What's on in Samaná (Las Terrenas), Dominican Republic through the year

Peak crowds — Humpback whales in the bay, Christmas and New Year

• Nature

  Humpback whales in the bay

  15 Jan – 30 MarWhale seasonCrowdedBook early

  Thousands of North Atlantic humpbacks calve and court in the bay and the season is fixed by law from 15 January to 30 March. Boats are licensed, three to a group of whales, fifty metres off, and no swimming. Source ↗

Still on: Christmas and New Year (18 Dec – 2 Jan)

Peak crowds — Humpback whales in the bay, Carnaval

• Festival

  Carnaval

  1 Feb – 5 Mar · usuallyCarnivalCrowded

  Dominican carnival runs every Sunday through February and closes on Independence Day at the end of the month. Samana's own is a village affair; La Vega, inland, is the one people travel for. Source ↗

Still on: Humpback whales in the bay (15 Jan – 30 Mar)

Peak crowds — Humpback whales in the bay, Carnaval

• Holiday

  Semana Santa

  29 Mar – 5 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook early

  The whole country goes to the coast for Holy Week and Las Terrenas and Las Galeras are solid from the Thursday. Beaches get lifeguards and traffic controls, and rooms are gone weeks before. Source ↗

Still on: Humpback whales in the bay (15 Jan – 30 Mar), Carnaval (1 Feb – 5 Mar (usually))

Busy — Semana Santa

• Season

  Sargassum on the Atlantic side

  1 Apr – 31 Aug · usuallySargassum season

  The north-facing beaches around Las Terrenas and the peninsula's eastern end take the weed. The bay itself, tucked behind the headland, usually stays clean through the summer.

Still on: Semana Santa (29 Mar – 5 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic side (1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Hurricane season

  1 Jun – 30 Nov

  The peninsula is on the exposed north coast and the mountain roads slide after long rain. August to early October is the run that matters; rates in those weeks are the year's lowest. Source ↗

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic side (1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic side (1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic side (1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — Christmas and New Year, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year

  18 Dec – 2 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  Dominicans home from New York and Madrid take the whole fortnight, the peninsula is booked out, and the road over from El Limon is nose to tail with hire cars. Source ↗