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Whale Watching: Humpback Giants of Samaná
4.0
16 Ratings
Bávaro
Embark on a Samaná Whale Watching Tour and have an unforgettable encounter with majestic humpback whales in their natural habitat. Book now!
Embark on a Samaná Whale Watching Tour and have an unforgettable encounter with majestic humpback whales in their natural habitat. Book now!
Duration:
11 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Santa Barbara de Samana - We begin our trip with the collection of our bus at your hotel then we will change on board an all-terrain truck to go to the Samana dock. As soon as you reach the Samana Peninsula your adventure will really begin. During the excursion, the means of transport will change and you will travel aboard a truck to the mountains…
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Santa Barbara de Samana - We begin our trip with the collection of our bus at your hotel then we will change on board an all-terrain truck to go to the Samana dock. As soon as you reach the Samana Peninsula your adventure will really begin. During the excursion, the means of transport will change and you will travel aboard a truck to the mountains to visit a typical Dominican Ranch.
Enjoy a tasty Caribbean lunch at our exclusive restaurant in the city of Samana, while enjoying the panoramic view of the bay and its emblematic Napoleon Bridge. A tour of the city of Santa Barbara de Samaná will be offered before or after lunch. Get on board our boats in the direction of Cayo Levantado Island. -
El Limon - We begin our trip with the collection of our bus at your hotel then we will change on board an all-terrain truck to go to the Samana dock. As soon as you reach the Samana Peninsula your adventure will really begin. During the excursion, the means of transport will change and you will travel aboard a truck to the mountains to visit a typical Dominican Ranch.
Enjoy a tasty Caribbean lunch at our exclusive restaurant in the city of Samana, while enjoying the panoramic view of the bay and its emblematic Napoleon Bridge. A tour of the city of Santa Barbara de Samaná will be offered before or after lunch. Get on board our boats in the direction of Cayo Levantado Island. - Samana Province - we made a tour in a safari type truck
- Santa Barbara de Samana - we will have a stop where we will have the best lunch with the best view of our samana where you will have a buffet lunch with refreshments and rum.
- Sabana de la Mar - Upon pick up from your hotel, our transportation will take you to the place where you will have breakfast and board your catamaran to start the tour.
What's Included
- Safari-style transport throughout the tour
- Roundtrip hotel transportation included
- Guided City Tour of Samana
- Lunch provided
- Visit to the majestic El Limon Waterfall
- Horseback ride adventure
- Relaxation time at Cayo Levantado Beach
- Safari-style transport throughout the tour
- Roundtrip hotel transportation included
- Guided City Tour of Samana
- Lunch provided
- Visit to the majestic El Limon Waterfall
- Horseback ride adventure
- Relaxation time at Cayo Levantado Beach
What's Not Included
- Photos (available to purchase)
- Uvero Alto Punta Cana and Cap Cana area has an additional cost 10$ per person.
- Photos (available to purchase)
- Uvero Alto Punta Cana and Cap Cana area has an additional cost 10$ per person.
Additional Information
Have you ever seen a 17-meter whale up close? We’re talking about actual life, not videos!
Humpback whales are stunning and wonderful. Mature specimens can grow to a length of 17 meters; their fins, which are approximately a third of that size and used as a rudder, for hunting, and even to control body temperature, are less than that.
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The Humpback…
Have you ever seen a 17-meter whale up close? We’re talking about actual life, not videos!
Humpback whales are stunning and wonderful. Mature specimens can grow to a length of 17 meters; their fins, which are approximately a third of that size and used as a rudder, for hunting, and even to control body temperature, are less than that.
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The Humpback Whale, or Megaptera novaeangliae, migrates in vast numbers from Canadian waters to those of the Dominican Republic every year between mid-January and mid-March.
While permitting access in Samaná Bay, the Ministry of the Environment has designated some sections as marine protected zones.
We travel in small boats in quest of these amazing creatures because their majestic movements let us approach them. Mothers are frequently spotted with their children or adult companions.
An outstanding experience is the whale excursion.
