Hato Mayor · Dominican Republic
Sabana de la Mar Real Estate
Sabana de la Mar is a working coastal town on the south shore of Samaná Bay in Hato Mayor, the mainland gateway to Los Haitises National Park and the short ferry crossing to Samaná town.
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Quick facts · Sabana de la Mar
- Province
- Hato Mayor
- Region
- East (Samaná Bay)
- Setting
- Los Haitises gateway
- Nearest airport
- Las Americas (SDQ), ~2.5 hr
- Bay access
- Ferry to Samaná town
- Character
- Fishing town, early-stage
- Foreign ownership
- Full (Law 16-95)
- CONFOTUR
- On certified new builds
About Sabana de la Mar
Sabana de la Mar sits on the southern side of Samaná Bay in Hato Mayor province, founded in the 1750s by settlers from the Canary Islands. Most of Los Haitises National Park, the largest mangrove reserve in the Caribbean with limestone caves and Taino pictographs, lies within its municipality, and boats to the park leave from the town and nearby Caño Hondo. The economy runs on fishing, agriculture and public-sector jobs rather than tourism.
For buyers it is an early-stage, low-priced market tied to the national park and the bay rather than a resort beach. The nearest international airport for scheduled flights is Las Americas (SDQ) in Santo Domingo, roughly 2.5 hours by road; the ferry across the bay reaches Samaná town, which is about 40 minutes from El Catey (AZS).
History of Sabana de la Mar
Spanish colonists visited the savannah behind the bay in the early 1600s to raise cattle, and the town was formally founded in the 1750s by families from the Canary Islands. It was raised to a municipality in 1876 under the old Samaná maritime district, gained its pier and first streets around 1900, and was connected to Santo Domingo by the Hato Mayor highway in the 1930s. It passed to the new province of Hato Mayor in 1984.
The town has long looked to the bay and the land behind it for fishing, grazing and crops. Los Haitises, named from a Taino word for high or hilly land, gave it a second identity as the mainland base for the national park.
Why investors buy in Sabana de la Mar
Mainland gateway to Los Haitises National Park, a fixed draw for nature and birding tourism.
Entry prices well below the Samaná peninsula and the eastern resort coasts.
Short bay ferry links it to Samaná town and the wider peninsula tourism circuit.
Full foreign-ownership rights and CONFOTUR incentives on qualifying projects.
Market & growth
Figures are approximate and informational only. Verify before transacting.
Prices & rental market
| Town homes / lots | low entry |
|---|---|
| Park-edge land | value |
| Eco-lodge / tourism plays | niche |
Sabana de la Mar is one of the lowest-priced markets on the bay, with little of the resort development seen across the water on the peninsula. Demand is driven by Los Haitises tourism and the prospect of improved bay transport rather than an active resale market, so it suits patient, nature-led buyers over those seeking liquidity or yield.
Figures are approximate and informational only. Verify before transacting.
Neighborhoods & zones
Town centre / port
Walkable core around the market, port and ferry, where services cluster.
Caño Hondo / park edge
Rural land and eco-lodges toward the national park boundary.
Coast toward Miches
Mainland and beach-proximate land along the road west.
Lifestyle & who it's for
Sabana de la Mar is a quiet, low-key town built around the port, the market and the comings and goings of park boats. It suits buyers drawn to the national park, birdlife and the bay rather than nightlife or a developed beach scene, and who accept a long drive to the nearest airport.
Things to do & attractions
Los Haitises National Park
Mangroves, limestone caves and Taino rock art reached by boat from town.
Caño Hondo
A river-fed pool and eco-lodge area on the edge of the park.
San Lorenzo Bay
A sheltered inlet within the park, important for wildlife.
Samaná Bay ferry
The passenger crossing to Samaná town on the north shore.
Salto La Jalda
One of the Caribbean's tallest waterfalls, in the mountains inland.
Recent developments
- Jan 2026
2025 arrivals topped 11.6 million
National arrivals reached about 11.6 million in 2025, supporting nature and excursion tourism that feeds visitor flows to Los Haitises.
