Island
Cayo Levantado
White-sand islet, a short boat ride across the bay.
By boat · Info: Wikipedia · Go Dominican Republic
Go. Explore. Come back.
Samaná Things to Do and Attractions
Things to do in Samaná from Vista Mare: whales from 15 January to 31 March, islands, beaches, waterfalls and national parks, each with its distance.
Nearest first
Attractions in Samaná
Whales · Jan–Mar
Whale watching from Samaná harbour
Licensed boats leave Samaná harbour, January to March.
By car + boat · Info: Wikipedia · Go Dominican Republic
Town
Samaná town and the Malecón
Malecón, restaurants, fresh fish and the harbour.
By car · Info: Wikipedia
Walk
Samaná bridges to Cayo Vigía
Footbridges out to the wooded islets off the waterfront.
By car + walk · Info: OpenStreetMap
Beach
Playa Madama
Small cove east of Las Galeras; last stretch on foot.
By car + short walk · Info: OpenStreetMap
Beach
Playa Frontón
Secluded beach under the cliffs, by boat or trail.
Boat or trail from Las Galeras · Info: OpenStreetMap
Beach
Playa Rincón
Long, wild beach on Rincón Bay, near Las Galeras.
By car · Info: Wikipedia · Go Dominican Republic
Nature
Cabo Cabrón National Park
Protected cliffs and forest above Playa Rincón.
By car + walk · Info: OpenStreetMap
Waterfall
El Limón Waterfall
Hill waterfall, reached on horseback or on foot.
By car + hike or horse · Info: Go Dominican Republic
Nature · boat tour
Los Haitises National Park
Karst islets, mangroves and caves, by boat tour.
By boat across the bay · Info: Wikipedia · Go Dominican Republic
Also nearby
Boca del Diablo15.7 km · 29 min · Blowhole where the sea bursts up through the rocks.Playa El Valle19.3 km · 39 min · Wild Atlantic beach at the end of the El Valle road.Distances from Vista Mare: by car, OpenStreetMap (OSRM) estimates without traffic, measured 18 October 2026; islands and boat trips in a straight line. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, cropped and resized (credits below).
Photo credits
- Cayo Levantado: Максим Улитин · CC BY 3.0
- Samaná town and the Malecón: Balou46 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Samaná bridges to Cayo Vigía: -wuppertaler · CC BY 4.0
- Las Galeras: -wuppertaler · CC BY 4.0
- La Playita: Danu Widjajanto · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Playa Madama: Man77 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Playa Frontón: Danu Widjajanto · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Playa Rincón: Danu Widjajanto · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cabo Cabrón National Park: Caballero1967 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- El Limón Waterfall: HendrikLorenzBraunschweig · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Las Terrenas: -wuppertaler · CC BY 4.0
- Playa Bonita: -wuppertaler · CC BY 4.0
- Playa Cosón: -wuppertaler · CC BY 4.0
- Los Haitises National Park: Anton Bielousov · CC BY-SA 3.0
Samaná at a glance.Map of things to do near Vista Mare
Atlantic OceanSamaná Bay
Humpback sighting areaJanuary – March
Whale boats leavefrom the harbour Vista Mareyou are here Cayo LevantadoSamaná townPlaya RincónLas GalerasEl Limón waterfallLas TerrenasLos HaitisesEl Catey airport (AZS)La PlayitaBoca del DiabloPlaya El ValleCabo CabrónPlaya MadamaPlaya FrontónPlaya BonitaPlaya Cosón
Tap a place to see the route. Drive times are estimates from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), without live traffic. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · relief: SRTM data courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey (Mapzen Terrain Tiles).
The sea has other plans.
Whale season in Samaná: 15 January – 31 March
- Febusually the liveliest weeks
- 13 kmby road to Samaná harbour, where the boats leave
- ≈11weeks, 15 January – 31 March
Season dates: Ministry of Environment of the Dominican Republic (2025 and 2026 season agreements). Road distance: OpenStreetMap routing. Sightings are wild and never guaranteed. Photo: Giles Laurent · CC BY-SA 4.0
Caribbean stays · Samaná, Dominican Republic
