 |
|
With daily
service to the Samana peninsula from Santo Domingo and
Puerto Plata provided by
two major bus lines, Caribe Tours and Metro, and a number
of smaller bus lines providing additional service, the peninsula
is easily reached by bus from much of the country. The exception
is the eastern part of the island including the Punta Cana
and Bavaro areas which can mean a long day’s journey
to Samana north via the ferry at Sabana de la Mar or west
through Santo Domingo.
Other ways to get here are by private taxi with direct pickup
at your airport
(or hotel if you’re already on-island), by rental car now that our highways
are better marked (although we do NOT advise driving at night, |
it’s
simply too dangerous) and by private charter flight into
one of our two airports: Arroyo Barril International Airport,
located on the edge of Samana Bay a few miles west of the
city of Samana or el Portillo airstrip, located on the
peninsula’s north coast at the el Portillo resort
a few miles east of Las Terrenas. Regardless of the mode
you choose, your hotel will gladly assist with your transportation
needs.
|
| A
third airport serving the peninsula and part of the republic’s
north coast is under construction. Located some 5 miles west
of Sanchez near the little village
of El Catey and just before the mountainous peninsula begins,
this international airport is scheduled to be in service
in late 2007. Progressing in fits and starts since early
2001, major funding from the Inter American Development Bank
has finally been secured with earnest construction now assured.
Look for continuing reports of the progress of the El Catey
International Airport in the News/DR1 section
of the website. |
|
 |
 |
With Air Santo Domingo
discontinuing scheduled service to Samana (and other parts
of the country,
instead now concentrating on their international service
to Puerto Rico and New York), aircraft charter flights are
now the most rapid way get to the peninsula as ground vehicle
travel time from Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International
Airport (AILA) is almost 5 hours and Puerto Plata’s
airport is 3 ½ hours. The new international airport
in Santiago is the closest at 3 hours but their flights are
limited. Getting to Samana from the Punta Cana or La Romana’s
airports can be done but it is not recommended nor very convenient. |
| Century
Air is a widely used charter service and Aerodomca, a small
air-charter company,
now offers limited, scheduled service with daily flights
from Santo Domingo to Samana’s two airports, Arroyo
Barril and el Portillo. The flight leaves Hererra airport
in the southwest part of Santo Domingo at 4pm and makes a
short hop to Las Americas International Airport (AILA), the
city’s main airport located some 10 miles east of the
city. It then departs AILA for Samana at 4:45pm. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Page 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
www.SamanaOnline.com
All
rights reserved
Copyright 2003-2006 |
