Humpback Whale Watching from Samaná

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ABSOLUTELY THE BEST EXCURSION EXPERIENCE IN SAMANÁ! If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! Our family booked an excursion with Elewis Tours & Excursions while visiting Samaná, Dominican Republic, and it was hands down one of the highlights of our entire trip. From the very beginning, Elewis and his team went above and beyond. We originally had a group of 23 people, but as often happens with large groups, several people canceled at the last minute. To make matters even more stressful, our group ended up arriving over an hour late. Many tour operators would have left without us, but not Elewis. He was incredibly patient, understanding, and accommodating. He waited for us and welcomed us with kindness and professionalism, making us feel valued rather than rushed or inconvenienced. The entire staff was outstanding, but a special shoutout goes to Foca, who was absolutely amazing! He brought so much energy, warmth, and positivity to the experience. Throughout the excursion, the team made sure everyone felt safe, comfortable, included, and most importantly, had an incredible time. The tour itself was beautiful, taking us to breathtaking beaches and showcasing the natural beauty of Samaná. Every detail was well organized, and it was clear that the team genuinely cared about creating unforgettable memories for their guests. What truly touched our hearts was how they helped us celebrate my cousin’s 10th birthday. Without being asked, Elewis went out of his way to purchase a beautiful birthday cake for her. It was such a thoughtful and unexpected gesture that made her feel incredibly special and loved. Seeing the smile on her face was priceless, and it’s a memory our family will cherish forever. In a world where great customer service is becoming rare, Elewis Tours & Excursions exceeded every expectation. Their kindness, generosity, professionalism, and genuine care for their guests set them apart from everyone else. If you’re visiting Samaná and looking for an excursion company, stop searching and book with Elewis Tours & Excursions. You won’t just get a tour—you’ll gain an unforgettable experience with people who truly care about making your day special. Thank you, Elewis, Foca, and the entire team for making our family’s celebration so memorable. We can’t wait to come back and do it again!

While we were vacationing in Samaná, DR, we did a one-day beach tour with Elewis Tour as a group of 16, and honestly… it was the highlight of our trip. The experience is done by motor boat, taking you from beach to beach, and we visited some of the most beautiful spots — Frontón, La Playita, Las Damas, Playa Rincón, and Playa Roja. I’ll admit I was a little nervous at first since it was my first time doing something like that, but everything felt very safe the entire time. Everyone was given life vests, and that really gave me peace of mind so I could just enjoy the day. We were celebrating my friend’s 50th birthday, and they truly went above and beyond. They surprised us with a Dominican cake right on the beach during our lunch break, played music for us with portable speakers, and kept the whole vibe fun and relaxed all day. For lunch, you got to choose one protein — fried or baked fish, shrimp, or chicken. It also came with pasta, rice, salad, and tostones. I had the fried fish and it was so good, and my husband ordered the fried chicken and loved it. Dessert was AMAZING, I had a passion fruit cheesecake and flan. If you’re looking for a fun, authentic, well-organized beach hopping experience in Samaná, I definitely recommend Elewis Tour. You’re going to have an amazing time.

I booked the whale watching tour, Cayo Levantado, and El Limón Waterfall online, paid the deposit via PayPal, and settled the remaining balance in cash on the day of the tour. Overall, I have mixed feelings about this experience. First of all, the communication could have been much better. When I paid the deposit, I was told that pick-up details would be provided the day before. My tour was on Tuesday, 17th March, so I expected to be contacted at least 24 hours in advance. However, that didn’t happen. I ended up Whatsapping them around 11am the day before, worrid about the pick-up time (as, understandably, you need to plan your day). Their response was simply that they would provide the details “throughout the day”. By around 4pm, I still hadn’t heard anything, so I had to message them again, especially as they close at 6pm. Finally, after 5pm, they messaged me to confirm a 6:40am pick-up. This is definitely an area they need to improve. Communication is key specifically for people who have limited days there. The pick-up itself was on time, and the driver kept me updated throughout, which was a relief. We then boarded a bus and stopped for a coffee break at a nice little shop midway where you could buy souvenirs, food, and use the toilet. There was also complimentary mamajuana and coffee included in the tour. Upon arriving in Samaná, just as I was about to collect my sandwich (around 10am) raking into consideration didn’t had breakfast at the hotel, a guide started shouting my name and didn’t even waited for me to pick it up before saying that needed to pay the remaining balance. While I understand payment is necessary, the way it was handled felt quite inappropriate. He could have asked for the money when we were going down from the bus or before going to pick up the sandwich. The boat trip itself was fine, with no issues. We saw two whales, and the boat staff and photographers were friendly and professional. After, we visited Cayo Levantado, where we had about an hour to enjoy the beach. It was lovely, and a soft drink was included, but if you wanted a fresh coconut or pineapples prepare to pay an extra $7–8. Lunch was a short 5 minute boat ride from Cayo Levantado and was excellent, tasty food with a good variety of options. The part that really upset me, however, was the horse riding. It was absolutely disgraceful, and I felt very sorry for the horses and the way they were treated. This is something that urgently needs to change. The horse handlers referred to themselves as “volunteers” were shouting to get people to choose their horses, it was chaotic. A whole mess. We witnessed them hitting the horses, pulling their tails, and shouting aggressively at them, which was extremely distressing. My partner and I confronted one of the handlers, as this is no way to treat any animal. I have done other tours where animals are treated with care and respect, but this was not the case here. Although I was fortunate that the person guiding my horse was kind, the overall situation was unacceptable. Walking back wasn’t really an option either, as the path was very muddy and we didn’t wellies (although I saw after we could have asked for them but again this is something nobody tell you because they expect you to give tips to the volunteers and they even ask you money) The waterfall itself is beautiful, but I wouldn’t repeat this experience, at least not if it involves the horse ride.