Dominican Republic · LOS HAITISES TOURS
Mangroves, karst islets and caves with Taíno drawings, reached only by boat. These 15 tours are compared on departure point, boat time and how long the drive from the resorts takes.
This full-day trip links Los Haitises National Park, Yanigua Waterfall and Montaña Redonda, with hotel pickup, a boat ride, a Dominican buffet and cocoa and coffee stops. Guides such as Susie, Henry and Joel have led the multilingual tour. Expect striking scenery, a bumpy ride in places and plenty of time on the road.
“all was great - tour plan, guide, food, transportation,”
Set out from Punta Cana around 6:00 am for Montaña Redonda, Yanigua Waterfall, and Los Haitises National Park. You’ll travel by bus and boat with a guide such as Suzi, Henry, or Joel, stopping for panoramic views, a waterfall swim, local cocoa and coffee, a Dominican buffet, mangroves, and a cave with Taino pictograms.
“Would definitely recommend. The tour guide was engaging, the knowledge was great, the boat and caves were so fun and beautiful to see. The food was soooo yummy. The waterfall was so refreshing! And the zip lines and swings were such a fun adventure! Our group really enjoyed this!”
From Samaná port, travel by catamaran or boat through Los Haitises National Park to mangroves, limestone islands and caves with Taíno art. Then head to Cayo Levantado for a Dominican buffet and beach time. The tour lasts 6 to 8 hours; guide Alejandro has led the route, though your guide may vary.
“The trip was good, the program met expectations, and the food during the excursion was very good. What should be improved is the consistency of information shared in all the languages used during the tour. Currently, Spanish-speaking participants receive the most information.”
Spend a long day exploring Los Haitises National Park by boat and visiting Yanigua Waterfall. Expect limestone formations, mangroves, caves, swimming, a natural clay spa, coffee and cacao plantations, and a Dominican buffet. A certified guide and round-trip transport are included from listed pickup areas. The group can include up to 40 people.
“The guides were very kind amd did a great job making sure that everyone understood what was going on, even with multiple languages in the group”
Travel from Punta Cana to Los Haitises National Park for a boat ride through mangroves and rocky islets, then visit caves marked with Taíno art. Swim in Caño Hondo’s natural pools, eat a traditional Dominican lunch, and take a jeep up Montaña Redonda for wide views over the jungle and nearby lagoons. The day includes hotel pickup, transport, a guide, and park entry.
“Hele ervaring was leuk. 1 chauffeurs voor de hele dag was prettig. Goede gids. Kon veel vertellen over alles. Je proeft met deze excursie toch iets van het eiland wanneer je op een resort verblijft.”
From Punta Cana, travel by bus to Los Haitises for a boat ride past mangroves and rocky islands, visits to Taíno caves, a swim in Caño Hondo’s natural pools, and a traditional Dominican lunch. A jeep then carries you up Montaña Redonda for wide views. Guides speak English, French, or Spanish; Albert has been praised as an excellent guide.
“Excellente excursion avec beaucoup de diversité et un excellent guide Albert. Attention le temps de route est long”
From Punta Cana, travel by road to Montaña Redonda and Los Haitises National Park for panoramic views, a guided riverboat trip, and a cave visit. A Dominican lunch is included at Paraíso Caño Hondo, though the lunch stop can change. Guides such as Joel, Henry, and Nathan have led departures.
“Our tour guide, Domingo, was very knowledgeable and passionate about the Dominican Republic. We got to experience some of the cuisine and sights that DR has to offer, and learn a bit about the history and what the people of DR have had to live through. It was all very insightful for a first-timer like myself. Be mentally and physically prepared for a full-day's worth of activities!”
Leave Punta Cana early for a full day in Samaná Province. You’ll cruise mangroves and bird-rich mogotes in Los Haitises, visit caves with Taíno art, swim in Caño Hondo’s natural pools, and ride a jeep to Montaña Redonda. English, Spanish, and French guides are listed, but English service can vary.
