Las Galeras
La Playa Grande, Las Galeras, Dominican Republlic
Copyright by Kuriko La JapoMana
At first when entering you may be wondering what do expect from this small and quiet - somewhat empty - town.
But I can reassure you, that Las Galeras is not just a small town in the province of Samana with beautiful beaches - it’s the hidden spot for authentic Bachata dance seekers.
Last weekend I had the pleasure to go visit Las Galeras again for few reasons: I wanted to visit a friend, I wanted to connect with nature, and I wanted to go dancing.
I’ve been to Las Galeras already 3 times before, but never have I had the chance to dance there. I still remember the first time I went there in 2011, I’ve been told that in the past the tourism was flourishing, however for some reason it became more quiet.
Apparently it’s tourism fluctuates, and even though it’s not as well known as Las Terrenas or Cabarete, I can understand now why for some people there’s no better place than LG (Las Galeras).
To be honest with you, I have never been a big of a beach person until last year when I realised how much I need nature, no matter if it’s the mountain or the sea. Now that I know how important it is for me to connect with nature, I started to crave places like this even more.
This may sound completely cliche, but there’s something special about the beaches in LG.
The beaches look untouched and they don’t get as crowded as in other touristic areas. The sea is more shallow and waves are not very strong so it’s more suitable for a chilled bathing rather than active swimming. You will be impressed by the beautiful view of the sea and the mountains, which will surely make you wonder what this place has to offer more, especially if you are at
La Playa Grande.
And if you are a night person and love watching stars like me, you will be falling in love with the view you will get at night time - the intensity of the brightness of the countless stars are absolutely breath taking !
As I mentioned in the beginning, LG is a small town. Most shops, restaurants, bars and hotels can be found on the Main Street and it’s hard to get lost. Last time I went there in November 2021, there were not as many shops open as it was now in March 2022, which is due to its high season. However regardless of the season you will find both local and western/european restaurants.
What did really impress me in LG though was the dancing scene. Unlike Las Terrenas (LT) or Cabarete, because it’s a smaller town and not over crowded with tourists, in LG you will find more Dominicans than tourists in the bar. This you may find not very surprising, but here it goes: the Dominicans in LG dance like Dominicans - hold, let me explain: They do not adapt to the tourists but instead live their street style dancing - it cannot get more authentic than this!!!
I was so pleased to see so many amazing dancers, people who are non professional dancers or instructors, but just naturally gifted dancers, people who dance how they grew up with.
Even though I really like LT (for more info,
check out my blog here ), during this trip I finally understood why some people prefer LG. I have to say, it is a hidden hot spot for Authentic Bachata lovers!
Now, as you might have guessed already from my previous blogs, in the Dominican Republic you can dance wherever you will hear good and loud music like Colmados (Kiosk) and bars or clubs.
DANCING:
El Mango : My personal preference in LG, an open bar (which is also my preference) on the main road. I especially enjoyed it’s simplicity, the good music (Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, Dembow) and amazing dancers
Kaoos Bar and Lounge : a Bar which plays music till late. The music taste varies (my personal opinion), but what I did enjoy was the mix of inside space and outdoors
ACCOMODATION:
Honestly speaking I couldn’t find a good place where I felt comfortable staying nor sharing.
However I will share the place where I stayed for lower budget, and a place I would love to stay for a higher budget, just as a reference point.
Hostel La Ballena Backpacker : a low budget hostel with options of either staying in a dorm of six beds (female room or male room) and shared bathroom, or a private room with private bathroom. As for someone who is extremely picky when it comes to cleanliness, I have to say I didn’t feel as comfortable as I had wished. However it is a good place if you want to save money, but also for meeting new people. The first night I stayed in the dorm which was a bit of a challenge for me, as I prefer my privacy but thanks to that I met really interesting people. The second night I got the private room, which was decent. The bathroom had a leaking problem, but the upside is that you got hot water. Especially having spent the first night with 5 other women in one room, I definitely was more appreciative and felt like an upgrade!
Hotel TodoBlanco : If you want a hotel right in front of the beach, my dream hotel would definitely be this one! Unfortunately I didn’t get to experience it YET lol, however the location is perfect and it looks simply so inviting! As the name always tells it, the completely white and the Caribbean European mixed design looks extremely appealing to me. It is on the higher end, but it may be worth it booking it in advance.
HOW TO GET TO LG
From Santo Domingo - Las Galeras :
Bus Company Asotrapusa , Parada Samana , Santo Domingo.
The time schedule varies from time to time, so it is not very certain, but go check out their website and contact the WhatsApp numbers which can be found there, too. The last time I took the bus, the schedule was 6:00AM, 7:30AM, and 12:05 PM.
500 pesos per person. Bus station in Santo Domingo can be found here .
Be aware that the bus makes many little stops especially at the beginning and at the end of the trip. Duration depends on traffic, but the earlier you leave the better. Between 4:30-5:00 hours.
From Las Galeras - Santo Domingo :
According to the website the bus leaves at 5:00 AM, 1:00PM, and 3:00PM. I took the one at 1:00PM and the ride took more than 5 hours due to traffic. 500 pesos.
From Las Terrenas - Las Galeras :
If you happen to be in LT, you definitely should take the chance and make a visit to LG. I cannot recall the time schedule anymore, but you can ask the bus guide who usually is sitting next to La Bodega. There are either direct Guaguas (little vans) from LT to LG, or in most cases you will have to change at Samana.
When returning from LG make sure to ask for the Guagua which goes directly from Samana to LG otherwise you will end doing many different changes like what happened to me in November lol. It’s recommended to return in the early afternoon, because then the chances are higher to avoid many stop overs.
Price: unknown. Duration: about 2 hours ( if you only do one stop over in Samana).
Remember the golden rule in the DR: talking and asking the people for help always is a good idea !
All in all I can only recommend anyone to visit LG at least one time! And try to spend at least a night there, too, so that you get to enjoy the night life as well.
If you are into a chilled and relaxed environment, and enjoy both nature and dancing - especially AUTHENTIC Bachata - then THIS is your place :)
