Weekends

Enjoy life in a lush tropical island paradise!

Samana, the area where our operations in the Dominican Republic are based, is a beautiful peninsula and dramatically different to the tourist hotspots you find, for example, in Punta Cana. It is almost like an island itself, of coconut trees stretching into the sea.

The town of Santa Barbara de Samana, often simply referred to as Samana, and Las Terrenas (distance 35km) are both scenic, beautiful and peaceful port cities. With friendly and easy-going Dominicans, living their life with tourism, agriculture and fishing activities. All set to the beat and rhythms of merengue, bachata and salsa music. The malecon (seaside promenade) in Samana and Las Terrenas are perfect for strolling by day and night, espacially at the weekend. It is the perfect place to while away the evening in a relaxing atmosphere in one of the many surrounding restaurants and bars. While you will find mostly typical Dominican parties in Samana, the nightlife in Las Terrenas is a lot more international and famous. Many people gather around the centric seaside terraces of “El Pueblo de Pescadores” with breathtaking views of the coastline and beaches in both directions.  

Have fun at the beach

To enjoy a relaxing day on the beach, the Samana peninsula is the perfect place to be. Hundreds of fantastic beaches surround the peninsula, which can be explored during a day trip or for the whole weekend. Playa Rincon, Las Galeras, Playa El Valle – just to name a few.
Another place where you will find a beautiful beach is Cayo Levantado, a little island in the Bay of Samana. The sand is white and powdery, and the turquoise waters are crystal clear and perfect for snorkeling.

Just 20 km outside of the town of Samana lies Cascada El Limon. There you can hike or ride on a horse through the exotic forest and find yourself at the bottom of a spectacular waterfall 55 meters high! An unforgettable discovery in the heart of the jungle.

Walk on the beautiful Wild Side

Another genuine trek into the Dominican wilderness leads through Los Haitises National Park. Haitises means “highlands” or “mountain range” in the Taino Indian language (the Dominican Republic’s original inhabitants). As part of the largest estuary in the insular Caribbean, the national park offers a rich variety of natural wonders to explore. Including large expanses of untouched mangrove forests, humid subtropical forest, sea grass beds, pirate hideouts. And pristine keys scattered along the length of the coast.

Enjoy Whale Watching

If you have the opportunity to be in Samana during mid-January to late March, you can experience a whale-watching tour in the bay. During this time the bay is home to humpback whales.

Once you are here, you will experience that the peninsula of Samana is a natural treasure. Wild, verdant, with bays, waterfalls, coves, mountains and awe-inspiring views – there is a lot to explore.

Volunteer & Intern Programs

Approximately 65% of allocated donations go back to the volunteer and intern in the form of volunteer-related work and services including but not limited to: costs for accommodation, household materials, furniture and maintenance. The price for the host family. Charges for recruitment, coordination and supervision of volunteers, Spanish language lessons, volunteer media support and promotion, marketing, webpage maintenance and promotion, SEO and communication with volunteers before their arrival.

Social & Development Programs

Approximately 30% of allocated donations cover social development and educational programs including but not limited to: costs and expenses for social and cultural exchange programs, outreach, staff salary, maintenance of our school facilities, program-related activities, instructional methods, educational materials and community programs like youth development, multimedia and medicine.

Administration & Management

Approximately 5% of allocated donations are spent on NGO administration and management including but not limited to: communication, transport, legal and accounting services, office supplies, bank fees and other liabilities.



Note:
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

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