The small offshore island in the bay east of Samaná is what travel guides reach for when they need a Caribbean cliché: white sand, palms, transparent shallows in postcard turquoise. The eastern public beach is the bit visitors get to, served by frequent boat shuttles from the Samaná pier and busy with day-trippers from the cruise ships that anchor in the bay.
Despite the crowds, it is a genuinely beautiful spot. The beach has shade, food shacks, and reasonably calm swimming. Go early — boats start running around 8am — to have a stretch of sand to yourself before the cruise tenders arrive. Most operators include lunch in the price of the trip.