Las Terrenas could easily be elsewhere in the Caribbean. Perhaps in a small island, that barely appears on maps, an island made to fit the westerners that occupy it.

It is not strange that some twenty-five years ago, a group of Europeans settled in this area and began to give a special character to the tourism development of this small village of fishermen. 
It is common to overhear conversations in French, Italian, German, and English as well as the amusing Dominican Spanish, full of “l” sounds instead of “r”.

The town emerges throughout its main street, noisily traveled by the “conchos”. Here are the main businesses, supermarkets, and offices. The avenue ends in a small street that borders the beach, where most of the tourist residences, hotels, and Pueblo de los Pescadores (Fishermen’s Village) the true nightlife spirit of Las Terrenas. These old fishermen cabins have slowly been transformed into bars, restaurants, and stores. At night, the site is always bustling and in this magnificent beachside atmosphere a good time is assured.

The merits of Las Terrenas are evident. It has some of the best beaches in this exceptional coast that seem to come out of postcards with its leaning palm trees against the translucent turquoise waters. The 11 miles of beaches offer peace and tranquility, even during the high season, as well as all the needed services. And lastly, but perhaps more importantly, something quite rare in the Dominican Republic, here, all the beaches are public including the ones in front of hotels.

Las Terrenas is the most tourist town of the Samana Peninsula. Currently, there are many projects, big and small, in development, but, even today is hard to predict where this is going and if in the next few years Las Terrenas will become more like Boca Chica, Sosua o Saint Tropez, as some predict.