The Dominican Republic's Samaná Peninsula Offers a Quieter Alternative to Punta Cana

"Set in the hills of La Barbacoa, I stayed at the solar-powered Clave Verde Ecolodge founded by Noemi Araujo and her husband Jonathan after they moved from Santo Domingo; surrounded by forest trails and groves of almond, cherry, and acacia trees and just a 15-minute drive from Las Terrenas, the campesino-chic property felt like a nature-first retreat with a pool overlooking the Sierra de Samaná, permaculture gardens, and a suite whose balcony opened onto the forest canopy. Araujo guided us on a two-hour hike down the uneven road toward Playa Morón, and the lodge’s remote location—cicadas in the trees, cows mooing at dawn—made its emphasis on solar power and connection to the land tangible; breakfast of fried eggs and mashed green bananas fueled our excursions." - Lebawit Lily Girma Lebawit Lily Girma Lebawit Lily Girma is an award-winning Ethiopian-American travel journalist and the editor-at-large at Skift. Her writing and photography have been published in major publications, including BBC, CNN, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Afar, and multiple in-flight magazines. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines