Infinity pool with a view
The listing shows two pools, described as outdoor, infinity, small and children's. Guests mention the pool and its view again and again.
Las Galeras · Samaná · Dominican Republic
Oasis en la naturaleza · Rancho Alto Bonito
A small lodging of pastel-colored cabins on a green hillside above Las Galeras, at the quiet eastern tip of the Samaná Peninsula. It has an infinity pool with views of the bay, an on-site restaurant with Italian and Dominican cooking, and the village beach 1.7 km away.
- 9.1on Booking.com · 107 reviews
- 4.8on Google · 44 reviews
- 1.7 kmto La Playita beach
Booking through Booking.com · Rates change by date
A quiet hilltop base at the end of the Samaná road
Oasis en la naturaleza Rancho Alto Bonito sits on the Calle a la Playa, on a slope above the village of Las Galeras. The setting is rural and green: low cabins painted in turquoise, pink and blue, a garden, two pools and views of the sea and the surrounding hills. It is the kind of place you choose for the calm and the scenery rather than for being in the middle of the village.
It is run as a small family-style lodging. Guests praise the hosts, who share tips on what to see nearby, the home-cooked breakfasts and dinners, and the pool and the views. The rooms are described as simple and comfortable. If you want a big resort with entertainment, this is not it; if you want a peaceful base for the beaches of the peninsula, it fits well.
See availability →What makes it special
Six concrete things, taken from the Booking.com listing and from the overall ratings.
Sea and mountain views
Rooms are listed with sea, pool and mountain views and a balcony, from a spot high enough to look over the bay.
Home-cooked meals
There is a restaurant on site serving Italian and local dishes at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Booking.com rates the breakfast as fabulous.
Hosts who help
Staff score 9.8 out of 10 on Booking.com, the highest of all categories, with guests noting that the hosts explain routes and sights.
Location rated 9.6
Booking.com guests rate the location 9.6 out of 10, with beaches, hiking and boat trips within reach of Las Galeras.
Free private parking
Handy if you rent a car to explore the peninsula, as the lodging is up a slope outside the village center.
Hotel photos
The rooms
The listing shows double rooms of about 32 m², and the photos show small pastel-colored cabins. Each room has a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries, a balcony or patio and views of the sea, the pool or the mountains. Layouts vary a little, so check the details of the room you pick.
Double room with a large double bed
A bedroom with a private bathroom, a balcony or patio and views that depending on the room look to the sea, the pool or the hills.
See price →Double room with a double bed and a single bed
The same size and views, with an extra single bed in the room. The listing sets the capacity at two adults, so ask the property before bringing a child.
See price →Amenities
Based on the Booking.com listing: a small property built around its pools, garden and restaurant, with the basics for a quiet stay.
- Two outdoor poolsListed as outdoor, infinity, small and children's pools.
- RestaurantOn-site restaurant with Italian and local cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner, in a traditional setting.
- BarA bar on the property for drinks.
- BreakfastAvailable at the property; the listing rates it as fabulous.
- GardenGardens and lawns around the cabins, with places to sit outside.
- Balcony and patioRooms have a balcony or patio with sea, pool or mountain views.
- Private bathroomWith a shower and free toiletries.
- BarbecueListed as a facility in the rooms: ask the property how it works.
- Electric kettleFor tea or coffee in the room.
- Free private parkingOn site, at no charge.
- 24-hour front deskThe listing says staff speak several languages, including Spanish and Italian.
- Pets not allowedThe property does not accept pets.
Eating and drinking
There is a restaurant on the property, so you can eat without leaving the hill. In the village of Las Galeras and on the nearby beaches there are more options.
Breakfast at the lodging
Guests describe home-cooked breakfasts that change from day to day, and Booking.com rates the breakfast as fabulous.
Italian and local cooking
The restaurant serves Italian and local dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ask ahead about dinner.
Bar by the pool area
A bar for drinks on the property.
Fried fish at Playa Rincón
The long beach to the west has stands selling fried fish, a classic lunch stop on a beach day.
Las Galeras village
The village has small restaurants and shops, about 1.7 km away.
Beach shacks
On the beaches reached by boat or trail, bring water and food, as services are limited or absent.
Samaná's wildest corner: hidden beaches, cliffs and whales
Las Galeras is a quiet village at the end of the road, on the eastern tip of the Samaná Peninsula, surrounded by beaches that are often reachable only by boat or on foot. Distances are in a straight line from the lodging.
The village beach · 1.6 km
A calm bay with light sand in front of the village, with palm trees leaning over the water. The fishermen's boats leave from here for the beaches that have no road.
Playa Rincón · 4.6 km
About three kilometers of white sand and turquoise water, with a cold-water river (Caño Frío) at one end and stands selling fried fish. You get there on a dirt road or by boat.
Playa Frontón · 6.1 km
A wild beach below a cliff, with a reef for snorkeling. Like tiny Playa Madama (5.1 km), you reach it by boat or on a forest trail, ideally with a guide.
El Limón Waterfall · 25.1 km
A waterfall of about 40 meters deep in the forest, with a pool for swimming. You hike or ride up from the village of El Limón with local guides; it's less than an hour away by car.
Humpback whales (January–March)
Every winter thousands of humpback whales come to Samaná Bay to mate and give birth. Whale-watching boats leave from the port of Samaná (16.2 km), about 40 minutes away.
Las Terrenas · 35.2 km
The liveliest town on the peninsula, with beachfront restaurants, nightlife and more long beaches. It's an hour and a half away by car, ideal for a day trip.
When to go to Las Galeras
Average high temperature and rainfall on the Samaná Peninsula, month by month (approximate values).
28°Jan
28°Feb
29°Mar
29°Apr
30°May
31°Jun
31°Jul
32°Aug
32°Sep
31°Oct
30°Nov
28°Dec
High season, drier (Dec–Apr) Hot (May–Jul) Rain and hurricanes (Aug–Nov) · mm
- ☀️ December to April is high season: more sunshine and usually calmer seas for boat trips to the beaches. Christmas and Easter are busier, but the village never gets as crowded as the big resorts.
- 🐋 From January 15 to the end of March, humpback whales gather in Samaná Bay; book your boat trip a few days ahead.
- 🌡️ May to July is hotter (31–32 °C) and quieter; showers are usually short.
- 🌧️ From October to January the northeast trade winds bring showers and rough days at sea; some boat trips are called off because of the swell.
- 🌀 Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk from August to October. Travel insurance and flexible rates are a good idea.
- 💧 Tap water isn't safe to drink: stick to bottled water. Beaches without services call for water, shade and sunscreen; mosquitoes come out at dusk.
How to get here
From Samaná El Catey Airport (AZS)
The closest airport, about 75 km by road according to Booking.com: roughly 1 h 15 min to 1 h 30 min by taxi or transfer, via Samaná. It mostly handles seasonal flights from Canada and Europe.
From Santo Domingo (SDQ)
Las Américas Airport has the most flights. From there it's about 3 hours by car on the Autopista del Nordeste (a toll road) and the Samaná highway; ask the property whether it can help with a transfer.
From Punta Cana (PUJ) or Puerto Plata (POP)
It's 4 to 4.5 hours by road. A private transfer or rental car is best, and it's wise to arrive in daylight, since this is a rural area.
Bus and guagua
Caribe Tours runs daily buses from Santo Domingo to Samaná. From Samaná, guaguas (minibuses) to Las Galeras take about 45 minutes and leave often during the day.
Getting around
The lodging is on a slope 1.7 km from the beach, so a rental car, a motoconcho (motorbike taxi) or a taxi helps; parking is free. Frontón and Madama are reached by boat from the beach or on foot with a guide. ATMs are scarce: bring cash in Dominican pesos, although US dollars are accepted in many places.
