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<\/a><\/p>\nSurrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the Caribbean Sea on the south, the Dominican Republic never ceases to amaze its guests with wonderful nature, beautiful national parks, pristine beaches, magnificent resorts\/hotels, and a variety of sports and recreation options. A great way to experience the essence of the Dominican Republic is to take the route from\u00a0Saman\u00e1<\/em>\u00a0to Punta Cana: a trip of rolling hills, small towns and beautiful beaches. Spend a few days in different towns along the way and you\u2019ll have a week\u2019s worth of varied experiences, and a solid feel for the rich culture and diverse landscape.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Saman\u00e1<\/em>\u00a0is one of the Dominican Republic\u2019s best kept secrets! Many Dominicans say this is the most appealing part of their country. With traditional charm, a laid-back vibe and strong European influences,\u00a0Saman\u00e1<\/em>\u00a0Peninsula is a hidden gem with most of its land still wild and undeveloped. The\u00a0Saman\u00e1<\/em>\u00a0province is full of incredible scenery: coconut palms lining the sea, tropical forests,\u00a0 colorful villages dotted along the rough roads, small fishing outposts by the coast, vibrant local markets, boardwalk in the port town, sea view restaurants,,\u2026Here is my\u00a0Saman\u00e1<\/em>\u00a0travel guide that covers everything from hotels to attractions!<\/p>\n With its luxurious Caribbean-chic design, Palm Green Vacations Samana<\/a> is an ideal place to enjoy the outstanding beauty of\u00a0Saman\u00e1<\/em> Bay in the Dominican Republic. The hotel features 28\u00a0finely-decorated suites\u00a0with outstanding views, along with a variety of\u00a0amenities\u00a0and impeccable service in a boutique hotel setting.\u00a0Each room has a private balcony, fully equipped kitchen, refreshing Acqua di Parma bath products, air-conditioned, modern amenities along with personalized, intimate service!<\/p>\n Your horses will be led by the guide through a sleepy village, up steep and rocky paths, through dense forest and across a river.<\/p>\n Past a green valley of hills and palms, you leave your horses in the shade, your guides take a load off by playing dominoes, and it\u2019s a 15-minute walk down to the stunning falls!<\/p>\n After the ride, we had a typical Dominican lunch at the home of Basilio and Ramona\u2014chicken, rice, beans, salad, and local coffee.<\/p>\n Exploring Los Haitises National Park<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Once across, you\u2019ll enter a world lush with tropical vegetation, cliffs, and seabirds. There are more than 110 species of birds in this coastal marine park, including populations of buzzards, pelicans, and swallows!<\/p>\n The park is rich with rainforests and mangrove reserves! Mangroves are comprised of very special trees adapted to\u00a0brackish\u00a0waters, with intricate root systems. Cruising along the calm water made me feel like I\u2019m in a scene of the film Jurassic Park!<\/p>\n Our guide Carlos told us that pirates used to hide in these caves. These inlets made perfect hiding places so English and French pirates used to hide in\u00a0Saman\u00e1<\/em>\u00a0 Bay to ambush Spanish gold ships leaving Santa Domingo. Pirates also stashed their treasures in these caves and the rest of the park, which in fact was a filming location for\u00a0Pirates of the Caribbean!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Our eco-adventure continues with exploring caves marked with pictographs made by the Tainos, one of the island\u2019s indigenous tribes!<\/p>\n Wind through swamps, and emerge from the dense cover of the mangrove-tree canopy out onto the open turquoise waters of San Lorenzo Bay, we were in awe with the backdrop of the Saman\u00e1 mountains!<\/p>\n Dream Beach Tour- Fronton Beach, Rincon Beach, Playita Beach<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n My favorite beach of the three is Rincon Beach. This spectacular secluded Caribbean beach is one of the most beautiful in the Dominican Republic and was rated as one of the 10 Best Beaches in the World by Conde Nast Traveler.<\/p>\n ATV Tour:\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>It\u2019s such a great way to discover real Dominican life in the country and take in the magnificent landscape spreading from the mountains to the sea.<\/p>\n Sunset Dinner at<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>El Cabito<\/i><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n El Cabito<\/strong><\/i><\/a>\u00a0has one of the best sunset views in Las Galeras. Eating on the cliffside and watching the brilliant tropical sun dip behind the hills leaving a pallet of soft watercolors was such a magical experience!<\/p>\n The restaurant specializes in\u00a0<\/strong>Mediterranean cuisine: seafood paella, fish stew, black rice, shrimps, and grilled fish and lobster. All meals are freshly prepared to order!