| Tucked away on the northeast coast of the | | | | vying for their attention. If you are really |
| Dominican Republic where tropical forests | | | | lucky you may even observe one "standing" on |
| meet the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, | | | | his tale momentarily, right out of the water. |
| lies the aptly named resort; Eden Bay. | | | | |
| Although only eighty minutes away from the | | | | The whale observation boats have to go quite |
| mass tourist resorts of Puerto Plata, Eden | | | | a long way out in the bay and can encounter |
| Bay feels beautifully remote and away from it | | | | some surprisingly choppy waters. A travel tip |
| all. The Adams and Eves who stay in Eden | | | | to anyone like me, who does not have a |
| enjoy a fully naturist vacation at this | | | | sailor's stomach, is to take a sea-sickness |
| beautifully maintained, clothes optional | | | | tablet before setting off. Another tip is to |
| resort. | | | | take something warm to put on if needed. We |
| | | | got soaked as the power boat crashed through |
| It is only too easy to spend everyday of your | | | | the waves and even though the weather was |
| holiday within the extensive grounds of Eden. | | | | fine and the Caribbean is about as warm as |
| They must cover at least 40 acres of land and | | | | seawater gets, the ocean breeze made me feel |
| include areas that are shaded under swaying | | | | quite chilly after a while. |
| coconut palms, grass lawns, sandy coves, | | | | |
| rocky beaches and floral gardens. Amongst | | | | It is a wonderful experience to get close to |
| these natural features, the resorts man-made | | | | these amazing animals and the trip to Samana |
| facilities can be found. They include; two | | | | Bay is one not to be missed. However, it was |
| swimming pools, three hot tubs, a volley ball | | | | sometimes possible to catch sight of the |
| court, a water volley ball court, bars, | | | | whales from Eden Bay, as they passed by on |
| restaurants and accommodations. | | | | their migratory passage, a few hundred meters |
| | | | out to sea. One day we sat in a hot tub that |
| If you can muster up the will power to put | | | | overlooked the ocean and watched one sending |
| some clothes on and step outside of Eden at | | | | great plumes of water into the air. |
| some point during your vacation, this part of | | | | |
| the Dominican Republic offers many | | | | There are many other places worth visiting in |
| sightseeing opportunities. My best travel tip | | | | this part of the Dominican Republic. The |
| is to visit the Samana peninsula. | | | | northern mountain ranges present the more |
| | | | adventurous tourist with activities that |
| Here you will find lonely beaches with sand | | | | include mountain bike trails, hiking, and |
| as white as sugar and beautiful hills of palm | | | | rubber rafting on the Rio Yaque del Norte. |
| tree forests shading orchids and bromeliads | | | | For people who enjoy more extreme sporting |
| of vivid colors. On the southern side of the | | | | activities there is cascading. This involves |
| peninsula, hotels and small upmarket tourist | | | | climbing to the top of waterfalls and |
| resorts have been developed over the years | | | | abseiling down through the cascade! |
| but they merge tastefully into the | | | | |
| surrounding environment. The largest town in | | | | Personally, the magnet of Eden proved too |
| the area is Santa Barbara de Samana and there | | | | strong to allow me to spend any more time |
| is one very good reason to go there if your | | | | away from the resort. Days of basking in the |
| vacation is between mid January and mid | | | | tropical sun, playing water volley ball, |
| March. At that time of the year, Samana bay | | | | snorkeling in crystal clear waters, or |
| is the natural calving and mating grounds for | | | | enjoying one of the many beach games |
| three to five thousand humpback whales. Boats | | | | organized by the Eden Bay staff, were |
| from Santa Barbara take tourists out into the | | | | followed by balmy evenings of dance, dining |
| bay for sightings of these magnificent | | | | and drinking. Sometimes it makes me feel a |
| animals at close quarters. From a boat it is | | | | little guilty that we saw so little of the |
| possible to hear the male humpback's solitary | | | | rest of the Dominican Republic but we were by |
| courting song and to witness displays of tail | | | | no means alone in this respect. We made many |
| lobbing, flippering and breaching. Most of | | | | new friends during our stay in Eden Bay and |
| the performances are undertaken by male | | | | all them found it as difficult as we did to |
| humpbacks, trying to impress females and | | | | leave the resort. |