Cayo Levantado — "Bacardi Island" Day Trip.

**From Samaná town:** the easiest option. Public ferries leave from the main pier roughly every 30 minutes; the crossing is about 20 minutes. Round-trip ferry tickets are around USD $10–$15.

**From Las Terrenas or Las Galeras:** book a full-day boat excursion that includes the transfer to Samaná town, the crossing, lunch and snorkelling stops.

**Combo trips:** popular combinations include Cayo Levantado + Los Haitises National Park (a half-day mangrove and cave tour) and, in season, Cayo Levantado + whale watching.

Swim in the calm shallows on the public beach, snorkel along the rocky points, eat fresh grilled fish from one of the beach shacks, and walk the short loop to the eastern viewpoint. The island is small enough to explore on foot in 30 minutes.

If you want a quieter, more upmarket day, buy a Bahía Príncipe day pass — you get loungers, a buffet lunch and access to the calmer resort beach.

**Best months:** December to April (dry season, calm water).

**Best time of day:** arrive on the 9:00 or 9:30 ferry. By late morning, the cruise tenders from cruise ships docked at Samaná unload up to 1,500 day visitors. The crowd thins again after 14:00.

**Avoid:** Sundays in high season can be busy with local visitors too. After heavy rain the water visibility drops briefly.