The Dominican Republic is on the eastern side of Hispaniola, an island that the Republic shares with Haiti. The D.R. comprises about two-thirds of the island and has the West Indies highest mountain peak of over 10,000 feet.
Christopher Columbus, founded the first permanent European settlement in D.R. around 1493. He landed on Rincon Beach, which is still a beautiful spot today.
During Colonial times, the Spanish did not settle in the D.R., and the island became a place for privateers and others who were evading the law.
As with so many histories on almost any island, control went back and forth between Spain, France, and the British showed up. For a time, Haitians occupied the entire island. A small encounter called The Samaná Affair convinced the French to leave and the island settled into the two regions we know today, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Visitors to the Dominican Republic tend to head to Punta Cana. That area is set up and caters to tourists and travelers. The Samana Peninsula, where Samana is located, is less visited. In this region, you will find the non-cookie cutter type of restaurants and hotels.
Credit: worldatlas.com
This area is jungle-lush with rainforests and coconut plantations. It is estimated that there are about 6 million palm trees on the Samana Peninsula. The main appeal on the Samana Peninsula are the natural attractions. There are white-sand beaches, waterfalls, hiking, birdwatching and in the wintertime a couple thousand whales migrate to the bay.Good To Know
The people of the Dominican Republic are some of the friendliest in the in the world, but like many touristy spots around the world, the DR has a some issues with crime. As with any unfamiliar location, be aware of your surroundings and don’t stray too far off the beaten path. Leave valuables on the ship and only carry the amount of cash you will need. Other tips include taking only licensed taxis and not using your phone out in public (duck into a store or cafe if you need to check something). It's also best to not give money to street children as it encourages begging. As always in tropical settings, take along sunscreen and bug spray when visiting the island. There are tropical forests on this peninsula, so the mosquitoes can be fierce, and they can carry diseases such as zika or dengue fever, especially during hurricane season.Check out our Samana Excursions.
Samaná, Dominican Republic – Quick Facts
CurrencyThe currency used is the Dominican peso. While some shops will take American currency, you will probably get pesos as change. There are also few shops that take credit cards. If you want to know the current exchange rate, go here: <a href="https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/">https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/</a>
LanguageThe primary language spoken in Samana is Spanish. Those people who work in tourist areas will have some knowledge of English. It is best, if possible, to learn some handy Spanish phrases such as: <ul> <li><strong>Hola</strong> - Hello</li> <li><strong>Buenos dias - </strong>Good Day</li> <li><strong>Por favor - </strong>Please</li> <li><strong>Gracias - </strong>Thank you</li> <li><strong>Cuanto cuesta -</strong>How much does it cost?</li> <li><strong>Donde esta el bano</strong>- Where is the bathroom? (This would be my question!)</li></ul>Google Translate can also be helpful, especially if you don't understand the responses to your questions.
WiFi & PhoneFree WiFi is available in many of the restaurants and businesses in Samana City.
Where You DockPort of Samaná, Samaná, Dominican Republic
Cayo Levantado; Credit: 
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Located on the waterfront, they are open for breakfast at which they serve crepes, and are also open for lunch and dinner. Fish fillet, octopus and other seafood options abound. Burgers and fries are also available.
As is evident on an island, there is no shortage of seafood dishes. Soups, stews and rice are available. There are some vegetarian options like pasta and numerous vegetable dishes.