Samaná Bay Whale Watching
Avistamiento de ballenas, Bahía de Samaná
Every winter, thousands of humpback whales gather in Samaná Bay to mate and give birth. Boat trips bring you close to breaching and tail-slapping whales, making it one of the Caribbean’s best whale-watching spots.
From mid-January to late March each year, roughly several thousand North Atlantic humpback whales migrate south to Samaná Bay and the Silver Bank area to mate and calve. Whale-watching boats leave from the pier in Samaná town and take about 40 minutes to reach the mouth of the bay. The full trip lasts 3–4 hours. You will often see whales breaching, slapping their fins and mothers swimming alongside their calves, and sightings are very likely. Tickets cost about US$60–75. Choose a licensed operator that follows the rules on keeping a safe distance. The seas can be rough and cause seasickness, so take motion-sickness medication in advance. The whale museum in Samaná town displays a humpback whale skeleton and is worth a stop on the way.
Opening hours
15 Jan–31 Mar; sailings about 09:00–14:00
Nearby sights
- Santa Bárbara de Samaná
- Cayo Levantado
- Playa El Valle
- Playa Rincón
- El Limón Waterfall
- Las Galeras
- Boca del Diablo
- Playa Madama