What's nearby
From the Calle a la Playa, above Las Galeras. The first figure comes from the Booking.com listing; the rest are straight-line distances.
- La Playita beach1.7 km
- Las Galeras village beach1.6 km
- Playa Rincón4.6 km
- Playa Madama5.1 km
- Playa Frontón6.1 km
- Samaná (town and port)16.2 km
- El Limón Waterfall25.1 km
- Las Terrenas35.2 km
- Samaná El Catey Airport (AZS)75 km by road
- Las Américas Airport (SDQ)107 km
What guests say
9.1 out of 10 on Booking.com from 107 reviews, and 4.8 out of 5 on Google from 44 reviews. Guests most often praise the hosts, the breakfast, the pool and the views; a few note that the rooms are simple.
9.8Staff on Booking.com
9.6Location on Booking.com
9.2Value on Booking.com
9.0Cleanliness on Booking.com
8.7Comfort on Booking.com
8.5Facilities on Booking.com
What to know before you book
Check-in 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM, check-out 12:00 to 12:30 PM
According to the Booking.com listing. Tell the property your arrival time in advance, especially if you will arrive in the evening on a rural road.
Check air conditioning and fans
The listing does not mention air conditioning, and a guest says the room has a ceiling fan instead. If you are sensitive to heat, ask before booking.
Simple rooms
Guests call them cozy and comfortable but simple. The strengths are the setting, the pool and the hosts.
Up a slope, away from the village
The beach is 1.7 km away, so you will probably want a car, a taxi or a motoconcho for the beaches and the village.
Payment
The listing says the property does not accept cash and takes the cards it lists, and that rates are paid at the property. Confirm how to pay before you arrive.
Children
Children of any age can stay, but there are no cribs or extra beds, and the listing sets room capacity at two adults.
No pets
Pets are not allowed.
Languages
The 24-hour front desk handles Spanish and Italian, among other languages.
Things to do from Las Galeras
Highly rated tours on Viator: whales in Samaná Bay, El Limón Waterfall on horseback, Los Haitises, Cayo Levantado, Playa Rincón and a jungle zipline. Check each tour's meeting point or whether it picks up in Las Galeras; cancellation terms vary by tour.
Zipline Adventure in El Limón
See the tour →
Whale Watching Tour in Samana Bay from Las Terrenas
See the tour →
El Limón Waterfall Guided Tour & Horseback Riding Adventure
See the tour →
Haitian National Park and fell up
See the tour →
Samana Half Day Countryside Adventure
See the tour →
Half Day Cayo Levantado
See the tour →Tour texts and photos: Viator.
Where it is
Calle a la Playa, 32000 Las Galeras, Samaná, Dominican Republic
Book your stay at Rancho Alto Bonito
See today's rates and availability on Booking.com. Cancellation terms depend on the rate: check the conditions of each one before you book.
See availability →Frequently asked questions
Where is Rancho Alto Bonito?
On the Calle a la Playa, on a slope above the village of Las Galeras, at the eastern tip of the Samaná Peninsula. Booking.com puts La Playita beach 1.7 km away.
Is there a pool?
Yes. The listing shows two pools, described as outdoor, infinity, small and children's. Guests mention the pool and the view in many reviews.
Is breakfast included?
Breakfast is available at the property and guests describe it as home-cooked and varied. Whether it is included depends on the rate you pick, so check the details on Booking.com.
Is there a restaurant?
Yes, an on-site restaurant serving Italian and local cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a bar. Ask ahead about dinner.
How far is the beach?
La Playita is 1.7 km away according to Booking.com, and the village beach is about 1.6 km in a straight line. Other beaches such as Playa Rincón are a short drive or boat trip away.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM and check-out is between 12:00 and 12:30 PM. Tell the property your arrival time in advance.
Is there parking?
Yes, free private parking on site.
Are pets allowed?
No, pets are not allowed.