Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Samaná: Top Picks & Reviews
August 10, 20269 min read
The Samaná Peninsula Is the Dominican Republic's Best-Kept All-Inclusive Secret
Here's the truth most travel sites won't tell you: Punta Cana gets the crowds, but Samaná gets the scenery. The Samaná Peninsula is where the Dominican Republic looks the way you imagined the Caribbean would look before you arrived — jungle-covered mountains crashing into turquoise water, humpback whales breaching offshore from January through March, and a fraction of the tourist density you'll find on the east coast. And yet, choosing among the best all inclusive resorts Samaná offers can feel harder than it should, because the peninsula is spread out and the property mix runs from adults-only luxury to family megaresorts to boutique jungle escapes.
I've spent years watching travelers get this wrong — booking a Bávaro-style megaresort in Samaná when they actually wanted the calm boutique experience, or vice versa. This ranked list fixes that. To make the cut, a resort had to deliver on three things: a genuinely excellent beach or setting, food quality that justifies never leaving the property, and service that reflects Samaná's slower, more personal pace. Below are the ten Samaná all inclusive resorts worth your money right now, ranked with conviction. By the end, you'll know exactly which one fits your trip.
The 10 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Samaná, Ranked
1. Bahia Principe Grand Cayacoa
Why it's great: Perched on a cliff overlooking Samaná Bay, Cayacoa has the single most dramatic setting of any all-inclusive on the peninsula. You take a funicular down to a private cove beach, watch whales in season from your balcony, and eat dinner with the lights of Santa Bárbara de Samaná twinkling across the water. It's the rare resort where the view alone is worth the price of admission.
Cost: From $240–$360 per person, per night (all-inclusive, double occupancy)
Location: Just outside Santa Bárbara de Samaná town, 10 minutes from the whale-watching marina
Best for: Couples, whale watchers, first-time Samaná visitors
Pro tip: Book an oceanview room in the main building rather than a garden suite — the view is the entire point of staying here, and gardens rooms don't have it. Ask for a floor above the sixth.
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2. Bahia Principe Grand El Portillo
Why it's great: El Portillo sits on a broad, palm-fringed beach in Las Terrenas that used to be its own private airstrip resort. It has the mellow, low-slung Caribbean-village feel that Cayacoa lacks, plus direct access to Las Terrenas' restaurants and nightlife just a short taxi away. The buffet here is consistently the strongest in the Bahia Principe Samaná portfolio.
Cost: From $210–$310 per person, per night
Location: Playa El Portillo, Las Terrenas — 15 minutes from town center
Best for: Families and travelers who want resort life plus an easy escape into a real town
Pro tip: Skip the resort excursion desk for whale watching and walk into Las Terrenas to book with a local operator — you'll pay about 40% less for the same boat.
3. Viva Wyndham V Samaná (Adults Only)
Why it's great: This is the peninsula's best value in the adults-only category. The pool scene is lively without being spring-break rowdy, the beach at Cosón is spectacular (arguably the best sand on the peninsula), and the à la carte restaurants are included without the nickel-and-diming you'll find at bigger chains.
Cost: From $180–$260 per person, per night
Location: Playa Cosón, 10 minutes west of Las Terrenas
Best for: Couples and friend groups 18+ who want energy without chaos
Pro tip: Reserve the Italian à la carte on your first night — it books out fastest, and it's the strongest of the specialty restaurants.
4. Sublime Samaná Hotel & Residences
Why it's great: Sublime is the peninsula's flagship luxury property, and while it operates on an optional all-inclusive plan rather than mandatory, going all-in here gets you into one of the most beautifully designed hotels in the country. The architecture blends Balinese and Caribbean influences, the beach at Cosón is right there, and service feels European-precise.
Cost: All-inclusive supplement from $150 per person, per day on top of room rates that start around $380
Location: Playa Cosón, Las Terrenas
Best for: Design-minded travelers, honeymooners, anyone who's over the megaresort model
Pro tip: The suites with private plunge pools are worth the upgrade — it's a fraction of what you'd pay for equivalent luxury in Punta Cana's top resorts.
5. Grand Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado
Why it's great: This is the only resort on Cayo Levantado, the postcard-perfect island in Samaná Bay you've seen in every "paradise" screensaver. Guests get the island essentially to themselves after day-trippers leave at 4 p.m., which is when the sunset light on the beach becomes something you'll photograph obsessively.
Cost: From $290–$420 per person, per night (includes boat transfer)
Location: Cayo Levantado island, 20-minute ferry from Samaná town
Best for: Romantics, photographers, travelers who genuinely want off-grid island quiet
Pro tip: Bring anything specific you need — sunscreen, contact lens solution, a specific rum — because there is no "just running out to the store" once you're on the island.
6. The Bannister Hotel & Yacht Club
Why it's great: Technically a mixed-model property with all-inclusive packages available, The Bannister sits on Puerto Bahía Marina and appeals to travelers who like the boutique-hotel scale (only around 40 rooms) with resort-style dining and drinks included. It's the quiet counterpoint to the big Bahia Principe complex.
