{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/dominican-republic/samana","updatedAt":"2026-08-27T06:18:11.997Z","place":{"city":"Samaná","country":"Dominican Republic","countryCode":"DO","lat":19.20404,"lon":-69.33407},"safety":{"score":63,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":62,"confidence":0.62,"caps":[],"databaseScore":62,"travellerSentiment":{"score":66,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent visitor reports describe Samaná as welcoming and safe during the day, with many noting low crime and friendly locals, though some express unease after dark or when using informal transport.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":65,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":56,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":66,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":71,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":66,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Thu, 12 Jun 2025","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/dominican-republic-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-08-07T15:02:53Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/dominican-republic"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-08-14T13:59:28.2825889-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/dominican-republic"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":10.9166976980638,"display":"10.9 / 100k","year":"2023","score":43,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":7.3,"display":"7.3%","year":"2016","score":80,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":27.4,"display":"27.4 / 100k","year":"2021","score":28,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":75.9612671,"display":"76/100","year":"2024","score":76,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":53.8278428,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":42.4808681,"display":"42/100","year":"2024","score":42,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":52.7919493,"display":"53/100","year":"2024","score":53,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":58.132649,"display":"58/100","year":"2024","score":58,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":60.3698685,"display":"60/100","year":"2024","score":60,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":11432,"display":"11k residents","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":54,"display":"US AQI 54 · Moderate","year":null,"score":88,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":3,"display":"3 within 15 km · nearest ~0.3 km","year":null,"score":78,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":32,"display":"August: highs ~32°C · wet spell","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 5 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":72,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Samaná is moderately safe for visitors who exercise normal precautions, particularly in tourist zones and during daylight hours.","summary":"Samaná benefits from lower crime rates than much of the Dominican Republic, with visible tourist police and generally peaceful beach towns, but visitors should remain alert to opportunistic theft and transportation risks, especially after dark or in isolated areas.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Opportunistic robberies occur, mainly targeting isolated visitors displaying valuables; rare in main tourist zones but possible on remote trails or quiet beaches at night."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching happen in crowded markets, bus stops, and beach areas like Las Terrenas, especially during peak tourist hours."},"safeAreas":["Las Terrenas","Las Galeras"],"avoidAreas":["Samaná Peninsula interior rural zones (avoid due to robbery risk and poor road safety, especially after dark)"],"scams":["Taxi overcharging or fake 'tourist police' demanding fines","Beach vendors selling counterfeit goods or inflating prices","Fake tour operators collecting payment for non-existent excursions"],"zones":[{"name":"Santa Bárbara de Samaná (town center)","level":"caution","note":"Generally safe by day; avoid isolated streets after dark due to occasional petty theft and recent water-protest-related unrest."},{"name":"Las Terrenas","level":"safe","note":"Popular expat beach town with tourist police presence; low violent crime but guard against bag snatching on crowded beaches."},{"name":"Las Galeras","level":"safe","note":"Quiet, low-crime fishing village; safe for visitors but take standard precautions against opportunistic theft after dark."},{"name":"Playa Rincón","level":"caution","note":"Stunning beach safe during daylight hours; avoid lingering alone after dusk due to limited lighting and sporadic theft reports."},{"name":"Cayo Levantado (Bacardi Island)","level":"caution","note":"Day-visitor island safe with tour groups; petty theft possible if valuables left unattended on beaches."},{"name":"El Limón waterfall area","level":"caution","note":"Popular excursion spot; use licensed guides and avoid unmarked trails to reduce robbery risk on remote paths."},{"name":"Samaná Peninsula interior rural zones","level":"avoid","note":"Sparsely populated areas with limited police presence; higher risk of robbery and unsafe roads, especially at night."},{"name":"Samaná El Catey Airport vicinity","level":"caution","note":"Airport and immediate approaches are secure; use pre-arranged transport to avoid taxi scams and overcharging."}]}}