Samaná

Where ships dock

Tender boat from the anchorage to the landing in town.

• Tender landing, Santa Bárbara de Samaná waterfront

Best time to go

Ships call in the winter season. Humpback whales are in Samaná Bay from January to March, the best time for whale watching.

Hurricane season runs June to November. Whale-watching boats must leave the sanctuary by 4 p.m.

Ship tour or go independent?

Booking your own tour gives you more choice, often smaller groups and your own pace, and Samaná's highlights (whales, Cayo Levantado, Los Haitises and El Limón) are all boat, hiking or horseback trips. Because getting ashore may involve a tender, the ship's own excursions are a sensible pick if you'd rather leave the timing to the cruise line. For whale watching, any tour you choose should use a licensed boat. Browse the tours below and set the time-ashore filter to your day.

• If your ship anchors in the bay and tenders passengers ashore, allow extra time for tender lines both ways.
• Whale watching runs January to March only. Boats must keep their distance and leave the sanctuary by 4 p.m., so check that your trip fits your time ashore.
• Pick a whale-watching tour on a licensed boat. Licensed boats fly an official flag, and swimming with the whales is not allowed.
• Cayo Levantado visits can be limited on days when large cruise ships call off the island. Check with your tour before you go.
• The El Limón trail is 2.5 kilometers of hilly forest. Pick a tour that matches your fitness, or go on horseback.

Getting around

Rideshare limited

• WalkIf your ship tenders to the landing on the town waterfront in Santa Bárbara de Samaná, the town is on foot from there.
• FerryBoat taxis to Cayo Levantado leave daily from the Samaná port on Avenida Marina. No official fare is published; agree on the price before you board.
• TaxiUse a taxi from a known company or one arranged by your tour. The US State Department advises against hailing taxis on the street and against unregulated taxis. Motorbike taxis (motoconchos) are often driven badly and don't always provide a helmet.

The US and UK governments say ride-hailing apps work in many parts of the Dominican Republic, but no source confirms coverage in Samaná. Plan on a tour or an arranged taxi.

Money, tipping & phones

Money

The official currency is the Dominican peso (DOP). Many businesses, including restaurants and tour companies, accept US dollars and major credit cards. Card cloning is a risk, so keep your card in sight or pay cash.

Phones

Claro and Altice are the main mobile networks. Check your own plan's international roaming rates before you go.

Must-sees

• Humpback whale watchingRide neededFrom January to March, humpbacks gather in Samaná Bay to mate and calve. Licensed boats keep at least 50 meters from adults and 80 meters from mothers with calves.
• Cayo LevantadoRide neededA small island about 5 km (3 miles) from Samaná, also called Bacardi Island, with white-sand beaches. The public side has swimming, kayaking and fresh seafood; a luxury hotel has the rest.
• Salto El LimónRide neededA 40-meter (130-foot) waterfall in the Samaná hills, reached on a 2.5-kilometer forest trail on foot or horseback, with a pool at the bottom.
• Los Haitises National ParkRide neededRock formations rising from the water, mangroves, bird colonies on small cays and caves full of ancient rock carvings and paintings, reached by boat or kayak tour from Samaná.
• Playa RincónRide neededA beach near Las Galeras on the Samaná peninsula that the tourism board counts among the country's most beautiful.
• Samaná waterfrontWalkableThe town's waterfront on Avenida Marina, right at the tender landing, where boat taxis leave for Cayo Levantado.

Free & cheap near the pier

• Samaná waterfrontFreeWalk the town waterfront on Avenida Marina from the tender landing and watch the boats come and go.
• Cayo Levantado public beachBoat fare, no official priceTake a boat taxi from the port on Avenida Marina to the island's public side for swimming, kayaking and fresh fish. Agree on the boat fare first.

Eat like a local

• Pescado con cocoFish cooked in coconut sauce, Samaná's signature dish.
• Grilled fish on the beachFresh catch grilled and served by the water, including on Cayo Levantado's public side.
• Shrimp and seafoodFresh seafood, including shrimp from nearby Sánchez.
• Coconut and ginger dishesLocal cooking leans on coconut and ginger.
• Piña colada in a coconutMade with fresh pineapple and served in a just-picked coconut.
• Breads and sweetsTraditional breads and sweets from Samaná's African American heritage.

Rainy-day backups

• Los Haitises cavesBoat tours into Los Haitises visit caves known for having more rock carvings and paintings than anywhere else in the country, so part of the trip is under cover.
• Los Haitises rainforestThe park also has rainforest you can climb up into, with birds like the endangered Ridgway's hawk. Ask your tour how it handles wet weather.

Safety & scams

Official advisoryUS State Dept: Level 2 — Exercise increased caution (as of June 12, 2025)

• The advisory level is due to crime. Don't carry or wear valuables that draw attention, and hand over your belongings without a fight if robbed.
• Tap water in many areas is not safe to drink. Drink bottled water and skip the ice.
• Don't hail taxis on the street. Use a well-known company or a ride arranged by your tour. Motoconchos don't always provide a helmet.
• Don't swim alone, because currents can be dangerous, and beaches may have no lifeguards.
• The country has a dedicated tourist police force, POLITUR.
• Hurricane season normally runs June to November.

From official government and port sources. Check the latest advisory before you travel.

Accessibility

At the pier

Ships call in the bay, and getting ashore may mean a small tender boat to a landing on the town waterfront. No official step-free or wheelchair details are published for the landing or the new terminal.

Tender

Tender boats can be hard for wheelchair users or anyone unsteady on their feet, especially in a swell. Ask your cruise line ahead of time how it handles mobility devices on the tenders.

• The El Limón waterfall trail is 2.5 kilometers of hilly forest, done on foot or horseback. It is not suited to wheelchairs.
• Whale-watching boats under 10 meters require life jackets for all passengers.