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Humpback whale watching in Samaná bay and Cayo Levantado

An activity that will remain in your memory
  • Whale watching samana tour
  • Whale watching samana tour
  • Whale watching samana tour
  • Whale watching samana tour
  • Whale watching samana tour
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A spectacle of nature not to be missed

Welcome to Samana Bay! From Punta Cana you can visit a lot of exuberant landscapes, but we are sure that nothing will be as impressive as the natural spectacle that we want to propose you today.

In the north of the Dominican Republic, in Samaná Bay, every year humpback whales gather during the mating season. This tourist attraction is one of the most famous of the island, and takes place every year between January and March, when the Caribbean waters are filled with the fins of these cetaceans that you can practically touch with your hands.

The tour not only includes the sighting of one of the largest mammals in the world, but you can also visit Cayo Levantado, better known as Bacardi Island, a place where the crystal-clear water mixes with the golden sand in a picture that is completed with a typical jungle vegetation of these latitudes.

Read on to learn all the details of this unique experience in the north of the country.

Why should you take this tour?

It is not every day that you have the opportunity to see one of the largest mammals in the world. If you add to this that you will visit two natural places of great value such as Cayo Levantado and Limón Waterfall, this excursion is a success.

That the whales come to Samaná is not a simple coincidence. When the northern winter approaches in places like Iceland, Canada or United States, humpback whales begin their journey.

This journey lasts for months, covering thousands of kilometers. Right after this journey is when the whales enter the mating phase. And what better place to conceive life than the waters of Samaná.

There you will see humpback whales of all sizes, making impressive jumps in which the splashing becomes the main protagonist. A natural spectacle that only occurs during a few months of the year in the waters of the Dominican Republic.

And it is that the Caribbean not only falls in love with tourists but also with the humpback whale, which sees perfect conditions in our country for mating.

Duration of excursion: 10 hours

Departure time: 6:20 a.m.

Hotel pick-up

From Monday to Saturday from mid-January to the end of March

Itinerary of the excursion

Here is the itinerary of the tour as follows during the our activities:

  • 6:20 a.m. – Pick up from your hotel to the meeting point.
  • 7:30 a.m. – Departure from the meeting point to La Cañita.
  • 9:00 a.m. – Once we arrive at La Cañita, we will have a small breakfast to start the day with energy. Next, we will embark on a catamaran towards the Humpback Whale Sanctuary, very close to Bacardí Island.
  • 10:30 a.m. – We reached the peak of the excursion: we began to see the humpback whales that have chosen our waters for mating. You will have the opportunity to listen to their beautiful song very close to our boat.
  • 12:00 p.m. – We go to the port of Bahía de Samaná from where we will head to our ranch in the mountains. We will stop to see the typical Dominican house to see the elaboration process that follows the coffee, chocolate, mama Juana and typical cigars.
  • Once we arrive at the ranch, we will ride a horse to go to our next destination: Limon Waterfall, a waterfall more than 40 meters high, where we can take a refreshing bath for 30 minutes.
  • After this bath, we head back to the ranch on our horse and get on the safari truck to go to the buffet where we will have typical Dominican food for lunch.
  • After having lunch, we board our catamaran and head to Cayo Levantado where we will be for an hour and a half. You will have free time to enjoy all the charms of the island and its beach. Explore its jungle, relax under its palm trees and enjoy its flora and fauna.
  • 04:00 p.m. – Return to our meeting point to return to La Cañita where the bus will be waiting for us to return to our hotels.
  • 05:00 p.m. – End of activity.

* The times indicated above may be subject to change.

Departure times from hotels

Cabeza de Toro

HOTEL Hours
Natura Park 6:00 AM
Dreams 6:05 AM
Be Live Punta Cana 6:15 AM
Catalonia 6:20 AM

Zona 1 Bávaro

HOTEL Hours
Barceló Beach 6:35 AM
Barceló Palace Deluxe 6:35 AM
Lopesan 6:40 AM
Meliá Caribe / Trop. Y Palma Real Re 6:45 AM
Now Lorimar / Royal Secrets 6:50 AM
Dominican B. / Tropical Club 6:55 AM
Vista Sol 7:00 AM
Palladium Punta Cana / Palace 6:50 AM
Palladium Bávaro 6:55 AM
Occidental P.C Flamenco 7:00 AM
Bávaro Princess 7:10 AM

Zona 2 Bávaro

HOTEL Hours
Paradisus Punta Cana 6:45 AM
Caribe Club Princes 7:00 AM
Punta Cana Princes 6:00 AM
Vick Arena 7:05 AM
Ocean Sand-Blue 7:10 AM
HLTS Iberostar 7:20 AM
HTLS Riu 7:30 AM
Grand Bahía Príncipe 7:35 AM

Zona 3 Bávaro

HOTEL Hours
Royalton / Memories 7:30 AM
Majestic Colonial / Elegant 7:30 AM
Barceló Premium / Occidental Caribe 7:30 AM
Riu República 7:35 AM
Hard Rock 7:40 AM

