Day trips from Punta Cana: Samaná, whales, Los Haitises and more
From Punta Cana you can go to some of the country's best landscapes and be back the same day. They are long days, almost all with an early pickup, so it helps to know what each one offers before choosing.
Prices per person taken from each tour page on November 10, 2026. Check the price on the linked page before booking.
| Excursion | Pickup | Price | In short |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samaná: El Limón Waterfall and Cayo Levantado | 6:00 to 7:30 am | US$110 | Boat, waterfall on horseback, lunch and island |
| Whale watching in Samaná | 6:00 to 7:30 am | US$125 | In season only; lunch on Cayo Levantado |
| Los Haitises | 7:00 to 8:00 am | US$120 | Mangroves, caves with Taíno art and beach |
| Santo Domingo: Colonial City | Early; confirmed when you book | US$80 | Los Tres Ojos, the Colonial City and a typical lunch |
| Altos de Chavón and Higüey | 7:30 am | US$120 | Stone village, basilica, market and Chavón River |
| Montaña Redonda | Half day | US$80 | Viewpoint, swings, lunch and beach |
| Saona Island | Full day | US$65 | Catamaran, natural pool and lunch |
Can I go to Samaná from Punta Cana and back in one day?
Yes. The Samaná excursion picks you up between 6:00 and 7:30 am, crosses the bay by boat and returns in the afternoon. It costs US$110, with lunch.
By road, Samaná is several hours from Punta Cana. The excursion shortens the trip: a transfer to Miches and, from the port of Cañitas, a boat to Samaná Bay.
The day includes the horseback ride through the rainforest to El Limón Waterfall, with time to swim at the falls, a typical Dominican lunch and a stop at Cayo Levantado, the island known as Bacardi Island. Bring a swimsuit, comfortable shoes and insect repellent.
When and where can you see humpback whales in the Dominican Republic?
In Samaná Bay, every year from mid-January to the end of March: the official whale-watching season runs from January 15 to March 31.
Humpback whales come to Dominican waters every winter to mate and give birth. The place to see them is Samaná, not the coast of Punta Cana.
From Punta Cana, whale watching in Samaná is a full-day excursion (US$125): pickup between 6:00 and 7:30 am, a boat trip with a specialist guide, buffet lunch on Cayo Levantado and beach time.
Two warnings from the tour page: sightings depend on nature and are not guaranteed, and it is a good idea to bring medication if you get seasick. On those dates, book ahead. All the details are in the guide to whale watching in Samaná.
What is Los Haitises and how do I visit it from Punta Cana?
It is a national park of mangroves, rock islets and caves with Taíno paintings, in Samaná Bay. You tour it by boat and, from Punta Cana, it is a full-day excursion: US$120.
The Los Haitises excursion picks you up between 7:00 and 8:00 am. It includes the boat ride through the mangroves and channels, seabird watching, a visit to caves with Taíno pictographs and free beach time on Cayo Levantado.
Wear closed shoes for the caves, and bring a swimsuit and insect repellent. The tour page does not consider it suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Can I visit Santo Domingo on a day trip from Punta Cana?
Yes: it is about 195 km (120 miles) by highway, a little over two hours each way, and the day trip with hotel pickup costs US$80. It is worth it if you like history, because the Colonial City is a World Heritage Site and the first European city in the Americas.
Plan to leave early and give it the whole day; the pickup time is confirmed when you book, depending on your hotel. The Santo Domingo day trip from Punta Cana includes transport, a guide and a typical Dominican lunch, and visits Los Tres Ojos, Parque Colón, the cathedral, the Alcázar de Colón and the National Pantheon. It also departs from hotels in Santo Domingo (US$65), from Bayahibe (US$80) and from Miches (US$70). What you visit and what to bring is in the guide to a Santo Domingo day trip.
If you prefer culture with less time on the road, Altos de Chavón and Higüey is much closer.
What do you see at Altos de Chavón and Higüey?
Altos de Chavón is a Mediterranean-style stone village above the Chavón River, in La Romana; Higüey is the city of the Basilica of La Altagracia. The excursion combines both for US$120.
Schedule on the tour page: pickup at 7:30 am, Altos de Chavón at 9:00, the basilica at 11:00, the local market in Higüey at 12:00, Dominican lunch at 1:00 pm, the Chavón River at 2:30 and the return at 4:00 pm.
It is suitable for all ages and one of the most relaxed full-day excursions.
What is Montaña Redonda and how do you get to the top?
It is a hill near Miches with panoramic views over lagoons, countryside and sea, famous for the swings and hammocks at the top. You go up in a safari truck or a 4x4.
There are three ways to go from Punta Cana:
- Montaña Redonda (US$80, half day): the ride up, time at the top, Dominican lunch and Esmeralda Beach or Macao Beach.
- With a horseback ride on Limón Beach (US$82, 6 hours): adds the ride along the shore and lunch by the sea.
- With buggies (US$90, 6 hours): a shared buggy, Esmeralda Beach and Casa del Coco.
If you can only do one full-day excursion, Saona Island is the beach one and Samaná the nature one. To fit them in with rest days, use the 3, 5 and 7-day plan.