Day Trips From Dominican Republic Resorts
Day Trips in Dominican Republic
Every resort desk on the east coast sells the same handful of day trips, but the fine print on price and season is what actually decides which one you should book.
Isla Saona, from Bayahibe or Punta Cana A catamaran or speedboat trip to Saona runs $65 to $110 per person, with lunch and open bar usually included. That price does not cover everything: Parque Nacional Cotubanamá charges its own gate fee, around RD$250 for foreign visitors, which most operators simply bundle into the ticket, per the official tourism site . Only licensed boats out of Bayahíbe or Boca de Yuma may run the trip. A Saona Island excursion on Viator shows current departure points and what is included.
Los Haitises National Park, from Samaná Boats from Samaná or Sabana de la Mar reach Los Haitises’ mangrove channels, karst islets and the San Gabriel cave paintings for $90 to $160 per person. There is no road access; a licensed boat is the only way in. A Los Haitises boat tour on GetYourGuide lists departure times from both towns.
27 Charcos de Damajagua, near Puerto Plata This canyoning circuit through limestone pools costs roughly RD$700 to RD$1,500 with a mandatory guide, helmet and life vest. The first pools have a minimum age around 7 to 8, and the operator recommends the full 27-pool circuit only from about 12, so it works better as a day trip for older kids and adults than for toddlers.
Bahía de las Águilas, from Cabo Rojo This 8-kilometer stretch of white sand inside Jaragua National Park sits far southwest, near Pedernales, and is reached by boat from Cabo Rojo; there is no direct road to the beach itself. It is a long day from the eastern resorts, so it suits travelers already based in Barahona or Pedernales more than a Punta Cana add-on.
Isla Catalina, from La Romana A short crossing from La Romana reaches Catalina’s reef, known locally as the Wall and the Aquarium, with a drop-off from about 5 to 40 meters. Scuba and snorkel day trips from Bayahibe cover both Catalina and the St. George wreck.
Before you book Whale-watching add-ons to any of these trips only run January 15 through March 31 under the Ministry of Environment’s season rules ; outside that window a “whale tour” is really a Los Haitises or Cayo Levantado trip. The Dominican peso is the local currency, though most boat operators quote in US dollars. Sunscreen, a dry bag and cash for park gate fees cover the basics. For where these day trips fit into a longer visit, see the multi-day trips guide .