Tour Details:
No minimum or maximum age. We need a minimum of 8 bookings to depart.
Schedule:
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Time-Table:
06:45: pick up in Hotel
09:00: arrival in Mitches
09:15: boarding the boat
09:15: whales encounter
12:30: return Mitches
12:30: Lunch in beach ranch
13:30: Departure back to Bayahibe
16:30: arrival in Bayahibe
The time table can change based on weather and circumstances.
What is included:
* transport from hotel to Mitches
* coffee & snack on arrival Mitches
* guide services
* all drinks during the day
* lunch
Please bring:
* sunscreen lotion * shoes for the beach * a T-shirt for sun protection * camera * binocullars
Pricing (per person):
Adult
< 12yr
< 3yr
$140
$85
free
Special discount for groups > 8 (email us). Click here to open the full price list. More info / bookings / quotations:
Click here to open our secure contact form. (If the form does not open, please email us).
A close encounter with the majestic Humpback Whales in the bay of Samana
This tour is available for guests of the Bayahibe, Dominicus and La Romana resorts and hotels. The humpback whales are regular visitors in the bay of Samana. Every year from mid-January till the middle of March the huge mammals leave the arctic region to copulate and give birth in the protected bay in the East of the Dominican Republic. For centuries the whales have been spending the winter in this region. Old Taino cave paintings in the national park "Los Haitises" show blowing whales.
The humpback whale is a water-living mammal. They can attain a length of 15 meter and weight up to 30 tons. Their huge front flippers (pectoral fins) are very impressive as they can reach one third of their body length. Humpback whales are known for their liveliness and for their singing. Before diving, humpback whales bend their backs in the form of a hump and lift their tails high out of the water, hence their name.
There is nothing more exciting than watching free ranging whales. You can join us on an expedition to trace and observe these animals from close range. To ensure their survival we adhere strict guidelines and directives. Our staff is participating yearly in the training programs given by CEBSE (Center for Conservation and Eco-Development Samana and its Environs). Due to maintaining these guidelines each year the (especially young) whales become more bold and accustomed to the boats and their joyful behavior can be seen from close range. We adopted strict minimum distances to ensure the safety of both the whales and the passengers.
Itinerary:
We leave early from the hotels in Dominicus and Bayahibe. The buses will take you safe to Mitches (2.5 hrs drive). On arrival in Mitches you will get coffee and a snack and the briefing starts. We board the motor catamaran and the adventure will start. We are in close contact with the captains of other boats and a system of reporting is developed. Each day (in season) on average 300 whales enter the bay of Samana. It is very rare that no sighting is recorded on a particular day. At around 12:30hr we will be back in Mitches. You are invited to a comprehensive lunch and you can spend some time on the seaside ranch. Around 14:00h (02:00PM) we will return to Bayahibe again and we expect to be back in Dominicus / Bayahibe around 16:30hr (04:30PM).
