10-Hour Bacardi Island Day

Overview

This is a full day out from Punta Cana that combines whale watching with beach time on Cayo Levantado, the island also called Bacardi Island. Runners Adventures runs the trip over roughly 10 hours, with hotel pickup and drop-off included, so the day starts and ends at your accommodation. Expect an early start; reviewers describe being collected from their resort ahead of schedule.

The shape of the day is straightforward. An air conditioned vehicle carries the group toward the water, with transfers along the way and a stop at a little store where one reviewer praised the coffee. A local guide rides along and shares history of the island during the drive, and some guides work in several languages. Once at the water, the group boards a boat for the whale watching stretch, then crosses to Cayo Levantado for about two hours on the beach, with snorkelling mentioned by one reviewer. A buffet lunch with one drink is included at some point in the day, along with bottled water, and the admission to Cayo Levantado Beach is covered in the tour price.

It suits travellers who want both whales and a beach in a single day and who do not mind a long ride to get there. It is a big group outing, with up to 99 travellers on the tour, so it is not the pick for anyone wanting a small or quiet boat. Souvenirs are the one stated extra, so budget a little cash if you like to shop.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupPickup and drop-off from your hotel are included. Reviews mention collection early in the morning, sometimes earlier than expected.
2. Drive and transfersTravel by air conditioned vehicle with a couple of bus transfers along the way. There is a stop at a little store, where reviewers highlighted the coffee.
3. Whale watching by boatBoard a boat to watch whales. One reviewer reported about half an hour on the water with the whales and sightings of more than one.
4. Cayo Levantado BeachAround 2 hours on the island, with the admission ticket included. One reviewer also snorkeled from the beach. A buffet lunch with one drink and bottled water are included in the tour at some point during the day.
5. Return and drop-offThe vehicle returns to Punta Cana and drops travellers back at their hotels, closing out the 10 hour day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you decide whether this long day is right for you.

• Brace for a long day. The tour runs about 10 hours door to door, and one reviewer called it a long day even while enjoying it. Pickup can come earlier than the stated time, so plan nothing else for the morning.
• Pack for sun and sea. Bottled water is provided. Snorkelling happened for at least one reviewer, so bring gear if you want it.
• It is a big group. The tour allows a maximum of 99 travellers, and one reviewer counted about 40 people on the whale watching boat. If you prefer space to yourself, this is not that trip.
• Food and drink. A buffet lunch with one drink and bottled water are included in the price. Souvenirs are not, so bring cash if you want to buy anything.
• Guides work in several languages. Commentary, including island history, happens during the drive.
• Whale sightings are brief. Reviews are positive about seeing whales, often more than one, but one traveller noted the whales surfaced only four times for a few seconds each in roughly half an hour. Set expectations accordingly: real sightings, short windows.

Common issues. The honest downsides are the length and the group size. One reviewer said the bus ride was cramped, reporting that a tall passenger was uncomfortable in the seats, and the tour is not recommended for travellers with back problems, pregnant travellers, or anyone with serious heart or other medical conditions, and it is not wheelchair accessible. One reviewer found the whale watching boat too small for the group, which made it hard to see the animals from the far side. Another felt the island portion was unnecessary and would have preferred a whale-only trip. Souvenirs are the only stated extra cost, and changes and cancellations are not accepted within 24 hours of the start time.

Common Questions