Location
Bávaro
customers will be picked up at the hotel or reference point they inform us of and will be taken back to their meeting point.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.0
(16 Ratings)
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Jennifer_c
Jan 30, 2025
Recommend this! - We were a little skeptical after reading other reviews, but this tour checked all the boxes. We were picked up on time from our hotel, we did have to meet the rest of the tour group on the side of the road due to another pickup but we never felt unsafe. The 2 hour drive to the boat was beautiful and really gave a glimpse into life outside of the resorts. Breakfast was indeed and ham and cheese sandwich with fruit but it was the right amount of food for being early. The tour guides were friendly and helpful, and the whales showed up and showed off! Lunch was a unique experience with a view of the bay and was good local cuisine. After lunch, we boarded open air safari trucks and it took about 40 mins to get to the horses, again getting a glimpse of local life. The horses were skinny but didn’t appear unhealthy. Local volunteers are the guides for this walk to the waterfall so be prepared to tip them, as they are not employed by the tour itself. Our guides were very friendly and made sure we were comfortable and having fun. The stairs…. Yes there are quite a few of them (280) but worth the view. They were wet and if you aren’t careful, I can see how it could be sketchy but I never felt unstable and my knees aren’t great! Just be smart and take your time if that’s a concern. The waterfall was beautiful and lots of picture ops along the way. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys getting off resort and experiencing a fun day.
Review provided by Viator
Jack
Mar 23, 2024
Beautiful whale watching, an emotional experience! - This was AMAZING! Firstly, the itinerary as written is a little confusing. Here's how it actually went:
We were picked up from our resort in Punta Cana, picked up a few other people, and driven in a minibus to Sabana de la Mar. There we had a small sandwich and coffee, then we got on a boat, heading north east in the direction of Cayo Velantado (Bacardi Island). About halfway across we were scanning the water for signs of whales. For the first 30 minutes we only saw distant blows from the blowholes and a couple closer sightings of tail fins. We were really delighted but we thought maybe that was all we'd get. But then shortly after we saw about 5 full breaches from the water in succession from possibly a family. They were very close and basically everyone on the boat was able to take stunning footage (witness the attached photo - the videos are just as incredible). It was truly exhilarating! A pair then came and passed by the surface right in front of the boat - I'm talking less than 6 feet from the hull at the closest point!
We then continued on to Cayo Velantado where we disembarked and headed to the beautiful beach there, where we had a free drink token (I had a rum and Sprite). After an hour there, we returned to the dock and left for Samana itself. Upon arrival at a small Samana dock, we were given a freshly cooked meal in a buffet style - rice, beans, bread, salad, chicken, pork, etc. Then we left by safari truck to El Limon waterfall. About 2 or 3km out, we stopped to get equipped for our horseback ride to the falls. We were given boots and formed a convoy of horses to the falls, going through beautiful jungle and next to a small river. We stopped at the top of a long set of steps which we traversed on foot down to the foot of El Limon waterfall. It was beautiful and we got some great pictures and had fun swimming in the cool waters. We dried very quickly after getting out. We returned the same way we came - up the steps, back on horses for 2-3km and then on a safari truck back to the dock at Samana. We boarded the same boat back to Sabana de la Mar and were fortunate to get a couple more sightings, not quite as dramatic, but a pair relaxing near the surface for nearly a full minute before diving again. We were given rum and coke for the remainder of the journey to shore and then disembarked to be picked up by minivan and returned to our resort, about 12 hours after we left in the morning. Breathtaking experience, it was actually quite emotional. We must strive to protect these magisterial animals - don't forget to recycle!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O9105waandreab
Jan 1, 2024
Must do - The excursion was expertly guided, with knowledgeable locals sharing insights into the area's history, flora, and fauna. The warm hospitality of the Samana locals added an extra layer of charm to the experience, making me feel like a welcomed guest in their paradise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Theresa_s
Feb 25, 2025
I agree with the other... - I agree with the other reviews the breakfast was just a slice of cheese on bread, not good.
The buffet lunch was good.
The steps at Limon ranch were very slippery.
I wouldn’t go down them again, not for the elderly.
The people escorting you on the horse ride and down the trail kind of harassed you for tip money, but they definitely deserved it
The music on the boat ride was way to loud!