“If you speak Spanish or French this tour is great for you. If you only speak English you might feel like a bit uninformed. As and English speaker I would rate it 4 stars. Since the driver and some guides speak almost no English but since I do speak Spanish and the tour as such is brilliant no matter if you speak the language or not I highly recommend doing it. yes it's a very long day but it's always in a small group and you never drive more than 2 hours at once. The time goes by fast since it's very different activities and it seemed suitable for young…”
Travel from Punta Cana to Los Haitises National Park for a guided boat trip through mangroves and a kayak outing, then swim at Cano Hondo and take in the views from Montana Redonda. A Dominican lunch and round-trip hotel transport are included. Guides speak English, Spanish, or French; Nacho has been praised for his history knowledge and photos, though guide assignments can vary.
“it was a great excursion. The transportation driver was perfect. he was very courteous and helpful and drove the van very safely. The excursion guide spoke good English and was also very courteous, friendly, helpful. I definitely recommend this trip!”
This 7 to 12-hour outing pairs a boat trip through Los Haitises’ mangroves and caves with free time on Cayo Levantado, plus lunch and a Santa Bárbara de Samaná city tour. A live guide speaks English or Spanish. Hotel or Airbnb pickup is optional; confirm your start time, since pickup is listed at 6:00 am and the meeting point at 9:00 am.
“activité intéressante avec présentation du guide en anglais, français et espagnol, visite des grottes un peu rapide mais suffisante et on a le droit a 1h30 de temps libre sur l'île bacardi après le déjeuner, très bonne expérience dans l'ensemble je recommande.”
From Samaná, spend 7 to 10 hours by boat exploring Los Haitises National Park, its mangroves, birdlife, and caves with Indigenous pictographs and petroglyphs. A guide leads the visit, then you head to Cayo Levantado for a Dominican buffet and beach time. The tour includes park fees and port pickup and drop-off. Guide languages are English, French, and Spanish.
“L'organisation est tres moyenne. Le rdv au point était correct. On nous a emmené à l'embarcadère. De là on a été regroupés avec d'autres. Nous avions 1 guide pour 46 pers. Il a fait la visite en 3 langues. Félicitations à lui ! Mais forcément ça ne peut pas être approfondi. Nous avons visité les grottes qui sont relativement bien aménagées. Il faut prévoir au moins une lampe de téléphone parce que les passages ne sont pas éclairés. On nous a ensuite conduit à Cayo Levantado. Les groupes étaient rassemblés suivant leur organisateur. Notre guide ne savait qui était le nôtre. Nous avons été rajouté au hasard à d'autres. Le…”
Travel from your Punta Cana hotel to Los Haitises National Park for a forest hike, a cave visit, and kayaking through mangrove channels toward San Lorenzo Bay. The day includes a local lunch, park entry, safety equipment, and an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. Allow for a long transfer, and confirm the activity timings before you book.
“The food served for the lunch was great. Our tour guide made sure the group was all together and informed the whole time”
From Samaná, take a public ferry across the bay to Sabana de la Mar, then ride about 20 minutes by road to Los Haitises. A local guide leads a kayak trip through mangroves and lagoons, followed by beach lunch and time at Caño Hondo’s spring-fed pools. Guide Albert has led some departures. Allow for a long day of travel.
“It was great! However, I think the person in charge should switch the ferry transportation to the bigger boat for more comfort. The ride was rough! Also, the bigger boat gets you there in 45 mins instead of 1 hour and a half, especially since there is a limit on time. Everything else was fabulous! Food and guides were great!”
From Samaná, travel by catamaran or boat across the bay to Los Haitises National Park for mangroves, rock islands and two caves with guided commentary in English and Spanish. Then head to Cayo Levantado for a Dominican buffet and beach time. The six-to-eight-hour trip includes lunch and fees, but not alcoholic drinks.
“Beach in cayo levantado, caves was amazing. Rain forest love it. Only didn't like waited to long to leave.it could be better organized.”
Spend about eight hours visiting Los Haitises National Park and Cayo Levantado on a guided eco-tour from Samaná. You’ll travel by boat, see caves with pictographs, mangrove forests and bird habitats, then enjoy a buffet lunch and beach time. Hotel pickup and drop-off, park fees and beverages are included.
“très belle découverte de Los Haitises, le temps passé dans la mangrove était cependant trop court et celui à Cayo Levantado trop long. Nous aurions préféré rentrer davantage dans la mangrove et passer moins de temps sur la plage suRead more”
Choose a boat, a dirt track or a colonial street.
