Touring Samana City Alone

[CaribQween]

We are cruising with Norwegian in February and the first port of call is Samana. We are planning on the whale watching excursion through the cruiseline. From talking to the cruiseline, we will be picked up right at the cruise ship and returned directly to the cruiseship without going to Samana at all (or we have the option of being dropped off at Cayo Levantado for a few hours and then taking a tender straight back to the ship). So we really won't have a chance to see Samana at all. We were considering taking a tender ourselves over to Samana and walking around the city by ourselves. However, everything we've heard or read makes it seem like that might not be such a good idea (maybe unsafe and there is nothing much to see if you don't go off into the countryside because of how extremely poor the city is). Does anyone have any input as to whether it would be a good idea to do Samana city on our own?

[flashdog_1]

There is also a walking tour of Samama so it must not be all that dangerous. Sounds as if the ultimate stop on that tour is some distance, to a hotel with high tea. If time is running short I imagine you could leave the hotel by taxi (telling the tour operator) in order to obtain a little more shopping time in Samam. Right now, for our January cruise every single tour is offered at 10:30 but since you are in port until 7 p.m. on Dawn, surely you'll be able to arrange an afternoon tour as well. There are also tours to a couple of nearby towns which take you thru Samama.