Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Mexico
South Africa
Fiji
Boat trip · Santa Bárbara de Samaná, Samaná
Observação de baleias na baía de Samaná
From January to March, thousands of humpback whales enter Samaná Bay to mate and calve, and boats leave the town's port to watch them breach.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Observação de baleias na baía de Samaná
Every year, between January and March, humpback whales leave the cold waters of the North Atlantic and move down to the Caribbean to mate and give birth. Samaná Bay is one of the main sites for this gathering: the waters are warm, shallow and sheltered, and males sing, breach and slap their fins on the surface competing for females.
Tours depart from the malecón pier of Santa Bárbara de Samaná and last about three hours. Boats follow observation rules, keeping minimum distances from the animals and limited time with each group, and they usually have a biologist or guide who explains whale behavior. It is common to see mothers with calves, breaches out of the water and the blow rising like a spout.
Offshore lies the Marine Mammal Sanctuary, one of the protected areas for humpbacks in the Caribbean. On land, a lookout on the road to Las Galeras allows distant whale viewing, and many boats end the tour at Cayo Levantado.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About three hours on the boat.
Best time
From January to March, peaking in February. In the morning the sea is usually calmer, which helps those prone to seasickness.
How to get there
Boats leave from the malecón pier of Santa Bárbara de Samaná. From Las Terrenas and Las Galeras, tours include transport to the port.
Tip
Those who get seasick should take precautions before boarding: the bay can roll. Prefer operators that respect distance rules and limits on the number of boats per whale group.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Observação de baleias na baía de Samaná
When is the whale season in Samaná?
It runs from January to March, and February is usually the month with the most whales in the bay.
Is it guaranteed to see whales?
During the season, chances are very high, but nature gives no guarantees; some operators offer another trip if there is no sighting.
Can you see the whales without a boat?
From a lookout on the road to Las Galeras you can see them from afar; up close, only by boat.