Whale Watching

The Dominican Republic is one of the best places in the world to enjoy whale watching. An outstanding show of what the island has to offer tourists and which is part of the 7 best activities to do in Punta Cana with friends. Thanks to the congregation of a large colony of humpback whales in these Caribbean waters, you can feel close to one of the largest cetaceans on the planet. 

Samaná Bay, the sanctuary 

Samaná is a privileged environment within the Dominican Republic and one of the best places to take a day trip with friends. Heading inland in this region is the Los Haitises National Park, a true gem of nature, and its beautiful bay. The Samaná Bay is surrounded by mangroves, inhabited by birds and protected species, and has rock formations that rise up out of the depths of the water.

The marine sanctuary is located off the north coast of the Dominican Republic. 80 miles away is the Silver Bank (“Banco de la Plata”), an underwater platform of coral origin that extends all the way from the Bahamas archipelago to the Dominican Navidad Bank.

To learn more about life here and guarantee a successful whale watching experience, at the Silver and Navidad Bank, a Land Whale Observatory in Punta Balandra has been created. It is free to access and allows you to view the humpback whales by land for as long as you’d like, since during their stay in warm waters, boats are only allowed to remain in the area for 15 to 30 minutes.

When is whale watching season?

Whale watching season begins in January and lasts until the end of March. During this period, the Dominican Republic receives up to five thousand humpback whales that make the bay their habitat. Samaná is the place where they mate and give birth, becoming the spot where the most whales gather in the entire Caribbean. 

Its crystal-clear waters, protected from the waves and the wind thanks to the reef, are the ideal environment for mating. Humpback whales are majestic species that can grow up to 15 metres long. Watch as they jump in the air and splash back into the water in the middle of a calm sea of turquoise colours, a sight that’s enjoyed by close to 30,000 visitors every year.

Humpback whale migration occurs every year from Greenland, Iceland and North America. As a result, the authorities have had to regulate both fishing and whale watching activities that threatened these specimens as well as other native species such as groundfish, the queen conch and spiny lobsters.

Humpback whales

Just like other large cetaceans, the humpback whale has been the victim of indiscriminate hunting. As a result, its population was reduced by 90% before its capture was banned in 1966. Currently, many countries limit whale watching activities to protect them and guarantee sustainable tourism, in addition to minimising the impact on the environment. 

But without a doubt, the most spectacular thing about their behaviour is how they swim and the interpersonal relationships that are formed in the group, not to mention their singing. Males produce strong and sustained songs for more than ten minutes at a time.

The “Whale Whisperer” 

The conservation of humpback whales upon their arrival to Samaná Bay is one of the main concerns for environmental authorities. For this reason, the Dominican Republic launched the “Whale Whisperer” campaign in 2020, which uses social networks to disseminate the importance of this issue and the threats they face. 

This sustainable tourism initiative gives the winner the opportunity to enjoy a unique experience with the observers. This way, the campaign conveys to its followers the importance of taking care of this habitat in one of the most touristy countries in the world.

Now that you know when you can enjoy going humpback whale watching, all you have to do is make your reservation.