Parque Nacional Los Haitises
50–80 USD (Bootstour)
★★★ The Halong Bay of the Caribbean
On the south side of the Bay of Samaná lies one of the most impressive national parks in the Caribbean: Los Haitises (Taíno word for “hilly land"). Dozens of forested limestone hills (Mogotes) rise like green islands from the water — a landscape reminiscent of Halong Bay in Vietnam.
The park is only accessible by boat (from Samaná city, Sánchez, or Sabana de la Mar) and offers:
- Mangrove forests — Labyrinthine waterways between mangrove roots, full of crabs, herons, and pelicans
- Stalactite caves — The Cuevas de San Gabriel and Cueva de la Arena house stalactites, stalagmites, and — particularly fascinating — Taíno rock paintings (petroglyphs) that are 500–1,000 years old
- Birdlife — Frigatebirds, pelicans, herons, the rare Ridgway's Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) — one of the rarest birds of prey in the world
- Filming location for Jurassic Park: No, not really — but the landscape looks exactly like it. Lush, primeval, overwhelmingly green
Boat tour: 4–5 hours, about 50–80 USD from Samaná including guide and entrance. Also bookable as a combo tour with whale watching (Jan–March).
💡 Tipp
Combine Los Haitises with a stop at Cayo Levantado — many boats offer this combination. This way, you can experience two highlights in one day.