- Apr 2025
Sabana de la Mar–Samaná ferry project proposed
A new ferry and terminal across the bay, led by architect Richard Moreta Castillo, was put forward to restore passenger and vehicle crossings and cut the 15 km bay route against roughly 40 km of land travel via Miches. It remains a proposal rather than a built or financed project.
Buying costs & process
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Transfer taxOf the DGII appraised value (may exceed the sale price). | 3% |
| Legal / attorney feesTitle search, due diligence and closing. | ~1–1.5% |
| Notary & registryDocument notarization and title transfer recording. | up to ~1% |
| CONFOTUR exemptionFirst buyer of a certified project is exempt from transfer tax and the annual IPI property tax for 15 years. | −3% + 15-yr IPI |
| Annual property tax (IPI)On value above the exemption threshold; CONFOTUR units exempt for 15 years. | 1% |
≈4–9% of price all-in (commonly 5.5–7.5%). No additional tax for foreign buyers, who hold equal ownership rights under Law 16-95.
Source: DGII / DR property-law guidance (aggregated) · early 2026
Risks & considerations
Air access
The nearest scheduled airport is Las Americas (SDQ), about 2.5 hours by road, which limits visitor convenience.
Thin, illiquid market
Few transactions and limited resale demand can make exit slow and pricing hard to gauge.
Protected-area limits
Proximity to Los Haitises means environmental rules and building restrictions; confirm what any parcel allows.
Title & CONFOTUR diligence
Confirm a clean Certificado de Título and any CONFOTUR status with an independent attorney.
10-year outlook
Informational, not adviceSabana de la Mar is a long-horizon, nature-led market whose case rests on Los Haitises and any real improvement in bay transport rather than on current tourism or rental demand. Until a ferry or similar link is financed and built, it stays a low-priced, low-liquidity town for patient buyers comfortable with limited access. Informational only, not investment advice.
Explore other markets in Dominican Republic
Investing in Sabana de la Mar
Can foreigners buy property in Sabana de la Mar?+
Yes. Foreign buyers have nearly the same rights as citizens under Law 16-95 — no local partner or residency required. You'll need a passport and a Dominican tax ID (RNC), which your attorney can obtain.
What are the closing costs in Sabana de la Mar?+
Typically 4–9% of the price (commonly 5.5–7.5%), led by the 3% transfer tax on the appraised value, plus legal fees (~1–1.5%) and notary and registry costs.
What is CONFOTUR?+
A tourism-incentive law that can exempt the 3% transfer tax and the annual property tax (IPI) for up to 15 years on qualifying developments. The benefit goes to the first buyer of a certified unit.
Can I buy in Sabana de la Mar without traveling to the country?+
Yes. Buying remotely is common: you grant power of attorney to an independent Dominican lawyer who runs due diligence, signs on your behalf and registers the title. We still recommend visiting before you buy.
What annual property tax applies (IPI)?+
IPI is 1% per year on value above an inflation-adjusted exemption threshold (around US$160,000). Units with CONFOTUR status are exempt from IPI for 15 years.
Can foreigners get a mortgage in the Dominican Republic?+
Yes — some banks lend to non-residents, usually at 60–70% loan-to-value and higher rates than in the U.S. or Europe. Many buyers pay cash or use developer financing on new construction.
How long does the buying process take in Sabana de la Mar?+
Usually 30–60 days: reservation, title search and due diligence, a promise-of-sale contract, the notarized deed (acto de venta), and recording at the Title Registry, which issues a new Certificado de Título in your name.
Can I earn rental income, and how is it taxed?+
Yes. Many owners rent short- or long-term through property managers. Dominican-source income is taxable; a local accountant can advise on ITBIS and income tax.
Do I need residency to own property?+
No. Ownership requires neither residency nor citizenship. Buying can actually support an investor-residency application, but it isn't a requirement to hold title.
Sources & last updated
Last updated June 4, 2026
- Wikipedia: Sabana de la Mar— 2026
- Acento: Sabana de la Mar–Samaná ferry— Apr 2025