Location: Las Terrenas
Top Things to do in Las Terrenas
Top 7 Things to do in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
Located on the northeastern coast of the Samana Peninsula, Las Terrenas offers miles of protected inshore waters and beautiful, undeveloped white-sand-beaches, lined with tall palm trees and pastel-colored fishing boats. Trade winds and the warm temperature of the sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean bring this part of the island year-round balmy weather. With a year-round average of 77 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperatures vary only 18 degrees between summer and winter.
Restaurants in Las Terrenas
1. Playa El Portillo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 698 reviews
2. Playa Bonita
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 943 reviews
Reviewed By kooliejim - Vancouver, Canada
Playa Bonita is a perfect beach! There is a great little surf (beach-break) that is good for beginner surfers. Surf boards can be rented with or without lessons on the beach by a couple of surf shops/schools there. The sand bottom, water and beach are very clean, the waves are super fun to splash around in, float-on or body board. And the water is comfy warm. Playa Bonita was not crowded ever! 100% peaceful and low-key!
Motor-conchos will take you one-way into/out of La Terrenas for 100 peso/bike one-way. They are motorcycle-taxis which you see zipping around everywhere.You want to go with the guys wearing the florescent vests, as they are part of an insured group. You can usually flag one down at the beach boardwalk or on the road to the beach. Note: They are willing and able to squeeze 2 people on the back with the driver, and no helmets are provided. That being said I felt safe and we had no issues. I also communicated to go slow and take it easy!
As for eats on the beach, there are a handful of beach bars/restaurants on Playa Bonita. The food and seafood didn’t blow my hair back and generally it’s a bit over-priced for what you are getting, Especially if they add the 28% service and sales tax on top of the cost of the meal, which varied from each establishment. A beer in one of the beach restaurants on Playa Bonita is 150 peso, where as in town (Las Terrenas) they are for the most part lower than that. Food like pasta and fish was often over-cooked. Anyway, you're there for the ambience, feeling and smelling that ocean air on your face, and absorbing the local and rustic ways of being in the tropics!
Nature's game is tight at Playa Bonita, Man's is a bit loose!
3. Playa Coson Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 106 reviews
Reviewed By Michelle L - Birmingham, United Kingdom
If there is one thing I recommend any traveller to do while in the Dominican Republic is please visit the coson beach club located on coson beach. To start with, the beach is absolutely stunning and truly breathtaking. The moment you step off the beach into the club, you are greeted with the friendliest of staff and warmest smiles anywhere in the world. The staff are amazing and could not do enough for us. There are hammocks, plenty of sun loungers with outdoor eating areas. Two massive swimming pools, one for adults and one shallow pool for the children. The children loved it here just as much as us for the laid back Caribbean atmosphere and hospitality. Every part of this club including it's restaurant, pools, toilets, sun loungers are spotless. The food is beautiful and all is cooked fresh every single day. The fish is to die for. For the first few meals we had fresh dorado with a Thai sauce on black rice. We visited the day after and they didn't have any fresh dorado left so we had the same meal but with red snapper as an alternative which was just as enjoyable. This is how you know the food is always fresh. There are many restaurants around the area but nothing will ever compare to this place. We have visited many restaurants, countries, continents and cultures in the past and can honestly say, this restaurant with the setting, staff and food is the best place i have ever visited in the world. Manuel Garcia the owner closes every monday and Tuesday. Unfortunate for us, we were travelling home on a Tuesday morning so monday, which was our last night meant the restaurant would have been closed. When we told Manuel that we were sad they would not be open on our last night, he told us to come back on the monday and he will specially cook just for us. I have never known a restaurant to open and fire up the kitchens just for a family of four before and can not thank him, or his staff enough for doing that especially for us. We like to travel the world and see many places, we don't normally return to a country once we have visited it but we can honestly say, we will return to the Dominican Republic just because of Manuels beach club and all of his wonderful staff. Thanks again guys and look forward to seeing you all very soon.
Dale, Michelle, Owen & Summer
4. Playa Moron
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 274 reviews
Reviewed By Sven A - Berlin, Germany
Drove there with my motocross bike, guards were unfriendly and said nobody can enter anymore. I circled around and found a way through the forest, only to meet a gentleman with a pumpgun who escorted me off the premises again. The beach itself looked beautiful and rough, just as you would expect it from an Atlantic-facing one. If you have offroad wheels, go a bit further to Lanza del Norte. 5 minutes along a dirt road, you'll find yourself a Robinson Crusoe escape.
5. Playa Las Ballenas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 330 reviews
Reviewed By Texirican - San Juan, Puerto Rico
I still prefer this end of beach rather than Popy. It's more relaxed and less caos. Try down by Hotel Colibri, as they have lounge chairs and the bar/restaurant on beach is very convenient
6. Playa Punta Popy
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 242 reviews
Reviewed By blustoneusa - Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
Running to the east of Las Terrenas town center, Playa Popi has plenty of bars and restaurants for both low budget and higher price customers. Usually busy on weekends when parking can be a challenge. The beach is narrow until you reach the end at the Punta (point) where you'll find much broader sands and fewer people. The weekenders from Santo Domingo make Popi sometimes a little noisy and untidy, could use more trash bins etc! Great for sunsets and splashing with the children!
7. Carretera Samana Toll Road
Overall Ratings
4 based on 328 reviews
Reviewed By Expat-in-Cabarete - Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Just don't speed up. The road is great but it's got lots of curves. Seeing up is not the way to go in this type of road.
Be prepared to pay a $560 pesos toll, and do not get out of the car. We were screamed at twice because my husband had to open his door to actually reach the cashier booth and pay. Immediately an armed guard got up and started shouting to stay inside the vehicle.
