23. Samana, Baleenales, Bacardi Island, Limon Waterfall

Detail

After about 1.5 hours bus ride from the hotel we arrive at the port. On the way, we will pass through local villages, giving us a glimpse into the life of the island's inhabitants. We sail by catamaran to Samana, directly to the whales. The Samana Peninsula is located in the north-east of the country, in the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors come here mainly for the waterfalls, the beautiful beaches and the whales in January - April. We are targeting the part of Samana Bay where whales have just been reported. At this time of year, for conservation reasons, only a limited number of boats are allowed on the water and their captains keep each other informed of where the whales have been sighted. As they come to the bay at this time of year to give birth to their calves, it is most common for the calf to swim alongside the mother. After the whales, the other highlight of the day is the so-called Bacardi Island, officially known as Cayo Levantado. Why is the island named after the popular drink? Try to recall a Bacardi commercial! A tropical setting, incredibly clear and turquoise waters, a palm-fringed beach, as this is where many a Bacardi commercial has been filmed. That's why the island is also known as Bacardi Island. We arrive at the beautiful Bacardi Island, where we are served a delicious cocktail and then we can enjoy the island's fantastic beach. We then sail to Samana Peninsula for lunch and then take a truck to the mountains. Here we will hop on a ranch horse and approach El Limon waterfall. On the way back, we follow the same route as above, skipping Bacardi Island as necessary.