Everything you need to know before your trip, including a detailed guide about whales in the Dominican Republic and how to see these magnificent creatures. It’s actually not difficult, but since there’s a lack of clear and practical information online (most of it is just generic descriptions), I’ll walk you through everything step-by-step.

Table of contents:

Humpback Whales in the Dominican Republic: Key Facts

Let’s start from the beginning. Every piece of information here is important, so don’t skip anything!

Yes, you can really see humpback whales in the Dominican Republic.
It’s one of the few places in the world where these giants come so close to the shore—or even right up to it.

You can only see them during a specific time of the year.

They migrate to Dominican waters to mate and give birth:

  • Whales that find a mate here this year will return next year to have calves.

Off the Dominican coast, you can witness humpback whale courtship rituals. The ultimate highlight is seeing a male breaching—that is, leaping out of the water.

Fact:

We managed to see it once. It lasted no more than 1–2 seconds, and sadly we didn’t catch it on camera. It’s the kind of moment you can never be truly ready for.
Whales in the Dominican Republic jump
This is exactly what it looks like. The photo isn’t ours, but if you’re quicker than we were, you might be lucky enough to capture a shot like this.
  • Humpback whales are not fish—they’re mammals.
  • In fact, they’re among the largest mammals on Earth.
  • These whales grow to around 14–15 meters (45–50 feet) long and can weigh up to 30 tons.

When and Where to See Whales in the Dominican Republic

Let’s go in order.

Here’s a link to a large article about the top attractions in the Dominican Republic—including descriptions, prices, operating hours, maps, and personal ratings.

Whale Watching Season in the Dominican Republic

Each year, between mid-January and the end of March, around 200 to 400 humpback whales arrive off the Dominican coast.

Good to know:

The ideal time to see the whales is February. The chances are about 95–99%.

Sometimes the first whales arrive as early as early January, but that’s rare. Typically, they show up after January 15.
By March, they begin leaving Dominican waters. Occasionally, they stay until the end of the month.
So the closer it gets to April, the slimmer your chances. Same goes for early January.
February is hands down the best month for whale watching.

encounter with whales
This is the view from a boat.

Whale Watching Location in the Dominican Republic

On the north coast of the country lies the Samaná Peninsula (stress on the last syllable).
It’s one of the best destinations for tourists in the Dominican Republic—beautiful beaches, great ocean views, and lush greenery with palm trees, unlike the southern coast.

You’ll find a detailed article about the Samaná Peninsula and all its attractions at the link.

Interesting to know:

The best tourist hubs on the Samaná Peninsula are Las Terrenas and Las Galeras.

The capital of the peninsula is also called Samaná.
The whales come to Samaná Bay, which is where they mate and give birth.

You might spot whales along the outer coast of the peninsula, such as in Las Galeras, but the chances are very slim. Those would be whales on their way into the bay.

whales on the samana map
Here’s a map to help you understand where whales are typically found in the Dominican Republic.

It doesn’t matter where you book your tour—whether with a travel agent, your hotel, or directly on-site.
All tours start from one of three locations on the northern coast.
The map below shows all the key points.

Key takeaways:

  • 95% of all tours depart from the city of Samaná.
  • Occasionally, boats leave from Sabana de la Mar (marked as Pier #4 on the map). This pier has been renovated, and sometimes tourists from Bávaro and Punta Cana are brought here.
    But most tours still depart from Samaná city.

Be prepared:
The drive from Punta Cana to Samaná takes 4–5 hours one way.
The whole excursion will take the entire day.

If you have a car, you can easily get to Samaná’s main pier (Pier #1) by 9:00 AM—ideally a bit earlier—and book a tour on the spot for less money.

If you don’t have a car, your best option is to book a ready-made excursion.
Some full-day tours include not only whales but also the El Limón waterfall, the famous Bacardi Island, and possibly even a horseback ride (though that part may vary).

Link to the largest selection of tours where you can see whales.

How the Whale Watching Tour Works: What’s Included and What It Costs

If you’ve already booked a tour through your hotel with transfer and meals included — relax and enjoy. But this section is still worth reading; there’s helpful info here for you too.

If you buy the tour directly at the Samaná pier, expect to pay around $70 per person.
You’re unlikely to bargain it down to less than $60 — but hey, it doesn’t hurt to try.

Link to a full article on prices in the Dominican Republic — covering everything from groceries to car rentals.

timetable for whale watching tours
Here’s what the boats look like. In the background, you’ll usually see smaller boats that hold around 25–30 people. Most of the boats used for tours are twice that size.

