10-Hour Trip, Bacardi Island

Overview

This is a long day out of Punta Cana, ten hours door to door, built around seeing humpback whales in Samana Bay. Somos Viaje runs the trip, collecting you from your resort and taking you to the bay, where boats go out among the whales in their natural habitat.

The trip also includes Bacardi Island, with a buffet lunch and a drink included, plus time to swim in the sea. Two versions of the day are offered. Option 1 adds a horseback ride to Salto El Limón waterfall, while Option 2 goes to Playa Rincon instead.

Alcoholic drinks are included for travellers 18 and over, and a licensed or certified guide accompanies the group. The group can be large, with up to 100 travellers on a departure, so expect a coach-and-crowd style of touring rather than a small-group outing. Towels are not included, bring your own. It suits reasonably fit travellers who can handle a full day of driving, boating and walking; moderate physical fitness is needed and the tour is not recommended for pregnant travellers or wheelchair users.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Resort pickupTransportation from your Punta Cana resort is included in the tour price, with pickup details set out at booking.
2. Drive to SamanaA long overland transfer takes you from Punta Cana toward Samana Bay. One reviewer described this as a long bus ride, so plan for extended time on the coach.
3. Whale watching in Samana BayA boat ride out into the bay to witness humpback whales in their natural habitat.
4. Bacardi Island and lunchA buffet lunch on Bacardi Island with a refreshing drink included, followed by a swim in the Caribbean Sea.
5. Option 1: horseback rideOne version of the tour adds a horseback ride to Salto El Limón waterfall. This is an option, not a fixed part of every departure.
6. Option 2: Playa RinconThe alternative option visits Playa Rincon instead of the waterfall ride.
7. Return transferThe day ends with the drive back to Punta Cana, for a total duration of 10 hours.

What To Expect From The Tour

• Motion sickness. The day involves both a long bus ride and a boat ride. A recent reviewer specifically warned others to be prepared if they suffer from any kind of motion sickness. Pack remedies if you are prone to it.
• Short swim windows. A reviewer noted that swim time at the waterfall and at the beach were both fairly short. If swimming matters to you, wear your bathing suit under your clothes to cut down on changing time.
• What to bring. Towels are not included, so bring your own.
• Group size. The tour runs with a maximum of 100 travellers. It is a large-group operation with coach transfers, so expect an organised, busy pace rather than an intimate outing.
• Fitness and mobility. A moderate level of physical fitness is needed. It is not wheelchair accessible, infants must sit on laps, and it is not recommended for pregnant travellers.
• Food and drink. A buffet lunch on Bacardi Island comes with a refreshing drink, and alcoholic beverages are included for travellers aged 18 and above.

Common issues. The honest downsides are mostly about time and logistics. One reviewer reported the transportation ran late for pickup and that matters had to be sorted out over WhatsApp, so build some slack into your day. The same reviewer flagged the long bus and boat rides, the short swim windows, and the fact that whale watching is limited to 30 minutes. Accessibility is limited: no wheelchair access, infants on laps, and the tour is not advised for pregnant travellers. Towels are not provided. The cancellation policy is strict inside 24 hours, when no refund or changes are possible.

Common Questions