6-Day Private Tour from Bayahibe to Samaná: Saona Island, Santo Domingo & Los Haitises
Difficulty
easy
Duration
6 days, 5 nights
Fitness Level
Suitable for travelers in average physical condition; involves light walking, boat transfers and short hikes in protected areas
Overview
Sail to Saona’s white sand, trace history through Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, and explore the karst forests of Los Haitises on this private 6-day Dominican Republic tour. Small groups, included meals, and private transfers make it an easy way to sample the country’s coast and culture.
6-Day Private Tour from Bayahibe to Samaná: Saona Island, Santo Domingo & Los Haitises
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The day begins in Bayahibe with the taste of salt on your lips and the lazy creak of a catamaran at its mooring. By 9 a.m. the sails lift and the Caribbean opens; turquoise water stretches like an invitation and the island silhouette of Saona draws nearer. You spend a long morning snorkelling in shallow reefs, lunch on deck, and an afternoon with your toes buried in sugar-white sand while palms shade a private stretch of beach. It is the pulse of the Dominican Republic—sea, town, and forest moving in sequence.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Bring reef‑safe sunscreen
Sunscreen that’s safe for coral is required in many marine areas here; apply before boarding and reapply after swimming.
Pack a daypack for boat days
Include a dry bag, water bottle, light rain shell and a spare towel—space on the catamaran is limited.
Carry local cash for markets
Small vendors and some beachfront restaurants prefer pesos for quick purchases and tips.
Protect your neck and feet
Bring a wide‑brim hat and reef shoes for exploring rocky shorelines and shifting sandbanks.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Brown pelican
- frigatebird
History
The route crosses areas shaped by Taíno heritage and Spanish colonial expansion—the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo is the oldest permanent European settlement in the Americas.
Conservation
Los Haitises and the surrounding reefs are vulnerable; stick to marked paths, avoid touching coral, and use reef‑safe products to reduce impact.
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Adventure Hotspots in Bayahibe
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Reef‑safe sunscreen
Protects skin and local coral ecosystems during extended sun exposure on boat and beach.
summer specific
Comfortable walking shoes
Useful for Colonial Zone cobblestones, short nature walks, and uneven trails in Los Haitises.
Light rain jacket
Afternoon showers are common—pack a compressible shell for sudden downpours.
fall specific
Snorkel mask (personal)
Snorkel equipment is provided, but a personal mask ensures better fit and clearer views.
summer specific