Step-by-Step Guide for Independent Travelers

To be among the first to board, arrive at Samaná’s main pier (Pier #1) by 8:45 AM. There’s a free parking lot nearby in case you’re driving.

More info on time zones and practical travel tips in this linked article.

As soon as you arrive, you’ll be surrounded by enthusiastic locals selling the whale tour.

Prices are fairly standard — they might start at $80–90, but within seconds, you can usually negotiate it down to $70, or maybe even a little less.

Boats start heading out from 9 AM until about 2–3 PM, depending on demand.

It’s said that your chances of spotting whales are higher in the morning. That may or may not be true, but we personally saw whales at various times of day.

Once you’ve picked a vendor you feel comfortable with, start asking these important questions:

  • Ask them to show you the boat. It should be just 20 meters away on the pier.
    If the boat isn’t docked yet, you might have to wait 1–2 hours for departure.
  • If the boat is already tied to the pier, that’s a good sign — and if tourists are already seated, departure is imminent.
  • Ask how soon the boat will leave. If they say “five minutes,” remember — “Dominican five minutes” often means 20–30 real minutes.
  • Ask what’s included in the tour.

It is important to know:

Most $70 tours include whale watching, a visit to Cayo Levantado (aka Bacardi Island), and lunch (typically rice with chicken and salad).
Fun trivia: 30–40 years ago, a Bacardi rum commercial was filmed on the beach of this very island.
Bacardi beach from a distance
Bacardi Island early in the morning, before the crowds.

More about Bacardi Island in a separate article.

Once everything’s settled, you pay, get a wristband, board the boat, and wait until it fills up before heading out.

Here’s a fun article about other movies and commercials filmed in the Dominican Republic.

Tour Timeline and Whale Watching Process

  • Each boat holds around 50 people.
    Everyone gets a life vest. Boats are usually not filled to capacity, because once whales appear, chaos breaks out — everyone runs from one side of the boat to the other to get the best view.
    Typically, they load up to about 30 people per boat for comfort.
  • It takes 30–40 minutes to reach the center of Samaná Bay from Pier #1.
  • Every boat has two spotters with walkie-talkies, perched high up, scanning the sea for whales.

Even if you spot whales right away, the trip isn’t over.
The actual whale-watching part usually lasts about an hour.

  • Whales usually swim in pairs.
    During our trip, we saw 5–6 pairs in total.
  • The captain rotates the boat so both sides get a good view — but people still rush back and forth like mad.
humpback whale in samana bay dominican republic
When a 15-meter whale is only 15 meters away, you can’t help but run for a better look — and so does everyone else.

Then — Bacardi Island

After whale watching, the boat takes everyone to Bacardi Island, a tiny tropical island less than 1 km² in size, with a picture-perfect beach.

The ride from Samaná port to Bacardi Island takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, including the whale-watching portion.

Once you land on the island, they’ll tell you:

  • When and where lunch will be served (it’s included)
  • What time the boat departs back to the Samaná pier

You’ll get around 3 hours of free time on the island.

What to do on Bacardi Island:

  • Swim
  • Sunbathe
  • Explore souvenir stalls
  • Grab drinks at local cafés (for an extra charge)

Tour Timing Summary

For us, the full excursion ran from 9 AM to 3 PM.
By 3 PM, we were back at Samaná port.

Just 20 km from Samaná, deep in the jungle, lies the spectacular El Limón waterfall.
If you’re visiting the peninsula from far away, try to fit it into your day — it’s worth it!

If you’re staying in Samaná for a couple of days, visit El Limón the next morning.
There’s a full guide to El Limón waterfall in this article.

Some tours combine whale watching and the waterfall in one day. Those are ideal if you’re short on time.

What to Bring on a Whale Watching Tour in the Dominican Republic

  • Swimsuits
  • Towels
  • Motion sickness pills
  • Water
  • A light snack
  • Barf bags – though these are usually provided onboard.
  • If the sea is rough and it’s windy, a waterproof case for your phone and documents is highly recommended. Expect a lot of splashing throughout the ride!
  • Cash for any extra expenses (more on that below).
  • Mask and snorkel for swimming at Bacardi Island.
  • And most importantly – good luck!
whales in the dominican republic tour
You’ll come back with plenty of shots like this!

Our Personal Whale Watching Experience in the Dominican Republic

I’ll try to be brief—though that’s never easy for me—so bear with me.

