Humpback Whales Sanctuary Eco-Tour: Seasonal Encounter with Whales in Samana Bay, Dominican Republic

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of humpback whales in the Samana Bay, Dominican Republic. Join our eco-tour for a seasonal encounter with these majestic creatures.

Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Sabana de la Mar - This is a small rural town, here is the pier where we take the catamaran
What's Included
  • Dominican Buffet Lunch
  • Round trip bus transfer with air conditioning
  • Visit to Lemon waterfall
  • Catamaran and speedboat Sail
  • Professional Tour Guide In Preferred language
  • Humpback whale watching
  • Visit to Bacardi Island
  • Visit to Samana City
What's Not Included
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Additional Information

The visit to the Sanctuary of the Humpback Whales in Samana is one of the most beautiful excursions that exist in the Dominican Republic in the beautiful bay and in the Silver Bank, located in the Northwest of the country, where Every year, between the months of December and March, about 2,000 humpback whales come to reproduce in the warm waters of the…

Location
Sabana de la Mar
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.1
(11 Ratings)
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1 star
Catherine
Feb 19, 2023
Not to be missed - Comments animator Nicolas very precise. A passionate person who knows how to share! Ballad out of time!! Very good time with wonderful views of the whales!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Surcouf6161
Jan 31, 2020
Superb - It was the third time I went to see whales after Canada and the Azores. It was clearly the only time I could observe jumps out of the water and it was beautiful, unforgettable. It is certainly here that we have the best chance of seeing jumps because they are courtships of males. However, it is in the bay of samana that whales descend from Canada, Iceland and Greenland to mate and give birth.Young calves can also be observed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anna
Feb 20, 2019
fantastic experience - what to say to see the humpback whales so closely was a fantastic experience!!!! they swam next to the boat mom and baby a great emotion
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Pabloo377
Feb 29, 2024
We saw the whales, but not as the photos show - Whale watching is beautiful, you travel in several boats, well equipped, but you have to be patient to see them, this time we saw them just on the surface, nothing to do with the photos they publish, it depends on the day, but The person driving the boat is in a greater hurry to get to the dock than to wait to see them.
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A8909lfsimoneo
Jan 29, 2023
An overpriced trip for what's on offer - The day did not start well; in the boat you constantly get water over you, so you get completely soaked and wet. If the weather on the island is also sad, you can't really dry your clothes. There is no extra space to keep your stuff dry and we are also disappointed with the communication. Crowds of people are waiting for which boat to go, there is little to no communication about what we are going to do and where you should go. The people on the boat are not welcoming. On the island you will be dropped for 3 hours. You get a receipt for a drink and you have to figure out what you're going to do. Whales we have seen briefly on the way there. We were able to take pictures for about fifteen minutes and then the boat went on again. We -and our fellow travelers- were very upset about this. Luckily on the way back I had a little longer to photograph the whales. In short, it's not worth the money for what you get for it. You pay a large amount, but then there is no communication at all, you only see the whales for a moment and it is quite chaotic.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifermcbride1
Feb 14, 2020
Adventure - We got soaking wet riding out to see the whales. Many people were sea sick on the boat. We only saw 1 whale. Nice lunch though
Review provided by Viator
Doc_g
Jan 28, 2020
Clinically Interesting! - IF you enjoy crazy - this is for you. From Punta Cana you will ride a bus to a road side stop and then you will discover that you must change buses. This second bus now drives to the boat - approximate drive time is 3 hours. Then you board the boat for about 1 hour to where the whales "should be". Then, while sitting on the boat, you sit in line to compete for a view of any whales - duration is about 90 minutes. Then you boat over to the island - another 25 minutes. Here you compete for a lunch and within 90 minutes of arrival you will be back on the boat to head to your next stop. Much not time to enjoy "the Island". At your next stop of the "tour" you will jump from the pier to the back of a diesel truck where you are packed in sucking up diesel fumes as your journey to the "horse back ride" of our life. NOW, IF the driver can find the "waterfalls" the next part begins. You jump out of the truck bed into finding yourself a set of boots and hard hat. Nothing is really maintained. Then you are directed to set on the back of a emaciated horse or donkey and you head down a trail of slippery wet mud and rocks for about 40 minutes. This terminates in the mud where you then walk/hike down another 20 minutes to the base of the 'waterfall'. At this point you can maneuver around bunches of people all trying to don the same thing - all while realizing that everywhere you look is mud and/or people. You get to hand around here for about 20 minutes before being ushered back up the hill where you now repeat the process. What you don't see in the pictures of these events are all of the garbage that you must step over; all of the slippery slopes; and all of the poorly maintained equipment and underfed animals that you are to use on this 'enjoyable journey'. All of the saddles I saw were held together with prayers and duct tape. And after enduring having my saddle and me come off the donkey on three different occasions, the "guide" starts directing me to provide him with a $20 "tip" for all of his efforts. Clinically interesting! When it all comes down to the good'ol "bang for the buck" --- the "buck" is gone and you are still waiting for the "bang"! We leave the hotel at 6:20 AM and return at 9:00PM. We spent about 90 minutes on the "whale watch"; about 90 minutes competing for our lunch on the "island"; and about 20 minutes enjoying the "waterfall". Just realize that the local "culture" does not expect :CLEANLINESS". Picking up trash is always someone else's job. And don't forget, IF you do not speak Spanish then you are going to be a little frustrated as the level of organization is certainly on the POOR side. I gave it a 2 star only because the people I was with were troopers and tried to find the sunshine behind the clouds! Enjoy!
Review provided by Viator
Lori_c
Feb 1, 2026
Do not do this tour - There was no communication they never showed up to pick us up no communication after that. I haven’t checked my credit card statement because I just got home but they better not have charged me.
Review provided by Viator
Fabienne192019
Apr 16, 2023
I do not recommend this tour - We were supposed to do this outing on Saturday, April 8, no one showed up at our hotel. I contacted the correspondent (who looks Spanish) on the spot who gave me another outing on Monday, April 10 still nobody at the hotel. I phoned him to ask where the taxi was, he answered me no outing today bad weather. If I don't phone both times no one comes back to me to inform me. I bothered him both times he was just blowing. My daughter who was in France contacted the operator and the latter we were refunded. For information, false advertising because in April by whales in view (it is from January to March). I would not recommend this tour at all.
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Roxanee708
Feb 8, 2023
Not worth it - If you don’t go horseback riding you are left at an island for 5 hours with nothing to do. You will be paying to sit in the sun or going swimming which can be done at the resort for free. Hard to get pictures as the put so many people on a boat and eco is in everyone’s way. Photographer doesn’t take pictures so if you don’t get any you are out of luck. I would suggest keeping your money
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