandbb.com/FleaMarket.htm

 

3.  BROWSE THROUGH "PUEBLO PRINCIPE" SHOPPING PLAZA:

 

 

4.  RINCON BEACH (Playa Rincon):

 

Spend the day at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world - Rincon Beach - on the other side of the peninsula, framed by picturesque mountains.  Snorkeling and swimming, freshly caught fish by native fishermen, cooked on the beach with rice and beans - $7 U.S. approx. for meal.
 

    
    
 

On the trip to the other side of the peninsula through the countryside, you can see the little Dominican "ranchitos" (Dominican houses), and how the "campesinos" (peasants/poor people) live; cooking on charcoal outside in open palmetto thatched kitchens, grinding coffee beans by hand or squeezing oil from coconuts, carrying water jugs on their heads, or washing clothes in the rivers.

 

On the other side of the peninsula at Playa Rincon, there are two isolated breathtakingly beautiful beaches.  About 100 feet over to the right of this bay, over a little hill, is another beautiful beach with big waves.  Both beaches are framed by mountains in the background as the peninsula curves around.

 

Private chauffeuring is available for 8:30 AM departure and 6PM pickup.  This is a whole day trip, approximately two hours traveling round trip.

 

Chauffeuring arranged by Domingo & Eliseo. 2-4 persons:  Total: $60 US  ($15-$30  per person). Group rates available .  

 

Email TropicalislandTours@gmail.com   Telephone: English:  Laura    (829) 367-7606; Spanish: Domingo: (829) 258-0354 

 

Credit Card payment accepted online.

 

5.  SCENIC TRIP OVER THE MOUNTAINS TO LAS TERRENAS, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PENINSULA OF SAMANA:

Beautiful panoramic view of the entire Peninsula while crossing over the Samana Sierras to the little village of Las Terrenas, located on the northern coast, where there are many beautiful beaches.


 

6.  PREACHING WITH THE CONGREGATION IN THE COUNTRY:

Preaching in the country with the congregation or with the local needgreaters in other area for the entire day (see www.tropicalislandbb.com/Preaching1.htm )
 

   
 


7.  EL LIMON WATERFALL ADVENTURE:

El Limon is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country, which you can enjoy by horseback with a guided tour through the beautiful tropical countryside.

The trail, La Manzana, is about 2 kilometers long, and once you arrive there and dismount your horse, you will then enjoy a 300 meter hike down to the Salto Del Limon for swimming.  Upon return, a delicious meal of local cuisine is served in a palm roofed tropical cabana.  Total, including meal, horses:  $18.00 U.S. (approx).  Tipping additional.
 

8.  LAS GALERAS BEACH - END OF PENINSULA:

Swimming at Las Galeras, end of Samana Peninsula.  Beautiful beach with backdrop of mountains.  Freshly caught fish cooked on the beach.

 

9.  DAY PASSES TO BEAUTIFUL RESORTS (3 "Principe Resorts"):

Spend the day at a beautiful resort at the end of the peninsula.  Unlimited tropical drinks.  Private pools, sports; beautiful beach with the backdrop of the Samana Sierras.  Day passes include use of facilities, luncheon buffet & unlimited tropical drinks until 5 pm. $35. US approx.  If evening pass is included: approx. $50 US, includes dinner & show if scheduled


 


 

10.  BACARDI ISLAND (Cayo Levantado):

     

This is the famous Bacardi Island where the Bacardi Rum TV commercial is said to have been made.  It is a breathtakingly beautiful island of about one square mile.  Tropical Island Bed & Breakfast is just a few blocks from the waterfront where you can catch the boat for a gorgeous 20-minute boat ride to the island where, along the way, you see the entire peninsula from afar, but in the sea.  It is a beauty you won't soon forget!

The sand on Bacardi Island is as white and fine as flour.  The water is clear and blue, purple, green, and aqua; coconut trees line the beaches for those who would prefer the shade.  The island has several very quiet and secluded beaches.  Beautiful resort on the island where luncheon buffet is served.  OR freshly caught fish by native fishermen, cooked on the beach with rice and beans.  Tropical drinks, piña coladas with fresh pineapple.

Places to snorkel.  Some months:  water skiing, surfing, and various other sports are available.  Boat ride:  $15.00 U.S. round trip;  Dominican meal & fish on the beach:  $10.00 U.S. 

For advance reservations  telephone: Eliseo: 829-921-0454 . Domingo: 829 258 0354;  
Laura:  (English) (829) 367-7606; Email:  TropicalislandTours@gmail.com . 

For credit card payment online, see below.
 

11.  HORSEBACK RIDING AT RANCHO TIPICO, El Valle, Samana
The Rancho Tipico  is owned & operated by Domingo & Laura Balbuena, Samana' Congregation. Picturesque trail ride through the woods, along rivers and El Valle beach with tour of cave. Buffet luncheon on the beach included.  $55 US  Group rates available.

  

Telephone: English:  Laura  (829) 367-7606; Spanish: Domingo: (829) 258-0354 
Advance reservations may be made online. Email:  TropicalislandTours@gmail.com (Domingo & Laura  Balbuena) 

Credit card payments accepted online. See below.

