Las Terrenas is where people who have done a Punta Cana week go the second time, and where many of them stay.
The short verdict#
| You want | Worth it? |
|---|---|
| A beach village, apartments, restaurants, beaches you walk to | Yes, the best in the DR |
| Whales, waterfalls, empty beaches nearby | Yes |
| An all-inclusive and a short transfer | No, that is Punta Cana |
| Big nightlife | No, a few bars and a Saturday |
| A base for the Samaná peninsula | Yes |
What makes it worth it#
The beaches: Playa Las Terrenas in town, Playa Bonita and Cosón a short ride away, long and mostly empty. The village, French-Dominican since the 1980s: bakeries, Italian and French restaurants, Dominican colmados and fish shacks on the sand. Apartments and small hotels instead of resorts, which keeps the price down. And the peninsula: the whales from mid-January to March, El Limón, Los Haitises, Playa Rincón (is Samaná worth visiting, whale watching). The Las Terrenas guide.
What makes it not worth it#
The distance: two and a half hours from Santo Domingo, four or more from Punta Cana, and El Catey has few flights. Rain from October to January. Motorbike taxis as the main transport. No all-inclusive ease and little nightlife. Las Terrenas vs Punta Cana for the honest comparison, Samaná vs Las Terrenas for where to base.
How long and when#
Four to seven days. Mid-January to March for the whales, December to April for the weather. How to get to Samaná for the road and the flights.
Safety#
Fine with ordinary care. Is Las Terrenas safe?
With a Dominican#
Roavi has no Local Friends listed in Las Terrenas yet. Post your dates on the Community board; the Dominicans who answer, most in Santo Domingo, know the peninsula, and posts are what bring the first local in. The Dominican Republic forum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Las Terrenas worth visiting?
Yes, for independent travellers: the best beach village in the Dominican Republic, with walkable beaches, good restaurants and apartments, on the greenest peninsula in the country. Not for all-inclusive or nightlife trips.Where is Las Terrenas?
On the north side of the Samaná peninsula, in the northeast of the Dominican Republic, about two and a half hours from Santo Domingo by the toll highway and forty minutes from Samaná town. The nearest airport is El Catey.Is Las Terrenas safe?
Yes, with ordinary care: a small town where the risks are motorbike taxis, the sea and petty theft from beach bags rather than crime. Is Las Terrenas safe has the detail.Las Terrenas or Punta Cana?
Las Terrenas for a village, apartments, quieter beaches and nature; Punta Cana for resorts, the longest sand and direct flights. Las Terrenas vs Punta Cana has the comparison.