The remote three mile beach in Samaná is so good we considered not adding it here for the sake of keeping it all to ourselves. Accessible only by boat, this uninterrupted stretch of sand is considered by some historians to be the spot where Columbus had first encountered the locals — and their arrows — in the New World. Today, the only fight at this beach is between the decision to jump in the salt bay waters or dip in the nearby crystal clear freshwater stream, Caño Frio. Makeshift kitchens by local families provide an excellent fare of Dominican staples to help with both choices.