Cayo Levantado Day Trip

A day on Cayo Levantado is the simplest boat trip on the peninsula: a short crossing from the Samaná area to a small island with calm, clear water, a public beach section, restaurants and bars. It is often called "Bacardi Island" after the rum brand's advertising, and it is the most popular beach outing on the bay side of Samaná.

There are a few ways to do it. The cheapest is a basic boat round-trip from Samaná's waterfront, which booking platforms listed at around $28 per adult in 2026 for roughly seven hours on the island without lunch. Packages with a buffet lunch on the island ran at around $60 to $70 per adult. Combination tours pair Cayo Levantado with whale watching from mid-January to March, or with a Los Haitises boat tour, and are among the best-value full days in Samaná. You can also arrange a boat directly with local captains near the Samaná waterfront; agree on the price, the return time and the number of people before you leave.

The crossing itself takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Once there, you land on the public part of the island. Most of Cayo Levantado is occupied by the Cayo Levantado Resort, whose beaches are for hotel guests only. The public area has beach chairs, buffet restaurants used by tour groups, bars and souvenir vendors. Because the island is inside the bay, the water is usually flat and shallow, which makes it a good choice for families and weaker swimmers.

What to expect: this is a social, busy beach rather than a quiet escape, especially from late morning to mid-afternoon when several tour boats overlap, and during whale season. Vendors will approach you; a polite "no, gracias" works. Bring cash in pesos or small US dollar bills for drinks, chair fees and tips, plus reef-safe sunscreen and a hat, as shade fills up fast.

Getting to the departure point: Samaná town is about 40 minutes from Samaná El Catey airport and roughly 45 minutes to an hour from Las Terrenas. Most tours from Las Terrenas and Las Galeras include pickup.

Best for: families with kids, casual swimmers, first-time visitors and whale-season travelers who want a beach stop. Not ideal for: people seeking a quiet natural beach (head to Playa Rincón instead), or anyone who dislikes crowds and vendors.