Úvero Alto / Macao

HOTEL Hours
Zoetry 7:00 AM
Excellence Punta Cana 7:10 AM
Excellence del Carmen 7:15 AM
Now Onix Uvero Alto 7:15 AM
Sirenis Cocotal 7:20 AM
Breathless 7:25 AM
Dreams Punta Cana 7:30 AM
Chic (Colony Bay) 7:40 AM

Punta Cana / Cap Cana

HOTEL Hours
Westin P.C 6:00 AM
Club Med 6:10 AM
Punta Cana 6:20 AM
Cap Cana 6:25 AM
Sanctuary Cap Cana 6:30 AM

Bayahibe

HOTEL Hours
Catalonia Dominicus 6:00 AM
Iberostar Hacienda 6:00 AM
Dominicus Palace 6:00 AM
Dominicus Beach 6:05 AM
Hilton Romana 6:20 AM
Dreams Dominicus 6:40 AM

Also available the tour without the visit to Limón waterfall

The humpback whale watching tour in Samana can also be booked without going to Limón waterfall.

Enjoy the wonderful natural spectacle offered by the whale sanctuary and then relax with a delicious lunch on the beach, enjoying the charms of Cayo Levantado. Drinks (non-alcoholic) are included.

After watching the whales and tasting the typical gastronomy, we will return to Sabana de la Mar to go back to the hotel, with the memory of having lived one of the most impressive moments that can be experienced in the middle of the ocean.

Whale watching in Samaná and visit to Cayo Levantado

Samana is located in the northeast of the Dominican Republic, being one of the most peaceful coasts of the country. Its capital is Santa Bárbara de Samaná, where the Presidente Juan Bosch International Airport is located, one of the most popular entry points to the Dominican Republic.

Travel agencies have this point marked on the map because this is the most important site of the Dominican Republic's Marine Mammal Sanctuary, the Banco de la Plata and Christmas. Every year, the bay is full of humpback whales in mating season, so males and females cause the gestation of small calves in Dominican territory. You will be able to see specimens of up to 15 meters long jumping and swimming in the calm waters of the bay, a spectacle to remember or, also, for photography.

In addition to this spectacle, there are some dream places, such as Bacardi Island. The name will ring a bell, since an advertisement for the famous rum brand was filmed here, which gave a new meaning to what used to be called Cayo Levantado. This small island is perfect for a day trip like the one we propose, where you can discover some of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic surrounded by a thick flora that dominates the entire island.

Contemplate the spectacle of Limón Waterfall

It is not every day that you have the opportunity to see one of the largest mammals in the world. If you add to this that you will visit two natural places of great value such as Cayo Levantado and Limón waterfall, this excursion is a success.

The fact that humpback whales come to the waters of Samaná Bay is not a mere coincidence. When the northern winter approaches in places like Iceland, Canada or the northern United States, humpback whales begin their journey.

This journey lasts for months, covering thousands of kilometers. Right after this journey is when the whales enter the mating phase. And what better place to conceive life than the waters of Samaná Bay.

There you will see humpback whales of all sizes, making impressive jumps in which the splashing becomes the main protagonist. A natural spectacle that only occurs during a few months of the year in the waters of the Dominican Republic. The Caribbean waters not only enchant tourists, but also whales.

What is the best time to see humpback whales in Samana?

Humpback whales do not live in Samana forever. This explains why this experience is only available during a short season that coincides with the months of January and March.

These dates range from the second week of January, when the humpbacks arrive in the bay, until the end of March. If you are in Punta Cana during these months, it is a spectacle not to be missed.

Why do humpback whales come to Samaná this season?

Humpback whales come to Samaná for a reason: they flee the winter season in the northern Atlantic Ocean, in places like Greenland or Iceland, to the warm waters of the Caribbean.

It is a journey of thousands of kilometers to reach a privileged ecosystem, where krill, their main food, predominates. It is the perfect place for them to mate and gestate their little creatures.

Is it a tour for the whole family?

The humpback whale watching tour is for the whole family, except children under 5 years old.

It is also perfect to do with friends, because after seeing the cetaceans, you will be able to enjoy the paradisiacal Bacardí Island, where many moments will arise to remember and that will remain engraved in the retina forever.

Recommendations and tips for this activity

Any tour operator will tell you that the only thing you need to bring to this excursion is the desire to have a good time. But for the experience to be completely satisfactory, we recommend that you don't forget:

  • Sunscreen.
  • Sunglasses, to protect our eyes from the sun's rays.
  • Money in cash, in case you want to buy souvenirs and leave a tip (mandatory) to the guide who will serve you company during the horseback ride.
  • Swimsuit to be able to bathe in Limón Waterfall.
  • Cap or hat.
  • Photo camera, to photograph unique moments.

Is there free cancellation of the activity?

Yes. You can cancel tours with JackCana Tours for free with 24 hours notice.

After that date, we will not accept any type of cancellation or make any refund, since our team will have the service prepared to guarantee excellent quality in your reservation.

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