Las Terrenas Surfing – A Full Surf-Travel Guide
Las Terrenas doesn’t hit the surf headlines like Cabarete and Encuentro Beach further west along the north shore.
Part of that is down to the fact that it’s harder to get to, being located on the wonderfully wild Samana Península. The rest is due to the fact that the surf is not quite as good quality or consistent in this corner of the island.
It’s not bad, though. Several beaches offer crumbling peelers for the beginners and the improvers. There are also days when local reefs go off, setting in motion neat hollow breaks for those who want more of a challenge. Adding to that is the relative remoteness of it all, which means you might just find yourself surfing alone.
There’s a nascent surf community growing in Las Terrenas. One or two outfitters and a surf camp now make their home here. They can take a surf trip to the next level, by offering lifts to local breaks to the west and east and that all-important local know-how to catch all the various iterations of the north swell.
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>>This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in the Caribbean
Las Terrenas surfing at a glance
The good…
- Some hotels right in front of the breaks
- Not so crowded as other parts of the island
- This is a beautiful region
The bad…
- Small compared to Cabarete and other DR destinations
- Flat days
- Can be tricky to get from break to break
Where is Las Terrenas?
Las Terrenas clutches the north coast of the Dominican Republic at the base of the amazing Samana Peninsula. It’s kinda the adopted gateway to a region that’s famed for its wild beaches, deserted lagoons, and whale-filled seas.
The surf here is neatly placed to the east and the west of town, with the best beaches of all about a 15-minute taxi ride away.
Getting to Las Terrenas itself takes about four hours from Punta Cana and less than two hours from Santo Domingo – both of which have international airports served by routes from the UK and the USA.
Where to surf in Las Terrenas?
There are three or four main surf beaches in the vicinity of Las Terrenas. It’s worth remembering, though, that this part of the Dominican Republic has yet to be fully explored for its wave potential, so there’s a good chance you’ll happen upon something awesome by accident if you travel around.
Playa Coson
The furthest west of the main Las Terrenas playas that have regular surf, Coson is a 1.3-mile dash of truly idyllic gold sand threaded by rows of palm trees.
Unlike at Playa Bonita (which we’ll talk about in just a moment), the coast deepens much faster here from the shoreline, allowing extra power to plump up with the sets. Things can even get hollow on large N swell days in the morning before the crosshore trades come to ruin the party.
The western punta that points out one end of the beach is the sole exception. It’s home to a dash of reef that can be a barrel machine on occasion. But they aren’t the easiest catches and the corals aren’t deep, so you gotta’ know what you’re up to.
>>We have a complete guide to Playa Coson right here (coming soon)
Playa Bonita
If you came with the towel and the sunscreen in tow, then Playa Bonita is likely to impress. For barrels and tube rides, not so much. This is most certainly a wave at the beginner end of the spectrum.
We’d even put it among the easiest of the whole of the Dominican Republic north coast. The long and shallow shelf of sand and reef helps to temper the biggest of N-NE swells in the winter months, so when it’s large elsewhere it’s rarely deadly at Bonita. The bottom is sand and the paddle out isn’t too rippy for most. It’s hardly a wonder it’s now the go-to for Las Terrenas surfing camps and schools.
Playa El Valle
Wowza. What a place to surf. Those were our thoughts the first time we emerged onto the cliff-flanked bau of Playa El Valle. It’s east of Las Terrenas, so deeper into the rainforests and hills of the Samana than most spots in this guide.
They say it was once a hideaway for buccaneers seeking refuge from the navies of France and England. That just adds to the mystery. More alluring are the powerful shorebreak A-frames that crash into the middle of the beach.
Over eight foot and these will hollow out for short, makable tubes to the left and the right. The best way to get here is to book onto an organized surf trip out of Las Terrenas or have your own set of wheels.
When to surf in Las Terrenas?
The period between October and March is best for surfing in Las Terrenas.
That’s actually the peak season for travel in the Caribbean as a whole, seeing a dip in rainfall and less chance of rough hurricane systems passing through. It also brings regular swells in the N and N-NW channel, which are head-on for the reefs and beaches of the whole DR north coast.
Things tend to get bigger the closer to January you stay. Meanwhile westerly trade winds are the plague of the fall and spring, but they can be dodged by making sure you get in the water nice and early. Summer isn’t a write off completely. We’d say it’s prime for beginners looking to hit the Las Terrenas surf camps.
Where to stay when surfing in Las Terrenas?
The range of hotel choices in Las Terrenas has come along leaps and bounds in the last five years. That’s mainly due to the rise in popularity of the local sands for R&R.
The way I see it, you have two options: Stay in town and travel to the breaks, which is fine becuase there’s more going on there and there are now surf schools that can help you do that. Or stay on Playa Coson, chill, and surf steps from your suite.
Both have thier advantages, so here are hotel options that fit both plans…
- Hotel Playa Coson – Prime position right on Playa Coson, which is the best surf beach in the area. Can wake and walk to the waves every single day. The hotel is a classic Caribbean beach hotel, with a resto that spills onto the sand and a pool. It’s R&R and surf lodge in one.
- Leeloo Boutique Hotel – A stylish boho-Caribbean hotel with a pool and lovely cabana-style rooms. It’s perfect for surfing couples who want a touch of lux about thier trip.
If you’re still unsure about where to stay, I highly reccomend using Booking.com’s map tool to see exactly where your potential hotels are in relation to local surf breaks like Playa Coson.
What to do when you’re not surfing?
One of the reasons I adore being here is the fact that there’s so much more to do than surf. It’s DR’s whale watching center for one, plus there are surrounding beaches that would make the Maldives blush.
- Whale watching in Samana Bay – From January to March, this is one of the Dominican Republic’s real show-stoppers. Boats head out into Samana Bay to spot humpback whales breaching, tail-slapping, and generally showing off during their annual migration. Trips usually run as a half-day excursion from Las Terrenas, often paired with a stop at Cayo Levantado.
- Guided beach tours along the Samana coast – Las Terrenas is surrounded by a ridiculous number of good beaches, and a guided beach tour is an easy way to see a few in one go. Expect stops at quieter, harder-to-reach stretches like Playa Ermitaño or Playa Onda, with time to swim, walk, and generally appreciate how undeveloped parts of this coastline still are.
- Eat, drink, and wander in town – Las Terrenas town has a laid-back but surprisingly international feel, with beach bars, good coffee, and a strong French influence in the food scene. Spend an afternoon wandering between Playa Punta Popy and Playa Bonita, grab fresh fish or a long lunch by the sand, and ease into the slow pace.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
