Samana.net Dominican Republic, News and Information Service-What's New

Samana's Arroyo Barill International Airport is in its final stages of completion and is projected to be fully operational with scheduled domestic service and international flights by December 2000. The airport is currently served by Air Santo Domingo with two flights daily to Santo Domingo. Charter and private aircraft are also using the airport on a daily basis.

Update, Oct. '00 - Although widely rumored but expected to soon be announced by the government, Samana's still-unfinished, Arroyo Barril International Airport apparently will not see international service as extending it's 4,000' runway will present too many costly problems. According to reliable sources from within the government, it will be completed and operated as a regional airport with domestic flights from within the country.

Resultingly, a new site more suitable for a 10,000' runway necessary to accommodate the big, international jets has been chosen and construction has begun. The site is located about 10 minutes west of Sanchez on the North Coast Highway just past the little community of El Catey.

Although about 25 minutes further away from Samana, the site is in a large, flat field and allows for future expansion. It is also in the proximity of where the new Santo Domingo-Samana Autopista will intersect the east-west North Coast Highway and is about 20 minutes east of Nagua, a rapidly growing, commercial center on the North Coast.

Underway for several months now is the mega-project of Samana Harbor. This major undertaking comprises a yacht marina with several hundred slips, a pier for ocean liners to tie up to, a man-made beach, an amusement park, a water theme park, several large first-class hotels and in addition, involves a complete revitalization of the harbor and adjoining downtown areas. Costing in the 100's of millions of dollars, this long awaited dream is finally becoming reality and will be several years in the making.

Update, Oct. '00 - The first stage of the harbor project is almost completed with the promenade and quayside park about finished. Dredging of the proposed private yacht marina and harbor channel will take several months longer. After a short delay during the transition of the new government and after "financial irregularities" by the original contractor were earlier reported by the news media, a second contractor has been appointed to work with the original contractor and complete the project. Much to the relief of Samana area residents, Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia has vowed to complete the project.

In anticipation of the announced return of cruise ships to the area, Samana's big ship, docking facilities at the Port of Arroyo Barril are being renovated. The port is located just west of the Arroyo Barril airport, about 15 minutes west of Samana on the North Coast Highway. Although docking facilities were originally announced as an ambitious part of the original Samana Harbor project, until considerable deepening of the harbor is accomplished, cruise ships will dock here. Currently, several smaller cruise ships make a short stop and anchor in Samana Bay just west of Cayo Levantado several times a year.

For several years now rumors have been rife about the development of a Mega-resort with over 2,500 accommodations (rooms, cottages, homes, etc.) at Playa Rincon. This project is reportedly being developed by a Spanish consortium. Although ground has not been broken, the Rincon Road is being improved and paved in anticipation of the project.

The improving and paving of the road from Samana to El Limon to El Portillo to Las Terrenas is about halfway finished and will provide a safe, direct route from Samana to Las Terrenas without having to go by way of Sanchez and the treacherous mountain road to Las Terrenas. In addition to reducing driving time, this scenic route provides a glimpse of country life in our province.

Update, Oct. '00 - Improving and paving of the el Limon road is continuing and the Rincon and Playa del Valle roads have have been added to the list. Also under construction is the harborside/North Coast Highway road in Samana. Although the three country roads are expected to take some time to complete, Samana's road improvements should be finished much quicker. At the time these improvements were announced, it was also announced that construction would continue on the anxiously awaited Santo Domingo to Samana Autopista, a more direct route that will reduce driving time by two hours (almost half) between these two cities.

Las Galeras has had telephone service for several years now, 24 hour electricity since the spring of 1999 and now cable TV! What was just a sleepy little fishing village with limited contact with the outside world a few years ago is fast becoming the next "In" destination in the Dominican Republic.

Update, Oct. '00 - Las Galeras' never-finished, public water system is scheduled to be completed now that the source for the water (the Rio San Juan) has been identified. However, it seems that much of the prior construction is sub-standard and must be redone. This means miles of new pipe dug up and replaced.

Also high on the priority list is the much-awaited Police Station for this end of the peninsula. A site for the station has been identified and construction is expected to begin soon.

Las Terrenas also continues to grow and is enjoying a reputation as a favorite year-round destination for many of our European visitors.

Update, Oct. '00 - Improvements have begun on the El Portillo Road to Las Terrenas. Although this cutoff from the el Limon road to El Portillo and on to Las Terrenas carries a lot of traffic, it has been in need of repair for quite some time. The remainder of the el Limon Road from the cutoff to Las Terrenas is also under improvement.