Full-Day Cayo Levantado & Los Haitises National Park Tour from Samaná
Difficulty
easy
Duration
6–7 hours
Fitness Level
Basic fitness for boarding smaller boats and short, uneven walks; able to climb a few steps and walk on sand.
Overview
Spend a day weaving mangrove channels, exploring limestone caves with Taino art, and lunching on the powder-white shore of Cayo Levantado. This six- to seven-hour boat tour from Samaná combines wildlife observation and cultural history with easy beach time.
Full-Day Cayo Levantado & Los Haitises National Park Tour from Samaná
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The day begins before the sun has fully loosened its light over Samaná Bay: a small fleet rocks gently at the pier, engines sighing while guides hand out bottled water and quick briefings. You push off into a high, bright world—mangrove fingers reach out from the flats, limestone islands loom like weathered sculptures, and the boat threads narrow channels where birds wheel and cry. The ride feels like being ushered into a private chapter of the Caribbean where the sea sets the tempo and the land rewards you in sudden reveals.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Bring reef-safe sunscreen
The sun is strong and you’ll spend hours on open water and sand—choose a reef-safe SPF and reapply after swimming.
Prepare for boat motion
If you’re prone to seasickness, take medication or ginger before departure; the ride through channels can be choppy.
Footwear for uneven surfaces
Wear sandals or shoes with grip for walking caves and wet rocks—flip-flops are fine for the beach but not for cave approaches.
Carry small cash
Vendors or guides may accept tips or small purchases on the island—ATMs are limited in town.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- frigatebirds
- brown pelicans
History
Los Haitises contains Taino cave art and archaeological sites—coastal caves were used for ritual markings and shelter by indigenous communities.
Conservation
The park is protected to conserve mangrove habitat and limestone cave systems; visitors are asked to avoid touching pictographs and to use reef-safe products to limit impact.
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Adventure Hotspots in Samaná (Santa Bárbara de Samaná)
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Reef-safe sunscreen
Protect skin and local reefs during extended sun exposure on deck and beach.
summer specific
Light waterproof layer
Useful for sudden squalls or spray during the wet season.
spring specific
Motion-sickness remedy
Pills or patches help if you’re sensitive to boat movement in channels.
Waterproof phone case or dry bag
Keeps electronics and documents safe from splashes and sand.