Santo Domingo Trip, Buffet Lunch

Los Haitises + Cayo Levantado (Bacardi Island) Tour from Santo Domingo

★ 4.1 from 18 reviews

14 hours, hotel pickup listed, lunch buffet included.

from $135 per person

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Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.

Duration: 14 hours
Meeting point: Santo Domingo (pickup area)
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Meal: Meal included
Run by: BM Quisqueya travel & DMC SRL

Overview

This is a long day out from Santo Domingo that visits Los Haitises National Park and Cayo Levantado, also called Bacardi Island. The total running time is 14 hours, with pickup in the Distrito Nacional and a coach ride of about 3 hours each way to reach the Samaná area. Once there, the day revolves around a shared catamaran and roughly 8 hours of activity on the water and ashore.

At Los Haitises the boat enters a landscape of caves with stalactites and stalagmites, Taíno rock art and artifacts left by the island's first settlers, followed by a slow pass through the mangrove forest with chances to spot wildlife. Non-alcoholic drinks are served on board throughout the cruise. After the park comes a buffet lunch on Cayo Levantado, with dishes such as moro de guandules, fried fish, fried chicken, salads and tropical fruit, and then free time on the island's beach with a daybed provided.

It suits travellers who want culture, nature and a beach in a single day and who are comfortable with a long coach ride and a shared catamaran. English and Spanish are both offered. Anyone with a dietary preference can request a special lunch in advance.

What's Included

Included

Round-trip transportation
Shared catamaran
National Park visit
Park fees
Visit to Bacardi Island (Cayo Levantado)
Lunch buffet
Daybed
Non-alcoholic beverages on the boat + 1 non-alcoholic beverage with lunch

Not Included

Non-alcoholic beverages in addition to those provided on the boat and 1 drink with lunch
Piña Colada
Massage
Personal souvenirs
Photos

Itinerary

Pickup in Distrito NacionalRound-trip transportation is included, with pickup from the Distrito Nacional area of Santo Domingo.
Coach to SamanáA bus or coach transfer of 3 hours takes the group from the capital toward the Samaná peninsula.
Los Haitises National ParkPart of the roughly 8 hours in the Samaná area covers the park visit by shared catamaran: two caves with stalagmites and stalactites, Taíno art and artifacts, then a run through the mangroves with wildlife viewing. Park fees are included and non-alcoholic beverages are served on board.
Cayo Levantado and lunchA buffet lunch is served on Bacardi Island, with one non-alcoholic drink included, followed by leisure time on the beach with a daybed provided.
Return to Distrito NacionalThe coach brings the group back to Santo Domingo, closing out the 14-hour day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape how this day goes, from the long transfer to what the lunch does and does not cover.

Long day. Plan for 14 hours door to door, with 3 hours of coach travel each way. One reviewer wished for more beach time, noting the island stop ran only around 1.5 to 2 hours, so the schedule is tighter than the total duration suggests.
What's on the boat. Non-alcoholic drinks flow throughout the catamaran cruise and one more comes with lunch. Anything beyond that, including the piña colada, is paid separately.
Food and diets. The buffet is Dominican: moro de guandules, fried fish, fried chicken, green salad, pasta salad and tropical fruit. Vegetarians and anyone with other preferences should tell the operator ahead so a special lunch can be arranged, since one reviewer found the spread limited.
Group feel. Transport is by coach and the catamaran is shared with the rest of the group. That is the setup to expect: a shared operation rather than a private outing.
Guides vary. Experiences with guides differ noticeably. Several travellers praised theirs warmly for knowledge and attentiveness, while one reviewer was disappointed with theirs, so the guide you draw is a bit of a lottery.
Beach extras. A daybed on Cayo Levantado is included. Massages, souvenirs and photos are not part of the package.

Common issues. The honest friction points are the sheer length of the day and the group logistics: one reviewer described being merged with other agencies' groups in Samaná, with confusion over who had what included and who was returning to Santo Domingo. The same reviewer felt the boat was crowded and preferred a smaller vessel, and another wished for more than roughly 1.5 to 2 hours on the beach. One traveller found the buffet limited even though the fish and chicken were good. Extra drinks, piña coladas, massages, souvenirs and photos are all paid on top.

Common Questions

Is Lunch Included On This Tour?

Yes. A buffet lunch on Cayo Levantado is included, along with one non-alcoholic beverage. The menu covers moro de guandules, fried fish, fried chicken, salads and tropical fruit, and special meals can be arranged if you tell the operator your dietary preferences in advance.

Is Hotel Pickup Included?

Yes, round-trip transportation is included, with pickup from the Distrito Nacional in Santo Domingo. The coach transfer to Samaná takes about 3 hours each way.

Do I Need To Pay Park Entrance Fees?

No. The Los Haitises National Park visit and the park fees are both included in the tour price. Things that are not included are extra non-alcoholic drinks beyond those provided, piña coladas, massages, souvenirs and photos.

How Long Is The Tour And How Much Time Is On The Beach?

The full tour runs 14 hours, including the coach transfers and about 8 hours of activity in the Samaná area. Beach time on Cayo Levantado comes after lunch, and one reviewer noted it amounted to only about 1.5 to 2 hours.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Inside that window the listing does not state any refund, so it is safest to decide early.

What Languages Does The Guide Speak And What Should I Bring?

The tour is offered in English and Spanish. The listing does not give a packing list, but swimwear and something dry for the coach ride back are sensible given the beach stop, plus money for extra drinks, souvenirs or photos.