Snacks, Horseback, Cayo Levantado

Overview

This is a long, full-day combination tour run by Oasis Humpack RD out of Punta Cana, built around three main stops in the Samana area. The total duration is 8 hours, with round trip transportation included, so you are picked up and returned rather than making your own way. A professional guide travels with the group, and the group can be large, with a maximum of 50 travellers on the books.

The core of the trip is whale watching in Samana Bay at the Humpback Whale Sanctuary, followed by time on Cayo Levantado island, and then a visit to El Salto del Limon waterfall with horseback riding included. Lunch and snacks are part of the package. The whale viewing is wild nature, so sightings vary, and one reviewer reported a trip with no whales and a shortened watching period, while another described whales passing as close as 60 feet from the boat.

It suits travellers who want a packed sampler of the Samana peninsula in one day and do not mind boat time and a big group. It is not a fit for wheelchair users, and infants must sit on laps. Most travellers can participate.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup from Punta CanaRound trip transportation is included. The total experience runs about 8 hours.
2. Santuario de Ballenas JorobadasTwo hours at the humpback whale sanctuary in Samana Bay, with admission free. Boat-based whale viewing; one reviewer reported whales as close as 60 feet from the boat.
3. Cayo Levantado islandTwo hours on the island, admission free. One reviewer noted drinks here were limited to a single ticket redeemable for a beer, a coke or a rum and coke.
4. El Salto del LimonTwo hours at the waterfall, reached by the included horseback ride. A reviewer described the horse ride to the falls and the falls themselves as highlights.
5. Return transferTransportation back to your pickup point, included in the tour.

What To Expect From The Tour

• Big group pace. The tour is capped at 50 travellers, so expect a large group rather than an intimate outing. Three main stops are packed into the 8-hour day. Travellers who prefer their own pace at each stop may find the timing tight.
• Seasickness risk. One reviewer reported that 8 people on their boat ride got sick, including themselves. If you are prone to motion sickness, bring something for it and consider where you sit on the boat. This is a single report, but the boat crossing is a real part of the day.
• Whale sightings vary. Reviews split sharply here. One traveller saw no whales at all and said the crew cut the whale portion short, while another watched whales pass within 60 feet of the boat. There is no guarantee of sightings, and on at least one trip the watching time was reduced.
• Food and drink. Lunch and snacks are included, along with a professional guide. One reviewer was unhappy with where lunch was served, and reported the island portion came with a single drink ticket good for a beer, a coke or a rum and coke. On that traveller's trip, that ticket was the extent of the drinks provided.
• Horses and fitness. Horseback riding to El Salto del Limon is included, and a reviewer called the ride and the falls a highlight of the day. Most travellers can participate. The day does involve a boat, an island stop and a waterfall visit on top of the ride.
• Weather dependency. The experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled for poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund. Build some flexibility into your plans around this.

Common issues. The honest risks are uneven whale sightings and variable crew behaviour. One reviewer reported no whales, a whale segment cut to 20 minutes, an unsatisfactory lunch location, and overheard comments from guides who seemed more interested in the island stop; another reviewer had the opposite experience, with close whale sightings and an excellent ride to the falls. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, infants must sit on laps, and the group can reach 50 travellers. Boat conditions made several people on one trip seasick, so come prepared. Cancellations within 24 hours of the start time are not refunded.

Common Questions