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As part of its commitment to the local communities and marine ecosystem, the Viva Resorts Group and others recently put together the children's “we paint our whales” painting contest in Samana- a favourite for green friendly Dominican Republic holidays.

Despite the fact that whale watching season in the Dominican Republic is drawing to a close, the local community in the Samana province with the help of The Viva Resorts Group and other key industry organisations continue to pay tribute to and raise awareness of the hump back whale.

As many as 300 fourth and sixth grade children from 10 local communities representing the whale-watching route along Las Galeras, Punta Balandra, Villa Clara, Los Grantinis, Los Cacaos, Santa Barbara de Samana and Las Terrenas took part in the “We paint our whales” contest.

The contest was sponsored by Viva Residence a brand under the umbrella of The Group Viva Resorts- best known for its luxury hotels in the Dominican Republic in collaboration with the Samana Hotels and Tourist Companies Association (AHETSA) and the Samana Tourist Cluster (CTS). The talent contest formed part of the Whale Festival and called on the students to showcase their creativity by painting images of the humpback whales and their surrounding marine eco system.

Image by: Sallyrango, on Flickr

The Viva Residence brand which focuses on residential vacationing, boasts of two beach front properties in the Dominican Republic and provides an alternative accommodation solution for travellers who relish the Dominican Republic holidays experience. However, with a full range of facilities including gym, spa services, restaurant and bar facilities as well as entertainment areas for children the Viva Residence ensures that holidaymakers won’t have to compromise on any of the useful hotel services that they have grown accustomed to. The Viva Residence’s efforts to support the local community and the marine environment will certainly help to endear the brand further to potential eco-conscious customers.

While the Caribbean is the ideal getaway any time of the year, travellers planning holidays in the Dominican Republic in the future may be interested to know that the months between January and March provide the unique opportunity to see the humpback whales in all their splendour. During these months as many as 5000 whales make the arduous journey to the warm waters of the Dominican Republic’s Samaná Bay from Iceland, Greenland and Canada to mate and calve. Most recently, the Environment minister for the Dominican Republic, Ernesto Reyna underscored the importance of the whale-watching season to the island’s tourism industry noting that approximately 30 000 local and foreign visitors converge on the north-eastern province of Samaná to witness these splendid and mysterious creatures in action.

Image by: worldtraveller5, on Flickr

Although, many holidaymakers may have heard of the Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic which is best known for its all-inclusive resorts and pristine beaches, whale watching along with many other natural attractions make Samaná the ideal location for those hoping for an eco-adventure while on their Dominican Republic holidays.