Safety Information

The Aldeas de Paz Foundation headquarters is in Samaná, which is located in the northeast of the Dominican Republic, at the heart of the peninsula and province of the same name.

Welcome Volunteer Guideline

Samaná is the provincial capital with 15000 inhabitants. It is a very peaceful and safe town as well as Las Terrenas, 35 km from Samana, where we operate the Animal Rescue and the Marine Conservation program.
Samaná and Las Terrenas are constituted of a community with a strong sense of social responsibility. The people themselves consider the town very safe, and there is no more crime here than in an any average small European town. The Dominican Republic’s countryside as a whole is very peaceful and certainly one of the safest regions in the Caribbean.

The Foundation will do everything to make sure our volunteers remain safe during their stay in the Dominican Republic. On your way to Samaná you will most likely fly into Las Americas airport near Santo Domingo, where we have established a great cooperation with a very reliable pickup service for our incoming volunteers! Our driver speaks english and is very friendly and helpful! He will help you personally during your transit from the airport Las Americas to the bus terminal which is only 10 minutes away, therefore granting you peace of mind and tranquillity during your travel.

Our driver wil purchase your bus ticket and bring you to the bus to Samaná and Las Terrenas. Travel time on the bus is between 120 and 150 minutes. IF you want to know more about travel options and how to travel to Samana and Las Terrenas, please check here

DOWNLOAD “Welcome Volunteer Guideline”

▪ Do not become involved with drugs of any kind. Penalties are severe and convictions for drug offences can lead to imprisonment.
▪ You should always pack your own luggage and you should never carry any items through customs for anybody else.
▪ Book your trips in advance through pick-up and travel agencies to avoid surprises and problems during your transit to Santa Barbara de Samana
▪ It is not advisable to overtly criticize the Catholic Church, as this can cause great offence in a country where the religion is greatly respected and revered.
▪ Do not walk around alone at night but take a motor-taxi (moto-concha) or regular taxi.
▪ You will encounter many security checkpoints while travelling in the Dominican Republic. Have your passport and ID papers (as well as copies) on you at all times for the duration of the travel.

Important:
Each traveler to the Dominican Republic is required to fulfill correctly the information on the electronic ticket for the General Directorate of Migration. After entering the data, you will receive a QR code that has to be presented already at the airline check-in. Please click here before you take your flight: eticket.migracion.gob.do