CAYO LEVANTADO
Cayo Levantado is a little island in Samana Bay . The Bounty Hunters
came in search of Paradise, and found it on Cayo Levantado. This
jewel of a tiny island lies just off the Samaná Peninsula and is our
destination for a day of pure escapism. The sand is white and
powdery, the turquoise waters are crystal clear and perfect for
snorkeling or gentle swimming. A typical Dominican lunch (included)
is prepared on the island and served at tables set up in the open air
for you to take full advantage of the sun and sea

The Island Cayo Levantado is also called the Bacardi Island because
some palm trees look like the ones in the Bacardi advertising spots.
It is a quite beautiful island with several hundred tourists coming
every day. And you can walk through the island in only 15 minutes. So
you can imagine how it looks like. But the beaches are fantastic and
it is worth to rest for a few hours.

This island Cayo Levantado, though choked with tourists, has a
beautiful white-sand beach. Due to the island’s protected positioning
in the bay, the waters are calm, shallow with a plush sandy bottom,
and warm. This is an enjoyable place to take the family.

The sand here is white and powdery; the turquoise waters crystal
clear - perfect for swimming and snorkeling. And, there is plenty to
eat here. A few huts and facilities will have you trying all the
local cuisine. Sun, beach, food, sand... paradise indeed.

LOS HAITISES
As part of the largest estuary in the insular Caribbean, the 208 km2
Los Haitises National Park is a protected area in the northeast of
the country (see map), which offers the visitor a rich variety of
natural wonders to explore, including: large expanses of mangrove,
humid subtropical forest, sea grass beds, and pristine keys scattered
along the length of the coast.

The irregular topography of small, vegetation covered hills so
characteristic of Los Haitises is the result of erosion subsequent to
uplifting of the underlying limestone bedrock, formed over millions
of years by marine organisms.

The National Park of Los Haitises is Located at the western end of
the bay on the south shore across from Sanchez, this park features
mangrove swamps with giant mangrove trees forming a lush, green
canopy above the watery trails that wind through the swamps. Taino
caves where the islands first inhabitants lived are another popular
attraction of the park. Tours leave from Samana, Sanchez and Sabana
de la Mar at the park's eastern edge across the bay from Samana.

There are important mangroves in Los Haitises National Park and two
major life zones: the wet forest and the subtropical rainforest.
Cedar, ceiba, mahogany, and other tropical American trees are common
here.

A large number of birds can be found here, including parrots, owls,
and gannets. Notable are also the ìjutíaî and the solenodonte. Birds
include gannets, Hispaniolan parrots, and owls.

THE SALTO EL LIMON
There are pictographs and petroglyphs in some cavernsThe Salto del
Limon is about 300 m. sea level and its route can be done either on
foot or riding a horse or mule on a trip of between one and two hours
through a dense tropical rain forest. Usually to reach the Salto del
Limon is used a path called “The Café,” a track with plenty of stops
where you can buy typical Dominican food and drinks as well as local
products such as coffee, cocoa, grapefruit, coconuts and handicrafts.

The landscape around the Limon is precious, with small houses painted
in bright colors and hand-made of wood that normally line up the
streets and countryside.

The waterfall originates at the point where the waters of Arroyo
Chico descend to lead the Limon River. The area occupied by this
protected area is 18 square kilometers.

WHALES IN SAMANA
One of the most beautiful tour in Dominican Republic is the Visit to
the Sanctuary of Humpback Whales in Samana, Dominican Republic.
Samana's whales are well known. Each year 3 to 5 thousand humpback
whales return to Bahia de Samana and adjacent waters to give birth
and mate for the following year. From January until March, frolicsome
males can be observed vying for the attentions of demure females. Sky-
rocketing, standing on their tails (and heads, too!), flippering,
tailing; all sorts of antics may be observed under carefully
controlled conditions aboard excursion boats staffed by knowledgeable
personnel. Excursions leave from Samana Harbor and several other
points along the north shore of the bay. Samana's whales are truly an
international treasure and are fully protected by the Dominican
government.

Thousands of humpback whales migrate to Samana Bay every year for the
breeding season, which runs from January through March. Their journey
is a long and slow trek spanning from the polar regions of the North
Atlantic to the warm and clear waters of the Caribbean. Regrettably,
over the centuries, whale hunters have decimated the population of
these magnificent creatures to the point of near extinction. But,
thanks to the efforts of organizations such as the International
Whaling Commission (IWC), humpback whales along with other species,
have received world protection since 1966. However, there is still a
long way to go for full recovery. The world population of humpbacks
has reached approximately 40,000 or about 30-35% of its original
levels.

Humpbacks can be easily observed, either at their feeding or breeding
grounds. Whale watching has become an increasingly popular worldwide
activity, and the Dominican Republic is fortunate to have one of the
largest and best humpback breeding sanctuaries in the world.

The Dominican government enforces strict whale protection laws and
guidelines to ensure the safety and conservation of these wonderful
animals. Whale watching can be a thrilling experience for anyone
interested in nature and the preservation of our natural resources.

We must continue to respect and protect these incredibly gentle
giants so we can enjoy them for a long time to come. The following
photos are images of what one would see on a typical whale-watching
tour in Samana Bay, Dominican Republic.