Samana Day Trip to Cayo Levantado and Playa Rincón — Beaches, Safari Truck & Local Lunch

Santa Bárbara de Samaná•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

10 hours

Fitness Level

Good for travelers with moderate fitness — involves short sandy hikes, boat boarding, and standing in a safari truck.

Overview

Spend a full day exploring two of Samaná’s signature shores: the shallow, palm-fringed Cayo Levantado and the wide, quiet crescent of Playa Rincón. This guided tour combines an open-air safari truck, boat transfers, and a Dominican-style beach lunch for a practical, sun-forward coastal experience.

Samana Day Trip to Cayo Levantado and Playa Rincón — Beaches, Safari Truck & Local Lunch

other

snorkeling

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Nov 6

Travelers

The morning light on the truck’s windshield is thin and humid as the safari rig rumbles out of Punta Cana and into the low hills of the Samaná peninsula. Palm fronds streak past like the tails of slow green comets; fishermen’s boats rock at anchor in pockets of blue. By the time you step off the launch onto Cayo Levantado’s sugar-white sand, the ocean has already decided to show off — turquoise shallows, a scatter of sunbathers, and a breeze that smells of salt and coconut.

Adventure Photos

Samana Day Trip to Cayo Levantado and Playa Rincón — Beaches, Safari Truck & Local Lunch photo 1

Adventure Tips

Bring reef-safe sunscreen

The tour includes extended swimming and snorkeling; choose reef-safe sunscreen to protect coral and marine life.

Wear water shoes

Sandy beaches and patchy reef make water shoes handy for snorkeling and stepping onto rocky shorelines.

Plan for a long day

This is a 10-hour excursion with early pickup from hotels; bring snacks, a light jacket, and any motion-sickness remedies.

Cash for local crafts

Vendors on the island and at Playa Rincón accept cash for souvenirs and small purchases—carry small bills.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Brown pelicans and frigatebirds
Parrotfish and small reef species near Cayo Levantado

History

Samaná has long been a maritime crossroads; the peninsula hosted indigenous Taíno settlements and later Spanish colonial routes, while Cayo Levantado gained popular recognition through mid-20th-century tourism and rum advertising.

Conservation

The area relies on reef health and beach cleanliness for tourism; visitors are encouraged to use reef-safe products and avoid disturbing marine life or leaving waste on the beaches.