 

12.  HUMPBACK WHALES EXCURSION & AFTERNOON AT BACARDI ISLAND
(January 20 - March 15 only)

Thousands of humpback whales from the North Atlantic migrate to the waters of the Dominican Republic each winter to mate and give birth.  Their most popular winter rendezvous is Silver Bank, the 3000-square-kilometer reef system approximately 70 miles northeast of Puerto Plata.  From there, many circulate to other popular areas like humans do at singles bars!  One of these gathering places is Samana Bay.  More than 1500 humpbacks visit the bay, with as many as 300 present at any given time during the mating season.

The World Wildlife Fund considers Samana Bay one of the best places in the world to watch whales.  It offers something for everyone - the outer bay is where you might find aggressive males competing for the favors of willing females, and the sheltered inner bay is one of the most important humpback nurseries in the world.
 

EXCURSIONS WITH TROPICAL ISLAND WHALE WATCH

Eliseo Dishmey, a brother in Samana Congregation
Owner and Operator of Whale Watch Excursions

         

      

TIBB  has special arrangements with Eliseo Dishmey, a brother in the Samana' congregation,  for whale-watching excursions with TROPICAL ISLAND WHALE WATCH. Eliseo and other brothers are the tour guides on the excursion. 

Whale Watch excursions leave early in the morning, go to Barcardi Island at noon for buffet luncheon.  Swimming until three or four o'clock in the afternoon.  (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays until three o'clock.  All other days until four o'clock.)

$55 US per person (1 to 10 persons); $50 per person (11 to 25 persons). Food included.   Credit card payment accepted online.  See: www.tropicalislandbb.com/Whales.htm .

 

13.  EXCURSION TO HAITISES NATIONAL PARK - Year-Round Excursions - Eliseo Dishmey:

Excursions to Haitises National Park include a trip to Barcardi Island afterwards for swimming and a buffet luncheon.   
Leave early morning; return late afternoon.  1 to 10 persons:  $55 US per person;  11-25 persons:  $50 US per person.  Buffet Luncheon included

About Los Haitises National Park: 

Los Haitises National Park, located southeast of the Great Bay of the Peninsula of Samana, is 208 square kilometers of hillocks, divided by narrow gullies, which create the impression of numerous tiny islands or keys forming a landscape  full of bays & marshy country with mangroves, hills & islands on the border between land and sea.

 

Haitises' Fauna:

The richness of the National Park Los Haitises’ fauna is reflected among the mammals including the manatee (Trichechus manatus) found in the large areas of  mangrove swamps.  These mangroves are populated by protected native species of flora and fauna, such as Hutias (giant rats), turtles, wild pigs.  Bats, tortoises, and the shy Manatee reside in the caves and mangrove systems.

                                       

The park is also home to the solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus) a small insectivore mammal (above) endemic from the island in the forest.  Due to its remoteness, rugged topography and seasonally heavy rainfall the park is accessible only by boat.

   

Los Haitises park provides a home refuge and nesting sites for 112 species of birds including  Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Roseate Tern, Ridgeway's Hawk (this is one of the last known nesting places in the world of this species), Narrow-billed Tody, Least Grebe, Night Heron, , Great White Egret, parrots & turtledoves.

             

Many unusal and colourful small reptiles & amphibians make their home in Los Haitisis as well.

 Los Haitises; Flora: 

 Los Haitises is also a virtual botanical garden. Its varied flora and fauna in its forests & mangrove swamps, includes more than 760 identified species of plants, 17 species of which are endemic to this one small area. The Haitises’ vegetation includes a latifolias humid tropical forest transforming into a semideciduous tropical forest in the keys and mogotes by the coast.
       
 

Haitises' Caves & Caverns:

The Dominican Republic has the most extensive cave system in the Caribbean many of which contain over 1000 year old artwork. Los Haitises' extensive cave-system with pictographs and petroglyphs is said to have been created by the indigenous people of the island--the Tainos. The Taino Indians dwelt in these limestone caves and left many cave drawings and carvings  on the walls, which can be easily seen when touring Los Haitises. 


          

Fossils & pre-Columbian remains have also been found in the caverns there.  Inside these caverns are magnificient formations of stalactite and stalamites of stunning colours along with prehistoric art made from carvings & drawings.  Underground streams that run throughout the caverns can also be seen.
 

14.  LA FUENTE - Very pretty natural fresh water pool for diving and swimming.

   

Clean, cool refreshing waters come from under the mountains to form a natural fresh water pool for swimming and diving.  Around this natural pool, nestled below the mountains, a witness family has built a three-level terrace with tables, chairs, and umbrellas, along with a little restaurant where one can sit, relax, and enjoy a seafood dinner of lobster, shrimp, conch, crab, and red snapper or "platos tipicos" or "comida criolla" (Dominican cuisine), or just a good sirloin steak.  You can swim, dive, relax, and make cocktails (small liquor store is located by the pool).  Entrance fee into La Fuente is only $1.00 U.S.  Meals are optional, with average prices between $7 and $20 U.S.
 

15.  BETHEL TOUR - DOMINICAN BRANCH:

Leave Samana on early a.m. bus  for trip to the Dominican Bethel in Santo Domingo. Beautiful views of the interior of the country, mountains, rice fields. Arrive approximately noon.  Tour 1:00 PM.  Return to Samana on 4 pm bus.  Total cost approximately $50 U.S. round trip bus fare on Caribe Tours plus taxi to/from bus station to Bethel.

 

 

 

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02/08