Samaná Whale Watching

Every year from January to March, thousands of humpback whales travel from the cold waters of the North Atlantic to the warm shelter of Samaná Bay to breed and give birth. It is one of the highest concentrations of humpback whales in the world — and one of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles on the planet.

This full-day tour from Punta Cana takes you across the country to Samaná, where you'll board a licensed whale-watching vessel and head out into the bay. Breaching, tail-slapping, and singing humpbacks are regularly seen from January through March, with the peak in February. Your guide will explain the biology, migration, and conservation of these magnificent animals.

Beyond the whales, Samaná itself is one of the most beautiful corners of the Dominican Republic — lush green hills, calm bays, and a relaxed pace of life completely different from the resort corridor of Punta Cana.

This is a long day — approximately 12 hours door to door — and it is completely worth it. Those who make the journey almost universally call it the highlight of their whole holiday.