Things to do in Samana

Humpback whales are never seen off Punta Cana itself: the only place to watch them is Samana Bay, and only roughly from mid-January to late March.

Samana is the longest excursion covered on this site, a full day trip to the north-west with several hours of road each way from Punta Cana hotels, so book it as an early pickup and expect most of the day spent travelling.

Beyond the whale season, the peninsula's other draws are El Limon waterfall and the small island of Cayo Levantado, while Las Terrenas is the main beach town to base a longer stay around. Outside the whale window, weigh the long transfer against what else the day delivers.