We were recently married, so a few years later we took oir first one-on-one vacation was to Samaná in the Dominican Republic. We enjoyed everything about our paradise destination… so many beautiful swimmable beaches, close to a friendly town just walking distance, a whole bunch of cute local restaurants, fun oceanfront clubs, and stayed in a chic boutique villa. As newlyweds, we spoke of buying a place here.
As years passed, we traveled to many places around the globe but never found the same inspiration. No places checked all of our boxes. So after 25 years, we made our dream a reality and purchased our home in Las Terrenas in the beautiful Samaná Peninsula. We spent two years and lots of $$$ preparing our home to our standard.
So if you are in a quest for paradise, take a look at our oceanfront beachfront blue penthouse home.
[ ] A long weekend is feasible.
[ ] We will help you with the logistics, so you will be safe and confident from your arrival to departure.
[ ] There’s no need to rent a car or rely on taxis.
[ ] It’s a straight direct flight from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or New York to Santo Domingo. Direct flights are coming to El Catey soon.
[ ] You will be in your vacation home and on the beach on same day… within under 5 hours. A few hours on a plane, then driving to the our penthouse takes about two hours.
[ ] There is no bothersome seaweed problem here, just numerous beautiful swimmable beaches.
[ ] Las Terrenas has got a gritty charm, but it’s safe enough that you can go solo or with a group of girlfriends and feel comfortable.
[ ] Las Terrenas is cute and full of international flavor, but it’s also affordable.
[ ] The soft sandy beaches have calm turquoise water and the easily walkable town has chic (and cheap!) hotels and rentals, incredible restaurants, and low-key nightlife.
[ ] It is not overrun by tourists, but many folks from all over Europe make this their home. There’s an international flavor as you can hear all the different languages and taste food from many countries.
[ ] My favorite part of Las Terrenas is that you’re guaranteed to have a good time just by showing up. It’s not a destination that takes weeks of planning or requires complicated logistics. If what you’re after is a beautiful beach with cool people and great food, you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s how to make the most of your vacation.
What to Do
The best way to spend your time in Las Terrenas is beach club hopping. If you’re there for a week or a long weekend, you can choose a different beach for each day. 🙂
Many folks enjoy Playa Bonita. You may visit the Mosquito Beach Club on Playa Bonita. This landmark restaurant has excellent food and a mellow party vibe with the hippest crowd in town. Playa Bonita also has a gentle surf break, so you can rent boards or take a lesson.
Playa Coson Beach:
Playa Coson is made from a wide stretch of golden sand dotted with palm trees. While in Playa Coson pass by Restaurant Luis, which has moved to a new location. The outdoor restaurant has a few tables and plastic chairs where you can spend the afternoon sipping on rum drinks out of a pineapple and dining on local grilled seafood, served with a side of rice and beans.
Closest to town is our Playa Ballena, which has the calmest water and a row of beach restaurants and clubs. You can visit them all on a one-day or night crawl to each place.
Adventures:
Consider using our penthouse as your Las Terrenas, Las Ballenas base. Then visit all the great places in Las Terrenas and/or explore the rest of the Samaná Peninsula.
Other adventures –
Arrange for horseback riding tour.
Visit El Limon waterfall, or
Venture out on a yacht charter with The Dive Academy to go snorkeling and visit undeveloped Playa Jackson.
Where to Eat
Las Terrenas is especially popular with European expats, so in addition to excellent Latin American cuisine. Plus, there are a couple of French and Italian spots worth visiting.
Whatever you do, don’t miss Pueblo De Los Pescadores. This a row of tiny restaurants between the cemetery and the beach (seriously, that’s the official address on Google Maps) including the excellent Zu Ceviche.
After dinner, enjoy a drink and dancing at Etno Beach Club. I love this place as it can turn into an outdoor dance party on the beach. Want more? Walk over to the Rooftop multi-level El Mosquito Art Bar.