Samana from Punta Cana - Full Day

“Well!! We haved 3 stops: limon, whales and cayo levantado!!! The first stop waterfall limon beatifull place good food, 2 stops whales, mmm too much time in the boat we dont see whales and the people dizzy and vomiting, cuz too much look around and nothing happend!! 3 stops iis insane cuz just 30 minutes stop to the beach and running towards the boat!! Sorry that Was terrible!!!!”

“December 2023 I went on this tour and everything went great. Got picked at the exact time. This September I went back to Punta Cana and decided to book this tour again to get more pictures of Samana. This tour was a disaster. The tour was booked for 21 September 2024. They did not turned up to pick us up. The hotel called the tour operator to find out why we were still waiting. The tour operator said they would check and call back. After 20 minutes the tour operator called back the hotel and said a driver came to the hotel and we were not there. The hotel let them know that they saw us waiting more than 2 hours and no driver came. The tour operator offered us a refund or another date. I took the other date, the 24 of September. On the 24 September I got picked up an hour after the time they said. We were taken to a location where other tours met up. We waited there for around a hour and forty minutes, then went to the port to get the Catamaran to Samana. By then the time was 11:50 am. got to Samana around 12:30 p.m. Stopped at the beach and went to the waterfalls. We had lunch around 2:00 p.m at the waterfall location. By then everyone was very hungry. We had no breakfast, as the hotels don't start serving breakfast before 7:00 a.m. December 2023 tour was much better organised. We left Punta Cana before 8:00 AM. and got to the port before 10:00 am. Breakfast was provided at the port. We left the port around 10:30 am and was in Samana by 11:00 am. Went to the Beach and had lunch at 1:00 p.m. then we went to the waterfalls. On this tour, the guide we had, did not speak much english so places were not pointed out ane explained to us. The other english speaking people on the tour found it fraustrating as places were not explained to them. They kept asking me where we were, because I have been on the tour before. Sorry this tour went from 5* to 1*. ”

“Group size was NOT EVEN CLOSE to 25, but actually 89 not including the tour operator personnel. We would not have gone if we knew that. Very misleading Viator. Horses were gaunt and it felt terrible having to ride them. 14 HOURS, NOT 9. No joke, literally!! And EVERYONE that's not a tourist wants a tip. Would not recommend to anyone, ever.”

“A very long day, started at 7.10am back at 8.20pm, much longer than noted. The guide on the coach gave little information on the day ahead until we reached the boat stop. Samana Island was beautiful, but we only ended up being there for just under an hour which was disappointing. Beware of being entised to look and touch star fish, it's not allowed. The waterfalls were good, but really for us not woth the journey. You could not walk the path safely, very rocky and muddy. The horses looked unkempt and some were emancipated, this was not a plesent experience. The guides, not all, tried to make you feel guilty asking for money. Lunch was delicious and view was stunning. All in all I would not recommend. The combination made for a very long day. If you want to go to the island I would recommend maybe a private tour. ”

“Although the itinerary is a bit misleading, I really loved this tour. I chose this tour to view El Limon waterfall, as I found very few alternatives to getting there. I've found that pick up and transfers are a bit chaotic in the DR, especially if you don't speak Spanish. Very few people speak English here, and most of those who do are very limited (aside from the designated English speaking guides once you finally get to them - they are fluent) The first stop was to Bacardi island. You have a small snack at the meeting point, which for us was a super basic sandwich and watermelon. Your small group tour has now suddenly turned into a large group tour, but the boat ride wasn't bad. The island is absolutely gorgeous and has plenty of amenities. Unfortunately, as I thought we would be returning, I did not swim the first time around, as I didn't want to be salty or sandy for the jungle. We did not return. Then we got on the boat to arrive in Samana for a buffet lunch. Food was decent and there were a lot of options. We took a safari bus through the small towns where the locals live, which I love. Definitely has that small Caribbean island vibe that you don't always see when you stay in resorts. Once we arrive at the waterfall, you travel by horseback to the entrance of the falls. I was hesitant on this, as there is often concern for the welfare of animals used in tourism. These horses seemed healthy and well cared for. My horse was super sweet and handled the rugged, muddy trail with ease. You can choose to hike instead of go horseback, but it is about a half hour each way. Gorgeous trail though either way. When you get to the falls, there are "shops" where you can buy souvenirs or drinks as well as restrooms. From there you have to climb down 200 uneven steps to get to the falls (and subsequently climb those steps up to get back to the horses. Anyone in relatively decent fitness can do this, but it is a workout for sure, and worth noting, as the tour does not simply drive you to the falls as suggested in the itinerary. The waterfall is stunning and well worth the trip. Definitely go for a swim...it's so refreshing! From there, we rode the safari bus back to the boat and then directly back to the meeting point before heading home. No additional stop back at the beach. Also worth mentioning...be prepared to tip multiple people. You've got your transfer drivers, the bus drivers, the tour guide, the horse guide... It was a great tour and a wonderful way to spend the day. It makes for a long day - Including transfers, I left my Airbnb at 6am and did not return until after 9. I would still absolutely recommend.”