Guide

The Las Terrenas guide

We live and host in Cosón. These pages gather what we wish we had read before our first stay: the beaches, the access roads, the right hours, the mistakes to avoid. They grow month by month.

La longue plage déserte de Playa Morón, palmiers et sable doré

The beaches of Samaná: the hosts' field notes

Cosón, Bonita, Morón, Jackson, Rincón… The most beautiful beaches around Las Terrenas, tested one by one — distances, swimming and access tips.

Guide
The first bay of Playa Cosón in the morning, golden sand and palm shadows

Playa Cosón: the complete guide

Where it is, how to get there, where to snorkel, where to eat, and what time to come.

Guide
The village beach at Punta Popy, Las Terrenas, with its boats and palm trees

Where to stay in Las Terrenas: the area guide

Punta Popy, the centre, Playa Bonita, Cosón or El Portillo? The areas compared, with their moods and their trade-offs.

Guide
Evening sky over the bohío and pool at Villas Origen, on arrival in Cosón

Getting to Las Terrenas: airports, flights and transfers

El Catey 25 minutes away, direct flights from Canada, transfer rates and our arrival tips.

Guide

Your beach

Playa Cosón, a five-minute walk

The villa opens onto the first bay of Cosón — the one that reaches Punta Bonita in a twenty-minute walk. Miles of golden sand, calm water, and the feeling of having the beach to yourself.

La première baie de Playa Cosón au matin, sable doré et ombres de palmiers — à 5 minutes des Villas Origen

Morning runs

The bay's firm sand makes it an exceptional jogging route, at sunrise facing the sea.

Beachfront restaurant

The Ocean Grill at Coson Bay Hotel & Residences, right on the sand — beach chairs available when you order on site.

Snorkeling at the point

In the morning, at the Punta Bonita point, magnificent fish glide through crystal-clear water.

Sand dollars

The bay is full of them. Only collect the white shells — the living ones stay in the sea.

La courbe calme de la baie de Cosón
The bay
Coucher de soleil sur la baie de Cosón, sous les palmes
Evenings
La pointe rocheuse de Punta Bonita, spot de snorkeling
The point

The beaches

The beaches around the villa

Every beach in Las Terrenas has its own character. Here are our favourites — from the villa's doorstep to full-day excursions.

Le sentier de bord de mer sous les cocotiers à Punta Bonita, Las Terrenas
12 min by car

Punta Bonita

The peninsula's postcard: golden sand, leaning palms, crystal-clear water.

SwimmingSnorkelingRestaurants
Playa Las Terrenas et Punta Popy, la plage du village avec ses bateaux
7 min by car

Punta Popy

The village beach: kites in the wind, cafés and sunset drinks by the sea.

KitesurfingPaddleboardSunset drinks
Salon de plage sous les parasols à Playa Las Ballenas, Las Terrenas
8 min by car

Playa Las Ballenas

Calm water with the three islets as a backdrop — perfect with children.

Calm swimmingFamiliesSnorkeling

The hosts' notebook

Our trusted addresses

Tables we visit ourselves, season after season — tested, loved, recommended. A notebook that grows with every discovery.

Les pâtes fraîches maison de Tio Belo, cucina tipica emiliana à Las Terrenas
Tried by your hosts

Tio Belo

Italian ristorante · Calle Duarte

Fresh homemade pasta, catch of the day and a tiramisu worth the trip on its own. A corner of Italy in the heart of the village, run with passion.

Homemade pastaTiramisuFamily atmosphere
See on Instagram
L'enseigne illuminée de Casa Miranda Restaurante, Plaza Taina, Las Terrenas
Tried by your hosts

Casa Miranda

Spanish cuisine · Plaza Taina

Tapas and recipes from Spain by a passionate family, on a terrace lit with string lights. Thursday nights are musical — book ahead.

TapasTerraceMusical Thursdays
See on Instagram
Le beach club Casa Grande sous les voiles d'ombrage, face à la mer à Playa Bonita
Tried by your hosts

Casa Grande

Beachfront restaurant · Playa Bonita

Lunch in the shade of the sails, between the palm-roofed bar and the lawn running down to the sea — the obvious stop after snorkeling at the point.

Facing the seaLunchBeach bar

About 30 minutes' walk along the beach

See on Instagram
Transats face au coucher de soleil sur Playa Cosón, au Mosquito Boutique Hotel
Tried by your hosts

El Mosquito

Beachfront hotel & restaurant · Playa Cosón

Loungers and tables under the coconut palms, right on the sand of Playa Cosón, facing the sunset.

Facing the seaSunsetBeach bar

About 30 minutes' walk along the beach

See on Instagram

Activities

Our recommended experiences

Outings we've lived ourselves and partners we know — to explore the peninsula with complete confidence.

Le catamaran rouge Antares de The Dive Academy à Las Terrenas — plongée, snorkeling et sorties en mer
Recommended by your hosts

The Dive Academy

Diving & freediving · Las Terrenas

From your very first bubbles to certified courses, on private or small-group trips — plus freediving outings with Paul, the founder, as passionate as he is friendly.

First divesCertified coursesFreedivingPrivate trips
Visit the website
Recommended by your hosts

HugXander Transport

Airport transfers & private transport · Las Terrenas

Airport transfers and private rides anywhere on the peninsula — punctual, reliable, attentive. Our go-to for arriving at the villa with complete peace of mind.

Airport transfersPrivate vehicleExcursions
Airport1–5 one way1–5 round trip6–8 one way6–8 round trip
AZSEl Catey · Samaná85 $150 $115 $210 $
SDQLas Américas · Santo Domingo190 $360 $240 $460 $
PUJPunta Cana270 $520 $330 $640 $
POPGregorio Luperón · Puerto Plata245 $470 $305 $590 $
LRMLa Romana235 $450 $295 $570 $

Rates per vehicle in USD, provided by HugXander. Round-trip rates include a USD 20 discount compared to two one-way trips.

Visit the website
Wheelbarrow of colourful cacao pods at La Fábrica Samaná, on the coffee route
Recommended by your hosts

The coffee route

Full-day quad ride · Samaná mountains

Rent a quad for the day and climb into the hills behind Las Terrenas: coffee and cacao grow on the mountainsides, and family fincas still roast their beans over a wood fire, in the pot — tasting included, with sweeping views of the coast. On the way back, a swim at Playa Morón, a wild beach at the foot of the cliffs.

Quad for the dayFincas & tastingPlaya Morón
La Fábrica Samaná — visit the website

And in the heart of it all, a villa waiting for you.

See the villa & book