At the mouth of Samana Bay (north side) is the island of Lavantado which is a favorite visiting stop for cruise ships and has all the ingredients of an exotic Caribbean island.

Bleached white sandy beaches, lush green grass and palm tree shade are all here. There are three jetties suitable for a dinghy the most easterly is private to the hotel Gran Bahia but you may use either of the other two which are in constant use by tourist boats. In order to cater for cruise ship guests there are plenty of gift shops and a round tropical cocktail bar on the beach. There are two restaurants open to the general public. One is a large covered area serving lobster and fish in cafeteria style and the other is ‘Ballena Blanca’ on the beach. Here you may sample truly traditional Dominican cuisine. All washed down with the local Presidente beer. Unfortunately they both close by four pm, although if you talk to the proprietor at the Belena he will willingly stay open
later.

19°09.92N 69°16.67W

12.2 nm from Los Haitis (Bahia de San Lorenzo)

The most eastern half of the island is dominated by the Gran Bahia hotel whose restaurant is solely available to guests. However, at the western end of the island, you can find many facilties that will happily sell you a fresh fish lunch or for that matter, virtually any lunch you may desire.  However, the fresh fish, lobster and other local catches, is the right choice for lunch.

While you may anchor during the day in the lee of the island off the sandy beach you are required to up anchor by late afternoon. This is due to Coast Guard (Marina Guerra) requirements.   Illegal emigration to Puerto Rico from the DR is of concern, and any boat anchored out at the island at night is suspect.  As the sun goes down, you can return to Santa Barbara, just a few miles westward to anchor for the night.

Related posts:

1. Bahia Escondida (Hidden Bay)
2. Santa Barbara (de Samana)
3. Catalina Island

19°11.44N 68°18.96W
56.0 nm from Punta Cana

Once inside the Bay of Samana the first port available to the cruising yachtsman on the north coast of the bay is Santa Barbara de la Samana.  (Yachtsmen normally refer to the town as “Samana”)

Enter along the north coast following a marked channel to the north of Cayo Levantado. Since the anchorage is a few miles into the bay and bordered by islands there is reasonable protection from the sea. There is seventeen feet of water to anchor in with good holding in a muddy bottom.

You may clear customs and immigration at Santa Barbara, if this is your first port of call in the Dominican Republic. Clearing in is not difficult, but not exactly straightforward.  Santa Barbara shares the same problem as Luperon with regard to being “inventive” for charges for visiting yachtsmen.  Immigration, Coast Guard (marina guerra), Dept. of Drugs, M-2 (intelligence) and Dept. of Ports.  You will find them all waiting on line to charge you something.

Review the charges listed at this site, before you go in to clear.  Then make your decision as to whether you want to pay any and all charges demanded of you and clear in quickly, or whether you want to “review” each and every charge and argue the point on those that seem incorrect and clear in slowly.

After you have cleared in, you may choose to take a long walk along the causeway that borders the southern side of the harbor. It leads out to a beautiful view of the eastern portion of the bay facing Cayo Levantado. At the end of the walkway (known locally as the ‘Bridge to nowhere’, is Cayo Vigie.

SANTA BARBARA DE SAMANA

‘Anchorage at Santa Barbara de Samana’

BRIDGE TO NOWHERE in the backround
During the day the town dock is a hive of activity especially during the ‘whale watching’ season with many boats available for guided excursions. This dock also serves as a dinghy dock. At the quay, across the street is a bank with ATM machines and one block behind this is an excellent internet café and a laundry. It is well worth walking or riding into town along the waterfront to the ‘rotonda’ (roundabout). This is the centre of town with all the color and hubbub of a waterfront Dominican town. Also there is the Dominican version of the rickshaw which consists of a motorcycle attached to a covered passenger wagon, perfect for moving provisions. The fare per person is a dollar or less anywhere around town.

‘Getting around in the town’

Santa Barbara de Samana
A wide variety of provisions can be obtained at the supermarket and a truly vibrant vegetable and fruit open-air market is across the street from the supermarket. All kinds of local fruits and vegetables are on display as well as meats and fish. The vendors are highly animated and eager to do business with you. The prices in relationship to the United States or Canada are a real bargain. An entire stem of bananas (approx. 50) can be purchased for less than $7 US. Tangerines, oranges, lettuce, tomatoes, plantains, mangos, papaya and many others follow suit. Santa Barbara has good facilities for the cruising yachtsman and a great place to recuperate from the rigors of the sea. Apart from the many sights and sounds of this truly Dominican town there is access to the breathtaking waterfalls at El Limon twenty-four miles inland.

ATM machines are available at the bank immediately opposite the main jetty.

Whales

December through to March they are easy to find and easy to see as you approach Samana Bay. Stop your engine or drop your sails and lay hove to.

Most often you will see the water spouts at a distance. Once you have spotted your first one, you will spot theirs, so long as you are not in a hurry. The entrance to the Bay of Samana teems with life of all kinds, from whales to fish and seabirds. Anchored for the day behind Cayo Levantado, you will see local fisherman in small boats catching fish with nets in the same fashion as has been done for millennium. You will also see Pelicans (looking like small pterodactyls) diving into the water for their food, over and over again. With the mountains and the sky as a backdrop, there is so much color and so much to see that it is easy to lose three or four hours just being a spectator.

Most sailors look for a “tail wind” when sailing.  This is just the “tail end” of the what’s under the water.  The first time I saw this coming into the Bay of Samana, and saw a whale sounding, I was overcome with the grandeur of it all.

If you see a “spout” from a distance, keep your distance, and shut off your motor.  The show is free and has no equal.  If you feel inspired you can holler out “THAR SHE BLOWS”.

In all the years that I have visited various harbors in the DR, I have always found Santa Barbara ( Samana) to be very special.  There is a sense of excitement about this town.  Perhaps it is the waterfront.  Or the restaurants.  I know that the open air Fruit and Vegetable market at the west end of town always gets my blood running.  There you not only will buy, but for sure you will overbuy.  Everything is so good, and so relatively inexpensive.

Related posts:

1. Cayo Laventado
2. SAMANA BAY
3. East Coast Summary