Cayo Levantado Resort

Cayo Levantado Resort occupies most of Cayo Levantado, the small forested island in Samaná Bay off Santa Bárbara de Samaná. It used to be the Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado. After a full renovation, its owner Grupo Piñero (the Spanish group behind Bahia Principe) reopened it in June 2023 as Cayo Levantado Resort, a separate luxury brand marketed as a wellness all-inclusive.

Staying on an island is the experience. Guests reach the resort on the hotel's own boat from the mainland, a ride of about 10 to 15 minutes, and once the day-trippers leave the public beach section in the late afternoon the island gets very quiet. The resort's beaches are reserved for guests, separate from the public area where tour boats land.

The water is among the calmest on the peninsula. Cayo Levantado sits inside Samaná Bay, sheltered from the Atlantic swell, so the sea is usually flat and clear, good for swimming and paddling. In whale season (mid-January to the end of March), humpbacks pass through the bay nearby, and whale-watching trips can be arranged from the mainland.

Opening announcements gave 218 rooms (one outlet says 219), from junior suites and beachfront rooms to private villas that sleep up to eight, spread across the island. Recent reviews are very strong: aggregate scores on the big booking sites are in the mid-9s out of 10, and spring 2026 reviewers praise clean, well-designed rooms and friendly, professional staff. Prices sit at the top of the Samaná market.

The trade-offs are the flip side of the island setting. You depend on boat schedules to leave the island, so evenings in town or spontaneous trips to Las Terrenas take planning. During the day, tour groups arriving at the public beach can make the island feel busier than you might expect, even if the resort areas stay separate. And if the weather turns, crossings can be choppy.

Samaná El Catey airport (AZS) is roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road to the resort's mainland dock.

Best for: honeymooners, couples and wellness-minded travelers who want calm water and a sense of seclusion, and whale-season visitors with a bigger budget. Not ideal for: travelers on a budget, people who want to explore independently every evening, or anyone who feels confined on a small island.