Samaná Whale Watching & Cayo Levantado Day Trip — Los Haitises Adventure
Difficulty
easy
Duration
8 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves brief walking on sand and boarding small boats—basic mobility required.
Overview
Board a private launch from Samaná and spend an eight-hour day trading city streets for whale-sprayed ocean and the postcard beach of Cayo Levantado. Expect focused whale-watching in season, mangrove geology at Los Haitises, and a relaxed island lunch.
Samaná Whale Watching & Cayo Levantado Day Trip — Los Haitises Adventure
Select participants and date
The engine hushes and the bay opens. White breakers lace the hull as the boat pushes away from Avenida Marina and the low coastline of Samaná dissolves into blue. On clear days Cayo Levantado appears like a coin of sand with palms—three miles (about 5 km) from shore—its white beach catching the sun. Before the island, the boat slips into deeper water and the sea takes the lead: humpback whales, sometimes breaching within yards, announce themselves with sprays and tails, daring the human spectators to keep pace.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Time your visit for whales
Travel between January and March for peak humpback sightings—book morning departures when animals are usually most active.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen
Protect coral and your skin; sunscreen is required for many local operators and better for snorkeling.
Wear water shoes
The island approach can be rocky and coral-fragmented; water shoes make landings and shallow swims safer.
Prepare for boat motion
If you get seasick, take remedies before boarding; rides can be choppy depending on weather.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Humpback whales
- Frigatebirds and mangrove herons
History
Los Haitises contains Taíno cave art and karst formations that sheltered indigenous communities; Cayo Levantado gained pop culture fame after a 1970s commercial.
Conservation
Operators follow distance rules for whales and emphasize reef-safe products; visitors are asked to avoid disturbing nesting dunes and to pack out waste.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Samaná
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Reef-safe sunscreen
Protects skin and the local coral ecosystems while spending long hours in sun and surf.
summer specific
Water shoes
Helps with rocky island landings and slippery boat ramps.
Light wind/rain jacket
Ocean spray and morning breezes are cooler than the beach; a thin jacket keeps you comfortable.
spring specific
Compact dry bag
Keeps phone, camera, and extra clothes dry on the boat and during transfers.