8-Hour Humpback And Bacardi

Overview

This full-day trip from Punta Cana pairs humpback whale watching with time on Cayo Levantado, the island commonly called Bacardi Island. CoroTour Punta Cana runs it as an eight-hour experience with round-trip ground transportation from your hotel area, and a certified tour guide is included.

The day is built around two main parts. First is the whale watching on the water, with drinks served on board, including water, soda and rum, which one reviewer described as an open bar of rum and coke. The tour also includes a buffet lunch at Cayo Levantado, and one reviewer reported spending around three hours on the island beach, a stretch that same seasoned whale watcher felt was long relative to the time actually spent with the animals.

It suits travellers who want two very different experiences in one day and who are comfortable with a big-group format, since the tour runs with up to 50 people. A light breakfast and buffet lunch are included, along with park entrance taxes, so the main things you pay for beyond the ticket are tips. Be aware the door-to-door day can stretch well past the eight hours of activity once hotel pickups and drop-offs are added, with one reviewer reporting a 6:05 am pickup and a 7:30 pm return to the resort.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupRound-trip ground transportation is included, and confirmation is received at the time of booking.
2. Humpback whale watchingHead out on the water with a certified guide to watch humpback whales. Drinks including water, soda and rum are served on board, and a light breakfast is provided as part of the tour.
3. Cayo LevantadoA buffet lunch at Cayo Levantado is included. One reviewer reported spending around three hours on the island.
4. Return transferGround transportation back to your pickup area. One reviewer reported arriving back at their resort at 7:30 pm.

What To Expect From The Tour

• Very long day. The experience itself runs eight hours, but hotel transfers add considerably more. One reviewer described a 6:05 am pickup and a 7:30 pm return, noting that much of the day goes to picking up and dropping off other passengers.
• Food and drink. A light breakfast, buffet lunch at Cayo Levantado, and drinks including water, soda and rum are all included. A reviewer called the breakfast and lunch good with no complaints. Only gratuities are listed as excluded.
• Group size. The tour caps at 50 travellers, so this is a large-group outing rather than an intimate boat trip.
• Fitness and mobility. It is not recommended for travellers with back problems, pregnant travellers, or those with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
• Children. Infants must sit on laps, and it is not advised to bring children under 6 years old. No guidance is given for older children.
• Where time goes. The balance of the day splits between whale watching and beach time. One avid whale watcher would have preferred more time with the whales and less on the island, so if the whales are your priority, set expectations accordingly.

Common issues. The honest trade-offs are the length and the pace. One reviewer, an avid whale watcher, felt the roughly three hours of beach time on Bacardi Island came at the expense of whale watching, and noted that a large share of the day is spent on passenger pickups and drop-offs. Accessibility is limited: the tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for wheelchair users, people using crutches, travellers with back problems, or pregnant travellers. Groups run up to 50 people, and tips are not included in the price.

Common Questions