6 Sabana de la Mar Tours Worth a Slot in Your Week

1.Samana Bay Private Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 21 reviews · 20 minutes - 10 hours Our pick

Travel from Punta Cana to Samaná Bay for a private whale-watching cruise with an ecologist guide, then stop at Cayo Levantado for a Dominican buffet and beach time. Hotel pickup is included if you select that option, and your private group can choose when to head back. Barbara has helped coordinate schedule changes, though your guide may vary.

“The private whale watching excursion was woth every penny! We were able to see the beautiful creatures up close. It was an amazing experience. I can’t think of one thing I would change. Going to the island for a little lunch and beach time after was very nice too!”

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2.Los Haitises: Boat + Lunch at the beach & Natural pools

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 19 reviews · 8 - 11 hours · from $65Best value

From the Caño Hondo area near Sabana de la Mar, take a boat through Los Haitises’ limestone karsts and mangroves, visit Cueva de la Arena and Cueva de la Linea, then eat lunch by the beach and stop at the Caño Hondo pools. Guides speak Spanish, English, or French. José and Alfie have led past tours, though guide names vary.

“Alfie was fhe best guide ever, fantastic tour overall”

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3.2in1: Los Haitises National Park + Yanigua Waterfall-SPA

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 1 day · from $125

Travel from Santo Domingo, La Romana and nearby pickup zones to Los Haitises National Park for a boat ride, caves and rainforest walk, then continue to Yanigua Waterfall for a swim, buffet lunch, coffee and cocoa tastings. Multilingual guide Henri has led visitors in English, French, German and Spanish.

“Ein besonderes Dankeschön geht an Henry, unseren Tourguide. Er hat uns mit so vielen Interessenten Infos versorgt. Absolut top.”

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4.Los Haitises Boat Ride + Caño Hondo Natural Pools

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 13 reviews · 8 hours - 1 day · from $65

Spend about eight hours exploring Los Haitises National Park by boat, including its mangroves, San Lorenzo Bay, and caves with indigenous paintings and petroglyphs. Then enjoy a Dominican-style lunch at Hotel Caño Hondo and four hours to swim in its 14 natural pools. Guides speak English, Spanish, and French, though you should confirm your preferred language.

“Plus d'indications de la part du guide. Nous n'avons pu faire qu'une grotte sur les deux. Pas de proposition de remplacement proposée. Le reste était nikel !”

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5.Los Haitises: Caves, Mangroves, & Rainforest Hike/Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 12 reviews · 5 - 11 hours · from $70Top rated

From Caño Hondo, a local guide leads you by boat through red mangroves toward San Lorenzo Bay, then on a rainforest walk and into caves with Taino pictographs. The $70 tour lasts 5 to 11 hours, includes transfers, and is offered in English, Spanish, and French. Trails can be slippery and steep, so bring shoes with good grip.

“This trip was so much fun with a great guide Ignacio. We got to walk through the rainforest, explore caves with Taino hieroglyphics, and take a boat ride around the park. We all had a great time!”

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6.Sabana de la Mar: Los Haitises Guided Hike and Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 9 reviews · 5 - 10 hours · from $67

From the Caño Hondo or Sabana de la Mar area, a guide leads a roughly three-hour forest hike and a two-hour kayak trip through mangroves toward San Lorenzo Bay. Look for birds, learn about local plants and Taíno history, and ask about single or double kayaks. Guides may include José, José J, or Ignacio.

“We had a great experience. I booked the excursion for the next day. Almost immediately after booking I was contacted to confirm the meeting place and guide's name. The next day, our guide, Jose J, was at the meeting point on time. We did the kayaking first. Jose took care to get us into the water without issue. From there, we had 2 hours of kayaking in the mangroves and the bay (which, given the wave size in the bay, was plenty). We also had time in the caves. After we completed the kayaking we hiked the "loop" route. Good fun. Throughout the excursion Jose shared his extensive knowledge of…”

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