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On the way to Punta Cana, we stopped by La Romana for a quick visit! Situated along the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic with Santo Domingo sitting 120 km to the west, La Romana is surrounded with vast sugar plantations and with the enormous\u00a0Casa de Campo resor<\/a><\/i>t a few kilometers to the east.<\/p>\n Casa de Campo Resor<\/a>t\u00a0is a stunning 7,000-acre hotel\/resort and residential community in La Romana.\u00a0Casa de Campo<\/i>\u00a0<\/a>is also one of the most sought-after Dominican Republic golf resorts featuring the #1 ranked course in the Carribean!<\/p>\n We had lunch at the resort\u2019s newly opened restaurant,\u00a0Minitas Beach Club & Restaurant<\/a><\/i>. The restaurant offers spectacular panoramic Caribbean sea views with a Mediterranean and Latin American menu, combining different elements for a vibrant and captivating experience.<\/p>\n St. Stanislaus church is a charming stone building in the center of the village of Altos de Chav\u00f3n. Consecrated in 1979, Pope John Paul II sent the ashes of Poland\u2019s patron saint, St. Stanislaus, and a hand-carved statue from Krakow to commemorate the church\u2019s inauguration. Today, the church is the site for weekly Catholic masses as well as a treasured destination for weddings (Source:\u00a0Casa de Campo Website<\/a>)<\/p>\n At the center of the historic 16th century replica Mediterranean village Altos de\u00a0Chav\u00f3n<\/em>\u00a0is the stunning 5,000-seat Grecian-style\u00a0amphitheate. This architectural wonder has been the setting for countless concerts, events, and performances since its inauguration in 1982. (Source:\u00a0Casa de Campo Website<\/a><\/i>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Punta Cana is located on the Eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, facing Puerto Rico. People from around the world flock to its pearl white beaches,\u00a0turquoise waters, and green palm trees. It is one of the most stunningly picturesque locations in the Dominican Republic and one of the fastest-growing tourist hot-spots in the Caribbean.<\/p>\n Thomas, made our stay at the most enjoyable and memorable! He arranged beautiful afternoon tea on our balcony, romantic rose bath, and luxurious breakfast in bed!<\/p>\nSTARTING POINT \u2013\u00a0SAMAN\u00c1<\/em><\/a><\/h3>\n
ACCOMMODATIONS<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Accommodations on the peninsula range from small, independent hotels to a few all-inclusive resorts. On this trip, we stayed at\u00a0the Palm Green Vacations Samana<\/a>. Nestled between the mountains and the sea, this stunning boutique hotel focuses on good taste, high quality, tranquility, and splendor.<\/p>\nEXCURSIONS<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Horseback riding to Salto El Lim\u00f3n<\/em><\/strong>: One of my favorite adventures in\u00a0Saman\u00e1<\/em>\u00a0was a jungle trek on horseback to the Salto El Lim\u00f3n. In the middle of the Saman\u00e1 Peninsula, the Salto El Lim\u00f3n (Lemon Waterfall) is a 170-foot cascade that falls into a swimming hole. The 1-5 mile (2.5km) trek to get there can be made on foot for those physically fit, or on horseback! The reward: a refreshing dip in the cool water under a very majestic waterfall!<\/p>\n<\/a>Our journey began in a small village farm in the town of El Lim\u00f3n with This excursion is not run by a single farm; instead, a whole town puts it together. Basilio and Ramona run the operation but they don\u2019t own horses. When there are people coming to visit the waterfall, different families from the town contribute one or two horses, and they also act as the guide for the visitor who rides their horse.<\/p>\n<\/a>Named a top travel destination for 2018 by Lonely Planet, Los Haitises National Park is one of the crown jewels of Dominican Republic Park\u2019s national park system. The protected area of Los Haitises National Park is accessible to tourists only by boat.<\/p>\n<\/a>We had such an amazing time exploring.\u00a0 We visited 3 unspoiled beaches classified among the most beautiful in the world: Fronton, Playita, and Rincon!<\/p>\nNEXT STOP: LA ROMANA<\/h3>\n
<\/a>After lunch at the resort, we visited\u00a0Altos de\u00a0Chav\u00f3n\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 a replica 16th century Mediterranean village in the heart of the Dominican countryside. Every detail of Altos de Chav\u00f3n was handcrafted by local artisans. The village is a cultural center and historical museum for residents, tourists, and working artists from all over the world. (Source:\u00a0Casa de Campo Website<\/i>)<\/a><\/p>\nLAST STOP: PUNTA CANA<\/a><\/h3>\n
ACCOMMODATION<\/h4>\n
<\/a>We stayed at Palm Green Vacations<\/a> which offers an Vacation Rentals vacation, filled with heavenly indulgences, exquisite cuisine, and an elegant yet relaxed ambiance.rooms and suites with breathtaking views of the ocean or tropical gardens. You have\u00a0 the option to upgrade to Diamond Club to receive additional, dedicated perks and privileges.\u00a0 ideal for romantic escapes and honeymooners!<\/p>\nACTIVITIES<\/h4>\n