Humpback whale watching season in Samaná Bay attracts visitors from around the world from mid-January through March, when the giant mammals come to mate and give birth in Dominican waters. You can actually swim and snorkel with these majestic creatures, but only in the Silver Bank Sanctuary–or Santuario de Mamíferos Marinos Banco de la Plata, located north of Puerto Plata’s coast–and only from three boats approved by the Dominican government.
Puerto Plata’s crown jewel attraction offers a day of hiking through thick forest, crossing footbridges and passing numerous flora before eventually reaching a rocky hilltop where you’ll begin making your way down by jumping or sliding down a series of waterfalls!
A favorite of the area, the Airport Wall is considered one of the best and most beautiful dive sites in the DR. Beginning at about 10 meters (33 feet) and dropping to almost 30 meters (98 feet), it is one of the richest sites in coral and marine life, with pinnacles and tunnels.
This is a suitable dive for all levels, starting in the shallower area of the reef at 12 meters (40 feet), and traversing a tear in the reef formed by the walls of the canyon. Yellowtail snappers, spider crabs, anemones, nudibranchs, toadfish, and beautiful flamingo tongue snails can be spotted here.
A paradise for snorkeling fans, this area boasts some of the most abundant marine life in DR, with corals and sponges that surround the cay, including schools of surgeonfish, sergeant majors, damselfish, angelfish, and yellowtail snappers swimming around your feet.
Tucked along the scraggly Atlantic coastline of Río San Juan, swim in the calm natural pool surrounding the cave or view its rock composition from ceiling to floor while you float on crystal clear turquoise waters.
Tucked inside the forest of El Choco National Park, Cabarete’s caves reveal an underground network dating back millions of years. Cueva de Cristal rests underground with a fresh water pool, while other caves above ground are filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
El Choco National Park offers a world of nature for hikes, mountain biking, swimming in fresh water lagoons, and cave exploration. Stretching 78 square kilometers (30 square miles), a handful of hiking trails take you through thick tropical forest along cacao and coffee trees, and into caves dating back millions of years.
Estero Hondo Marine Mammal Sanctuary
Climb the lookout tower and observe manatees at the Estero Hondo Marine Mammal Sanctuary. The protected lagoon is where the largest number of endangered, herbivore West Indian Manatees reside.
Five large coral rocks spread out over a large area of about 100 meters (328 feet), for an ideal beginner dive site. The reef starts at about five meters (16 feet), and its deepest point falls to nearly 24 meters (79 feet).
Laguna Dudú’s series of turquoise, freshwater lagoons surrounded with caves and lush forest will keep you swimming all day long. Rent a kayak to navigate the waters, explore one of the caves on foot, or brave the makeshift zipline at your own risk.
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