Las Terrenas

Las Terrenas is a town on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, located in the province of Samaná. It is known for its scenic landscapes, white sand beaches and clear waters. Tourism in this region is constantly growing due to investments in tourist infrastructure such as hotels, clubs, restaurants and shopping centers such as "Puerto Plaza las Terrenas".HistoryLas Terrenas was founded in 1946, when then-President Rafael Leonidas Trujillo ordered the rural inhabitants of Santo Domingo to resettle in the town as farmers and fishermen. Las Terrenas was then a small fishing village isolated from the rest of the country.Over the years the village's old fishermen's cabins have been slowly transformed into bars, restaurants and shops.Samana was a slave trade port for the British in the early seventeenth century. Today, inhabitants are a combination of Taino, Spanish, West Indian and African slaves.The name Las Terrenas originates from the French la terrienne (the landlord).PopulationAccording to the Population and Housing Census 2002, the town has a total population of 13,869, of whom 6,985 were men and 6,884 women.EconomyThe main economic activities of the town are tourism, commerce and fishing.In 1977 Adelphia Dane Bowen, Jr. of Texas became the first foreigner to build a private home in Las Terrenas. He was Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic at the time.InfrastructureLas Terrenas is popular with foreigners and people from the capital, Santo Domingo. The completion of a new highway in 2012 between Santo Domingo and Santa Bárbara de Samaná has enabled easier access, and the drive takes two hours.