Photo by Samana Net Barefoot Caribbean Mornings Although Las Galeras is currently experiencing a mini-boom, life in this small, rustic fishing community is still quiet and serene. The early morning hours witness the local fishermen setting out to sea in their little boats and the warm tropical sun heralds the start of daily activities centered around Rincon and Las Galeras Bays and their outstanding beaches. With a world-class beach, Playa Rincon, as the crowning jewel of all the Caribbean's beaches, the adjoining bays play host to some 9 beaches, with each one being a picture-perfect, postcard-like setting for a carefree, tropical vacation. Photo by Samana Net The main beach of Las Galeras is at the very end of the North Coast Highway, the village's principal street. Here you will find both native-built fishing boats and the more modern ones used for excursions to outlying area beaches. The end of the road is also the terminus for taxi service, both public and private. Public taxis, "gua-guas," leave for Samana every 20 minutes from 7am until 6pm daily. A ramshackle, native restaurant is also there on the beach. Paradise found Photo by Samana Net A short walk east along the beach road and past the little point brings you to Playa Cala Blanca, a shallow, protected beach with a sandy bottom that is great for children. Although on private property, this beach is open to the public as are all beaches in the Dominican Republic. Further east out on the tip of Cape Samana are two other beaches, Playa Madama and Playa Fronton. Although these two beaches may be reached by horseback or on foot, they are more easily reached by boat but only in settled weather. Photo by Samana Net Vibrant Reefs Several hundred yards back out the highway from the main part of the village is Playita Road. It leads to Playita Beach, about a 15 minutes walk. This little beach is completely undeveloped (as are most of the bays' beaches) and plays host to one of the prettiest snorkeling reefs in the area. As the reef starts just off the beach in shallow water, it is fine for children who are just getting their "water wings" and experiencing their first thrill of discovery of underwater marine life. Continuing westward along the shoreline towards the end of the bay and Playa Rincon are several small, isolated beaches with patches of rocky reef and a few coral heads near shore. Further past these isolated gems and just before the big beach of Rincon is Playa Colorado, another of the Peninsula's beaches that looks like it belongs in the South Pacific. Beaches Beyond Words Photo by Samana Net At the foot of the surrounding mountains at the west end of the bay is Playa Rincon, "corner beach" in Spanish. Ranked among the finest beaches in the world, Rincon is a "must see" on any visitors list. For pictures and a further description of this magnificent beach, see the Attractions page. Rincon is reached by car (4 WD recommended), by horseback over the mountains or by boat from the main beach in Las Galeras. Pictured here is the front beach at Rincon, not often shown, but equally as photographic as the big beach itself. All Aboard! Photo by Samana Net You can make arrangements to take you by boat to Playa Rincon and other remote beaches with one of the local Captains who hang out on Las Galeras' main beach. Other watersports offered in Las Galeras include SCUBA diving with Dive Samana and fishing from open boats.

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