As soon as we left the Samaná port, the waves started hitting hard, and it became very clear why the ocean is not the same as the sea.
Even though the boat was fairly large, it was tossed around like a matchbox.

During the two hours we spent searching for whales, every 8–10 seconds a big wave would lift the boat a few meters and drop it back down.
Out of the 30 people on board, about 7 asked for barf bags within the first 30 minutes.

In the end, about half the passengers were seasick, sitting green-faced and nauseous.

Helpful tip:
Besides motion sickness pills, here are two essential things that can help prevent you from, well… throwing up (sorry, but it’s the truth):

  • Sit at the back of the boat (the stern) – it’s the most stable area.
  • Don’t sit facing backward.
  • Try to keep your head still, pick a spot on the horizon and focus on it.
  • Don’t look at your phone or read, or you’ll be seasick in under 30 seconds.
  • Don’t eat anything for 2 hours before the trip, and don’t eat during the ride.

About 30–40 minutes in, we spotted our first pair of whales. Here’s how it typically happens:

The lookout on the upper deck yells “WHALES!” and points in a direction.

Then all 30 people rush to that side of the boat in unison.

A minute later someone spots whales in the other direction—and everyone rushes over there.

All of this happens amid waves, rocking, and seasick passengers.

Hold on tight, and keep a firm grip on your phone—dropping it overboard is way too easy in this chaos.

humpback whales in the dominican republic
This is what our whale spotter looked like. He also happened to be the captain.

Interesting to know:

In the end, we saw lots of whales, some swimming as close as 5 meters (16 feet) from the boat. One male even breached right out of the water—it’s part of their mating ritual.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get it on video.

Be aware: Children under 12 are not allowed on these tours due to the rough seas. Even adults get thrown around the deck. A child would probably be tossed overboard by the second wave.

Bacardi Island in Samaná Bay

Two hours later, our semi-dazed “dream team” was dropped off at Bacardi Island.

Here’s what to expect:

  • Lunch is free, usually served about two hours after arrival.
  • Everything else costs extra.
  • Beach loungers require payment, but you can lie on your towel for free.
  • Drinks, alcoholic or not, are not included.
  • There’s a decent public restroom, which is free.

Note: Bacardi Beach only looks like paradise in the ads.
In reality, when you arrive, there’ll be about 500 people from all the different boats. So it’s more like Miami Beach or Barcelona in high season.

all about whales in the Dominican Republic
Bacardi Beach.

Our boat came about 30 minutes later than scheduled to pick us up, but that’s normal here. Tranquilo, amigo – relax and enjoy the ride.

Another tip:

Originally, we wanted just the whale watching, without stopping at Bacardi Island. We weren’t interested in a crowded beach, and we’d already seen plenty of stunning beaches elsewhere in the Dominican Republic.
The tour seller promised us that our boat would take us back to Samaná right after the whale part was done.
Yeah, right. Everyone went to Bacardi Island—including us.
We were naïve, but this is typical in the Dominican Republic.
That’s why it’s often better to book through a reputable tour service—they’re more reliable.
We linked the best options earlier.

You can read more about other Dominican tours in the full review article here.

Final Thoughts

Yes, humpback whales are definitely in Samaná during February, off the coast of the Samaná Peninsula, in Samaná Bay.

  • If you buy a tour at the pier, it’ll cost around $70 per person.
  • If you book through an agency with transfer, prices range from $100–130.
  • From Punta Cana or Bávaro, it can be as much as $200, due to the long distance.

If you don’t have a rental car, arranging everything yourself might actually be more expensive and complicated.
In that case, a ready-made excursion with transport and meals included is the better—and easier—option, especially if you’re staying far from Samaná.

In any case—where else can you see wild humpback whales in their natural habitat?

Wishing you an unforgettable adventure and the thrill of seeing whales leap out of the ocean!

Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Dominican Republic

  • Cheap Flights and best deals
  • Car rental: DiscoverCars – a largest international resource
  • Hotels and apartments:
    • Tripadvisor – compares prices among a dozen other services and platforms and offers to choose the best one.
    • Trip.com – large online booking platform.
  • Vacation packages: CheapOair – cheap packages from all US cities.
  • Tours, excursions and extreme activities:
    • GetYourGuide – more than 800+ tours and water activities.
    • Viator – 3500+ tours and excursions in Dominican.
  • Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
  • Internet and Calls:
    • Airalo – eSIM with internet package.
    • Drimsim – universal SIM card (or eSIM) in any country in the world.
  • Taxis and airport transfers: Intui.Travel