Cost: All-inclusive packages from $260 per person, per night
Location: Puerto Bahía, 15 minutes west of Santa Bárbara de Samaná
Best for: Couples, sailors, travelers who dislike crowded resorts
Pro tip: The marina restaurants outside the AI package are excellent — budget one dinner outside the plan at Le Grand Bleu.
7. Playa Colibri (All-Inclusive Option)
Why it's great: Right in the heart of Las Terrenas on Playa Las Ballenas, Playa Colibri offers apartment-style suites with an optional all-inclusive plan. It's ideal for travelers who want the town's café-and-restaurant scene at their doorstep but appreciate having breakfast and dinner handled at the property.
Cost: All-inclusive plan from $160 per person, per night
Location: Playa Las Ballenas, walking distance to downtown Las Terrenas
Best for: Independent travelers, longer stays, families who want kitchen access
Pro tip: Take breakfast at the hotel, then skip the AI lunch/dinner some days and eat at Las Terrenas' beachfront restaurants — the town's French and Italian expat scene rivals any dining in the DR.
8. Grand Paradise Samaná (Adults Only)
Why it's great: Located on Las Galeras' far east side, Grand Paradise gives you access to some of the peninsula's wildest, least-developed beaches — Playa Rincón, Playa Frontón, and Playa Madama are all short boat rides away. The resort itself is straightforward rather than lavish, but the location is unbeatable if you came for nature.
Cost: From $170–$240 per person, per night
Location: Las Galeras, roughly 45 minutes northeast of Samaná town
Best for: Adventurous couples, snorkelers, beach hoppers
Pro tip: Book the Playa Rincón boat excursion for your second day so you have a benchmark; other beaches will be judged against it and often win.
9. Casa Marina Bay
Why it's great: Casa Marina Bay is the peninsula's most family-friendly all-inclusive, with a solid kids' club, gentle beach on Anadel Bay, and pricing that undercuts most competitors. It's not fancy, but families consistently report it delivers where it matters: clean rooms, kids who are entertained, and parents who can actually relax.
Cost: From $150–$220 per person, per night; strong kids' rates
Location: Bahía de Anadel, 15 minutes from Santa Bárbara de Samaná
Best for: Families with young children, budget-conscious travelers
Pro tip: Ask about the sister property Casa Marina Reef packages — you can occasionally swap dining privileges between properties for more variety.
10. Xeliter Vista Mare
Why it's great: Xeliter is technically a condo-resort hybrid with an all-inclusive add-on, but it earns the last spot on this list for one reason: the infinity pool overlooking Samaná Bay is the best pool view on the peninsula, hands down. Spacious apartment layouts also make it a smart pick for families or two couples traveling together.
Cost: All-inclusive package from $140 per person, per night on top of unit rental
Location: Hillside above Santa Bárbara de Samaná
Best for: Groups, longer stays, travelers who prioritize space over full-resort amenities
Pro tip: Rent a car if you stay here — the hillside location means you'll want mobility to reach beaches and restaurants, and taxis add up fast.
Honorable Mentions
Peninsula House — Not an all-inclusive, but if you're willing to unbundle, this six-room boutique is the single most exquisite place to sleep on the peninsula.
Alisei Hotel Las Terrenas — A charming mid-sized property with an optional meal plan, ideal for travelers who want more independence than a full AI provides but still like predictable dining.
Villa Serena, Las Galeras — Old-school Caribbean elegance right on the water; consider it if Grand Paradise feels too generic and you want character.
How to Choose: Quick Decision Framework
If you only have time for one, choose Bahia Principe Grand Cayacoa — the cliff-top setting captures everything that makes Samaná different from the rest of the DR, and the whale-watching access from January to March is unmatched.
Choose Viva Wyndham V Samaná if you're adults-only and value-driven and want the best beach on the list.
Choose Sublime Samaná if design and quiet luxury matter more than resort scale.
Quick-Reference Comparison
| Resort | Cost (per person/night) | Best For | |---|---|---| | Bahia Principe Grand Cayacoa | $240–$360 | Couples, whale watchers | | Bahia Principe Grand El Portillo | $210–$310 | Families, town access | | Viva Wyndham V Samaná | $180–$260 | Adults-only value | | Sublime Samaná | $380+ ($150 AI supp.) | Luxury, design lovers | | Grand Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado | $290–$420 | Island seclusion | | The Bannister | $260+ | Boutique, marina lovers | | Playa Colibri | $160+ | Independent travelers | | Grand Paradise Samaná | $170–$240 | Adventure, wild beaches | | Casa Marina Bay | $150–$220 | Families, budget | | Xeliter Vista Mare | $140+ (plus unit) | Groups, longer stays |
Your next step: pick your top two from this list, cross-check availability for your dates on both, and book the one with the better ocean-view inventory remaining. In Samaná, the view is what you came for — don't compromise on it.
