If you’re looking to spend the day exploring the nearby countryside then consider a mountain bike rental. The roads are rough but there are numerous cycling paths and trails around the area and the villages and towns are close enough that you’re never too far from civilization.

Renting a scooter (pasola) is a great way to buzz around the town. If you don’t feel comfortable renting a scooter, you may want to take a ride on the Motoconcho taxi for a short trip or rent an ATV.

If you do rent a scooter, make sure to proceed with caution. Keep your eyes focused on the road at all times and on other drivers. The streets are an organized chaos of traffic. Although the drivers are courteous, there are no stop lights, stop signs or anything that resembles safety.

Most visitors arriving to the Dominican Republic–including those from the United States and Canada only need a passport with a minimum validity of the duration of their stay to enter the country. The cost of the 30-day tourist card previously paid separately, is now included in the airline ticket.

In the Dominican Republic, you can purchase and consume alcoholic beverages from the age of 18. This means that bars will not admit anyone under 18, even when accompanied by parents or an adult.

Most travelers to the Samana Peninsula do not experience problems. Police don’t needlessly hassle tourists, although they also aren’t overly helpful either.

Petty crime is a problem away from the resort areas. It is best to be on guard with your possessions and keep a low profile. Also, don’t bring or flash large sums of money or expensive items. This is also true when leaving items on the beach, as valuables left unattended may be stolen. Always use caution when traveling alone and avoid dark streets late at night, and be on guard even around the resorts.

Possession of illegal drugs including marijuana is considered a major offense and the government has stepped up efforts to crack down on all illegal drugs, including all forms of cannabis and cocaine. The punishment for possession can include prison time.

No, it is not safe to drink the tap water in the DR, as it is not purified. Always drink bottled water, available in abundance at your resort or in the neighborhood stores and supermarkets.

If your cell phone is on the GSM network, you can use it. However, your roaming costs will be high. Your best option is to bring an unlocked phone, and purchase a SIM card here to have a local number – you can obtain one with your passport ID, and activate it at any of the telecommunications companies in the DM, including Claro and Altice. The SIM card costs less than $5 US, and you will need to purchase additional phone credit for calls, at your discretion.

Samana is not known for its nightlife. Visitors tend to enjoy the bars and outdoor restaurants along the Malecon near Calle Maria Trinidad Sanchez, where locals gather in the evening at a line of makeshift bars pumping out regaeton and merengue. You can also enjoy a cocktail in one of the nicer restaurants along Ave Malecon, stroll the waterfront, and check out the different restaurants and bars, there are two or three dance clubs nearby.

The Dominican Republic is surrounded by over 1,000 miles of coastline on its north, east, and southern borders, and the climate is tropical. Noontime temperatures range from 80°F to 90°, and can fall to 64°F to 73°F during the winter.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and extends to November 30. In the Dominican Republic, these are the summer and early fall seasons when the weather is sunny and humid, with some cloudiness and occasional rain showers in the late afternoon or at night. Historically, most hurricanes have occurred in the month of September. If you plan on traveling during these months, we recommend you buy travel insurance.

Resort staff is trained in handling hurricane situations, and resort buildings today are equipped to withstand hurricane force winds. You should also take note that the Dominican Republic is a large country which means that while one coast may be affected, another may be completely unscathed by a storm.

You won’t have any problems communicating in the Dominican Republic. Dominicans are very friendly and even if they do not speak your language, they will help you find someone who can or find a way to communicate. In the big cities, as well as in most tourist destinations, staff in hotels, restaurants, and tourist areas, as well as tour guides understand and speak English, in addition to other languages. Fluency is less common in the villages and countryside, but they will still make out the basics and help you find your way. We recommend you get a good guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso. The most convenient currency to take with you is US dollars, which you can change to pesos once you arrive.

Many tourist destinations, including restaurants, bars, department stores, souvenir shops, and supermarkets tend to accept dollars, though you will receive a less favorable rate than at the banks. Many places also accept major credit cards. That said, most prices in the Dominican Republic are in Dominican pesos. If you plan to make a big purchase in small shops and markets, negotiate first with the seller who may be interested in receiving the payment in American dollars. Prices are fixed, however, in supermarkets and shopping mall stores. Your best bet is to use an ATM to withdraw local currency at the best daily exchange rate.

We recommend downloading a currency app, such as Google Currency. Until you have an excellent handle of the exchange rate, you need to double-check when you’re paying for anything (both of you should download and verify, especially on big purchases).

Tipping: It is widely practiced throughout the country. Many restaurants will add a 10% service charge on the bill. Tips are commonly given to taxi drivers, hotel maids, tour guides, etc.

Taxes: The ITBIS (Impuesto sobre Transferencia de Bienes Industrializados y Servicios or the value-added tax for transferring industrial goods and services) is 18% and is applied to most purchases. In restaurants, bars, and hotels, a further 10% is automatically added as a service charge.

Restaurants in Samaná pride themselves on serving fresh fish from Samaná and shrimp from Sánchez. Fishermen bring in the catch of the day to Las Terrenas and Las Galeras beaches, where guests staying in apartments can find some great bargains with the fishermen and take home and cook the freshest seafood available in the country. Enjoy the experience of grilled fish right on the beach with a piña colada made with fresh pineapple crushed inside a freshly picked coconut.

Coconuts and ginger are key ingredients in Samaná food. `Pescado con coco` is the signature meal. Mi Vieja on the Samaná highway to Las Galeras sells bread and sweets made in the traditional African-American style. Pueblo de los Pescadores right on Las Terrenas beach is a string of many restaurants and bars. You will find some of the better restaurants in the many small hotels in the area, including the Mi Corazón Restaurant in town with its award-winning chef.

For a small peninsula, Samaná’s shopping is diverse and plentiful, offering both Dominican and international arts, crafts, textiles, and souvenirs. Boutiques and shopping centers stock designer beachwear apparel and accessories, as well as locally sourced jewelry, Taino-inspired ceramics, and Caribbean-inspired paintings. You’ll also find plenty of crafts, woodcarvings, and souvenirs ranging from rum to mamajuana in the smaller communities and towns, where individual shops and markets are popular.

Dial 911 in an emergency.

Offering emergency medical service 24 hours a day is Centro Médico San Vicente, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez 2 (tel. 809/538-2535).