Can't pick just one excursion? Samaná is practically three in a day — an open-air safari truck, a jungle trek (or horseback ride) to a 170-foot waterfall, and a catamaran out to the postcard island of Cayo Levantado. Add a home-cooked Dominican lunch and it may be the fullest day the country has to offer.
Three Excursions, One Unforgettable Day
Struggling to narrow your Punta Cana trip down to a single excursion? Then stop struggling — Samaná does the deciding for you. It's really three adventures folded into one day:
- An open-air safari truck through mountain country
- A hike (or horseback ride) to a hidden jungle waterfall
- A catamaran out to a picture-perfect island
And yes, we're throwing that secluded mountain waterfall in on top.
Sounds like too much for one day? It isn't. Here's how it all fits together.
Samaná is a peninsula on the northeast edge of the Dominican Republic, where virgin beaches run up against thick mountain forest. Your day starts with a scenic bus ride from Punta Cana — about an hour, threading between the eastern mountain range and Samaná Bay — to the sleepy fishing village of Miches. There you'll board a catamaran and cross the bay to the peninsula itself.
Safari Truck. From the Samaná docks you climb aboard an open-air safari truck and rumble up into the lush, mountainous backcountry, right to the gateway of one of the country's most beloved waterfalls.
Hike or Horseback Ride. From here it's your call. Lace up and take the 30-minute walk into the forest, or saddle up for a 30-minute ride instead — either way the trail follows the Limón River to the point where it spills over a mountain ridge. Tucked deep in Samaná's humid forest, El Salto El Limón free-falls a full 170 feet into a green lagoon below. How often do you get to wade in cool mountain water in the middle of the Caribbean? Take your time with this one.
Back on the truck, we roll out to a country ranch for a proper Dominican lunch — fish, chicken, rice, beans, salad, fresh fruit and dessert — served in a rustic Caribbean setting that puts any resort "Dominican Menu" to shame.
Catamaran to Cayo Levantado. Then the roomy double-hull catamaran carries you off to the famous Cayo Levantado. The name means "raised cay," and that's exactly what it is: a tiny atoll ringed by powdery sand and lapping turquoise water, with mountains rising to the north and south. Settle in, and don't leave without trying the local piña colada — rum, ice and juice poured straight into a hollowed-out pineapple. (A cup will never feel the same again.)
Space is limited all year round, so if this is your day, book it while you can.
If you only manage one excursion in Punta Cana but you want to see the real Dominican Republic, this is the boat to be on.
What's Included
- Round-trip transport
- Professional guide
- Lunch
- Welcome drinks
- Horseback riding
- Alcoholic drinks
- Snacks at the pier
What to Bring
- Comfortable clothing
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Sneakers
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Cash
Good to know
- This tour doesn't run during whale season, Mid-January until the end of March. If you're visiting then, take our Whale Watching excursion instead.
- The hike to the Limón waterfall isn't especially strenuous and is manageable for most people — just expect the path to be muddy, so dress for it.
- Horseback riding is optional. If you'd rather ride than walk, there's an extra charge of about $50, paid as a gratuity to the handlers — but it's entirely up to you.
- The itinerary can flip depending on conditions: you might reach the island before the waterfall, or the other way around.