Wear old shoes you will get them dirty and muddy.
Review provided by Viator
Scott_b
Feb 16, 2025
A whale of a tour - This tour offers a lot of activity packed into one day. We saw whales which is why we booked this tour. Some of the other reviewers complained about the breakfast sandwich. So what. This isn't a food tour. The Dominican lunch was delicious in case you were wondering. The tour guide we had favored Spanish when he spoke and gave very little direction in English which is why I only gave it four stars. Better communication to English speakers would have made us less concerned about what to do and when. We had to ask a lot of questions. We were staying in Punta Cana which is about 2 hours from the boat dock. If you are staying in the same location, be prepared to not return until about 9pm.
All in all, it was a worthwhile trip.
Review provided by Viator
Christina_t
Feb 16, 2025
Whales, beach, horse/donkey ride, waterfall - It’s a long day but worth it to see the whales and ride a donkey. Pack snacks, the food is ok. 1.5 hour bus ride, breakfast was bread and fruit, then 30 min boat ride to island beach, 1 hour at beach, 5 min boat ride to Samana, lunch, 45 min bus ride to horse/donkey to ride 15 min to waterfall. Then horse, bus, boat, bus back.
Review provided by Viator
Rhonda
Jan 25, 2025
Long day. Full of activity. - We took this trip during January (to be able to see the whales). To begin we were picked up about 40 minutes late on a van and taken to a gas station to meet other the other travelers on a larger bus. We drove for about an hour and half to get to breakfast (a ham sandwich and a slice of fruit) before walking over to the boats. The boat was completely packed and we sat at the back. As it began to rain, we got soaked from being at the back of the boat and not under any top. Some People began to get sea sick. We did see 3 whales! Then went to Bacardi Island, which is beautiful. You get a free drink. There are some market people hassling you as you walk in/out. Then back on the boat to get lunch. Cafeterias/buffet style, outdoors with flies everywhere and bathroom is horrendous. But you are in the Dominican. You then take the open air truck to the horses. You go through some areas and see how people live. They quickly get you on a horse. Each horse has a guide. The horse stops and you have about 200 uneven steps to get to the waterfall. Down not so bad, but back up… whew:) it really was beautiful. The horse takes you back to the open air truck, then you follow the trip back …to the boat, to the bus and then the van.
It’s a long day. Left at 7am and returned at 9:30 pm. Not much food was given but we took some snacks. Definitely recommend taking snacks. It was a great experience! And would recommend doing it.
Review provided by Viator
Darwin_c
Jun 29, 2024
Breakfast????????????? - Everything was good but the so called “Breakfast “ I peace of bread with a half shaved slice of cheese and a half shaved peace of ham and aged watermelon. To top it off the lady serving it looks like someone stepped on her toes. Plus and army of flies around her. The waterfall was breathtaking. Please be generous to the people guiding the horses for you they do work hard.
Review provided by Viator
Maps28326260101
Jan 2, 2025
They didn't meet the collection - I was waiting in the lobby as indicated, from 6 and 30 am
We waited until 8 and 30 am and the guide and transport never arrived, they completely spoiled our day, we had many expectations to go for the walk and meet Samaná, but thanks to you, we did not get to fulfill,
AS ADVICE TO THE FOLLOWING TRAVELERS: They better make the purchase of a tour directly at the hotel where they stay because they never respond to you and there is no way they answer either by phone or by customer service.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Xiat888
Dec 27, 2024
Disappointed tour - Trusted trip advisor/Viator and booked Samana Full Day, Bacardi Island, Horse Limon Waterfall tour through trip advisor during X-mas family vacation in Dominican Republic. Waiting for the tour company to pick us up at the resort lobby at 7:30am. Contacted the tour company at 8:00am and was told the tour was cancelled. This is the second time in 2024 our trip booked through trip advisor being cancelled the same fashion. The first event was a city tour in Dalas Taxes. It was a no show at the tour pick up spot in the city center and was told later that the tour was cancelled. We have trusted trip advisor and booked almost all our trips through trip advisor. Poor communication and poor service. Very disappointed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
