Top 8 Boat Tours in Samana

1.Cayo Levantado Day Trip by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 35 reviews · 7 hours · from $28Our pick

Join Moto Marina Tours at 9:30 AM for a boat ride from Samaná to Cayo Levantado, known as Bacardi Island. You get about six and a half hours on the beach for swimming, photos, walking, shopping, and lunch before returning at 4:30 PM. Guides speak English and Spanish.

“Dans la description, il est mentionné un tour en catamaran afin d’atteindre l’île. Nous ne sommes jamais montés sur le catamaran donc il s’agit simplement d’un transfert jusqu’à l’île. Nous avons aimé le lieu mais pas du tout l’organisation.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Los Haitises Boat and Walking Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 23 reviews · 7 - 10 hours · from $69

Cruise Los Haitises’ mangrove islets, walk through caves filled with indigenous pictographs and petroglyphs, then eat a Dominican buffet on Cayo Levantado. Guides speak English, French, and Spanish. Alex has led this trip, though group size and language coverage can vary.

“L'organisation est tres moyenne. Le rdv au point était correct. On nous a emmené à l'embarcadère. De là on a été regroupés avec d'autres. Nous avions 1 guide pour 46 pers. Il a fait la visite en 3 langues. Félicitations à lui ! Mais forcément ça ne peut pas être approfondi. Nous avons visité les grottes qui sont relativement bien aménagées. Il faut prévoir au moins une lampe de téléphone parce que les passages ne sont pas éclairés. On nous a ensuite conduit à Cayo Levantado. Les groupes étaient rassemblés suivant leur organisateur. Notre guide ne savait qui était le nôtre. Nous avons été rajouté au hasard à d'autres. Le…”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Samana Bay Private Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 21 reviews · 20 minutes - 10 hours · from $2Best value

Leave your Punta Cana hotel by private transport for a Samana Bay cruise with a captain and guide in English, French, or Spanish. Watch for humpback whales, then eat a Dominican buffet at Cayo Levantado, also called Bacardi Island, and swim before choosing your return time.

“Barbara was so professional organising today as our original trip was cancelled due to adverse weather. We had moved resorts and she put it all together in a short time . It was brilliant and we were so lucky to see the whales . The team was amazing and customer service is spot on”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Whale Watching and Cayo Levantado Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 21 reviews · 1 - 10 hours · from $6

Meet at Samaná’s Malecón at 8:30 AM for a boat trip with whale watching, coastal views, and a typical Dominican lunch on Cayo Levantado. Guides may include Pablo Pima Colada and Captain Mario. Expect a full day, shared-boat conditions, and no swimming with the whales.

“The whale watching tour was well-organized and the boat was fine but I found two parts to be disappointing. The first is that the date scheduled was before most of the whales arrive. There can be up to 300 whales in the bay but at this point there were only three. Does it make sense to schedule a tour when there are so few whales? Second, the majority of the time is spent on Cayo Levantado, which has a nice enough beach but is much less interesting than seeing whales. Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic. Regardless, the guides were professional, friendly, and helpful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Los Haitises: Boat + Lunch at the beach & Natural pools

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 19 reviews · 8 - 11 hours · from $65

You’ll cruise Los Haitises from Sabana de la Mar with a guide such as José or Alfie, visiting Cueva de la Arena, Cueva de la Linea, mangroves, Taino petroglyphs, a beach lunch, and Cano Hondo pools. Plan for a long day, especially if transport from Samana or Punta Cana is involved.

“Activité sympa, la visite au Parc Haitises est agréable, avec de beaux paysages. Néanmoins, sur une activité censée durer 8 à 11h, la réalité est bien moindre. Pour ceux venant de Samana, il faut prendre le ferry de 9h qui nous transporte de l’autre côté de l’île. Après la traversée, un taxi vous emmène au parc naturel. Notre activité n’a commencé qu’à 12h au parc. La visite est néanmoins très agréable, le guide était gentil et attentionné. Une visite de 2 grottes, à la suite desquelles nous sommes laissés dans une sorte de complexe aquatique où l’on peut se baigner en attendant notre retour. Retour à 17h avec le Ferry.…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Los Haitises Boat and Walking Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 16 reviews · 7 - 10 hours · from $69

From Samaná, cruise among the mangroves and islets of Los Haitises National Park, visit caves marked with indigenous pictographs and petroglyphs, then eat a Dominican buffet on Cayo Levantado. A guide leads the day in Spanish, English, or French, with a 7 to 10 hour schedule.

“Nous aurions aimé passer plus de temps dans les mangroves (le plus beau) et dans la nature (à pied). Cayo Levantado n’a pas apporté grand-chose à l’expérience. Le repas était basique.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Los Haitises Boat Ride + Caño Hondo Natural Pools

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 13 reviews · 8 hours - 1 day · from $65

Spend a full day in Los Haitises National Park, sailing through mangroves and San Lorenzo Bay before visiting La Arena and La Línea caves. Then enjoy a Criollan lunch and four hours at Caño Hondo’s natural pools. Guides speak English, Spanish, or French, and Alberto is a noted guide.

“This activity was a great value- I really enjoyed the ferry ride over from Samana, the boat ride through the Mangroves, and the lunch was excellent as well. Service was polite, responsive, helpful and accommodating. My group was just three of us, which was a nice departure from the many large tour groups you can find yourself on!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Los Haitises: Caves, Mangroves, & Rainforest Hike/Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 12 reviews · 5 - 11 hours · from $70Top rated

You’ll cruise from Caño Hondo through red mangroves to San Lorenzo Bay, hike a slippery rainforest trail, and visit Cueva de la Arena and Cueva de la Línea. Guides including Ignacio lead the tour in English, Spanish, or French. Lunch costs extra, and the full day can last up to 11 hours.

“Super Tour in Kleingruppen. Kleine Wanderung durch den Regenwald in ein nicht touristisches Gebiet.”

Check availability →Read our full review