Cayo Levantado, additionally known as Bacardi Island, epitomizes the pristine beauty of the Dominican Republic. Nestled inside the Samaná Bay, merely 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the port of Samaná city, it unfolds like a picturesque postcard decorated with immaculate white sands, crystalline turquoise waters, and a lush landscape adorned with coconut, banana, and palm timber—a veritable dream.
Spanning a place of approximately 3 square kilometers, Cayo Levantado stands as a testament to the Caribbean's best seashores. Its natural white seashores, crystal-clear waters, and idyllic surroundings evoke an experience of pastoral grandeur and exclusivity—a natural paradise. Stemming from marketing campaigns in the 1970s promoting Bacardi rum, Cayo Levantado earned the moniker "Bacardi Island."
Cayo Levantado Map
| Name | Cayo Levantado (Bacardi Island) |
| Country | Dominican Republic |
| Province | Samaná |
| Coordinates | 19°10′00″N 69°16′33″W |
| Area | 1 km² |
| Time zone | UTC-4 |
How to Get to Cayo Levantado
There are three methods to attain the enthralling haven of Cayo Levantado:
- For the ones in search of a solitary tour to Cayo Levantado, an adventure to Santa Barbara de Samana is in order. From there, board a ship departing from the Simi Baez area, with a voyage lasting 10-15 mins (depending on sea conditions), at an approximate price of $30 in keeping with man or woman. It's crucial to note that the pier is more or less 10 kilometers from Santa Bárbara de Samaná, necessitating a taxi or motorbike ride if you decide now not to hire a car.
- Another option is to negotiate a boat ride immediately at the port of Santa Barbara de Samana (privately priced at around $250) or via a middleman organization, which can set up your passage to Cayo Levantado. However, this remains a secondary preference, as safety assurances may not be guaranteed when bargaining with local fishermen.
- Of course, for purchasers of the Cayo Levantado resort, numerous boats perform between the hours of 7:00 AM and 8:30 PM supplying complimentary transportation to the island. These vessels can accommodate up to 25 individuals.
Things to do in Cayo Levantado
Beaches on Cayo Levantado
Cayo Levantado honestly boasts seashores: one open to the general public and every other reserved exclusively for guests of the Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Resort. On the general public beach side, you'll find numerous restaurants presenting freshly caught seafood at the side of small bars serving tropical liquids and premium chilled beers. The island additionally features many shops selling authentic handmade crafts from the Dominican Republic. Two public bathing regions are to be had on extraordinary components of the island, where you can additionally take pleasure in relaxing massages supplied by specialists.
In addition to its captivating surroundings, Cayo Levantado gives the opportunity for leisurely exploration because of its tiny size. You can walk into the forests, immersing yourself in nature. Trails winding through the moist woodland screen the essence of the tropics and serve as a sanctuary for diverse bird species from around the sector in this region.
The Humpback Whale Sanctuary
Visiting the humpback whale sanctuary in Samaná is one of the most intriguing short journeys you could embark on from Cayo Levantado and the Dominican Republic. This tour entails staring at humpback whales as they migrate to the stunning Samaná Bay from December to March. Approximately 2,000 humpback whales adventure to the warm waters alongside the Atlantic coast yearly to reproduce, with a massive awareness located in Samaná Bay. These incredible mammals regularly floor, showcasing themselves to curious onlookers. Samaná is seen as one of the most significant locations globally for whale-looking, offering you the possibility to witness this spectacle firsthand.
The Dominican government places a high-quality emphasis on adhering to whale safety legal guidelines to ensure the protection and upkeep of these marvelous creatures. This thrilling activity will surely raise your Cayo Levantado to enjoy an unforgettable adventure. It's important to know that this tour is most effective from December 15th to March 30th every 12 months.
Los Haitises National Park
Another hobby to include in your tour of Cayo Levantado is a visit to Los Haitises National Park. This spell-binding vacation spot, nestled in the Samaná Bay, gives an opportunity to discover the incredible natural wealth of the Dominican Republic in conjunction with a glimpse into its oldest history.
Los Haitises, which means "mountainous" within the Taíno language, is characterized by means of its majestic mogotes—towering limestone formations accomplishing heights of up to forty meters, which blanket the surface of the whole park. This considerable blanketed place, stretching nearly 1600 meters, is teeming with caves, Taíno petroglyphs, lush forests, and hundreds of endemic bird species.
Los Haitises National Park boasts magnificent herbal spaces together with the Taíno tropical rainforest, the Bay of San Lorenzo, and mangroves. Moreover, it served as a filming area for the mythical movie "Jurassic Park."
View El Limón Falls
Another must-visit vacation spot to include for your vacation itinerary is the Limón Waterfall, referred to as Cascada El Limón in Spanish. It towers above you, with a fabulous swimming hollow at the lowest, where the water is refreshingly bloodless, offering immediate relief from the heat. The first-rate way to enjoy this waterfall is through a horseback excursion, which you could ebook from the town of Las Terrenas, just over an hour away from Cayo Levantado (once you reach the mainland).
Cayo Levantado Resort / Hotels
The Cayo Levantado Resort stands majestically on the fascinating island inside Paradise Island. After a short and leisurely boat experience, you may be greeted by the Victorian-fashion pier that invites you into the plush palm groves swaying inside the gentle breeze.
At this brand-new five-big name luxurious all-inclusive lodge on Cayo Levantado Island, you will find a profound and true Dominican enjoyment, which includes a top-notch career and culinary excellence. Here, the whole lot operates like flawlessly synchronized gears, destined to turn your holiday revel into a journey of unforgettable private happiness and transformation.
Staying on the Samaná Peninsula is another first-rate option that presents a plethora of activities and restaurants to explore, permitting you to immerse yourself in unique locales. Ideal choices consist of resorts in El Valle or Las Galeras, each about a 30-minute drive from Santa Bárbara de Samaná at the same time as Las Terrenas, which is a bit farther, approximately a 60-minute power away.
- Las Terrenas: Mahona Boutique Hotel
- Las Galeras: Hotel Todoblanco
- El Valle: El Valle Lodge
Tips for Enjoying Cayo Levantado
- While you may be assigned there independently, the proper desire is to e-book a quick trip to Cayo Levantado. This way, you might not have to fear something, most significantly, coping with transportation.
- Remember to bring swimming wear, towels, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a hat.
- Avoid crowds and chorus from sporting valuable gadgets in conspicuous locations.
- Cayo Levantado has numerous eating places, so there is no want to bring meals or drinks. You can discover the whole lot you want there, and the prices are not too luxurious. If you are part of a prepared excursion, a maximum of them include a buffet lunch at one of the restaurants.
- Suppose you're no longer keen on beaches or do not need to spend too much time on Cayo Levantado. In that case, we propose opting for a quick experience at Los Haitises National Park and Cayo Levantado, where you can visit both places in a day (typically beginning around 9 AM and ending around 4 PM). This is what we did, and we cherished it as it allowed us to spend a few hours on Cayo Levantado, with enough time to visit each beach, swim, and experience paradise.
- Suppose you are traveling to the Dominican Republic from mid-January to March and plan to go to Cayo Levantado. In that case, it's a unique opportunity to peer humpback whales as they skip through this area for mating and calving.
