See whales off the coast of Samaná Bay

Samaná is the ideal location to observe North Atlantic Humpback Whales, who spend the winter in the warm marine sanctuary of Samaná Bay before beginning their lengthy journey to their summer pastures, which can be found as far away as Greenland and Iceland! Although not all humpback whales travel in groups, there are at least 300 whales in Samaná Bay at any given moment during the whale-watching season. With so many whales around, you'll have plenty of opportunities to see various behaviors - it's a matter of patience more than luck.

The greatest time to visit Samaná Bay is between the months of December and March, when hundreds of humpback whales arrive to mate and give birth in the warm waters. Spend the day contemplating the lives of these giant aquatic beasts on a trip led by a marine scientist from the adjacent city of Samaná. Sleepy, laid-back settlements surround Samaná, lending itself more to comfortable European café culture than the splashy, towering resorts of Punta Cana. Stay a bit after your day on the water.

Samaná Bay's whale nursery is well protected. Only whale-watching boats are permitted to access the bay, and even these are subject to tight restrictions. Every spring, the interior of the bay effectively transforms into a mothers' ward for calves and nursing. Male whales congregate on the bay's outskirts.