Los Haitises & Bacardí Island: Mangrove caves and beach lunch

Ancient caves and mangrove waterways sit inside a single day trip from the north coast.

A full-day excursion from Puerto Plata combines Los Haitises National Park (a protected reserve of mangrove swamps, small islands and Taíno caves) with a beach lunch and swim on Bacardí Island. The itinerary includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned bus, a guided boat tour through the park, lunch on the sand, and return transport to Puerto Plata. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, French or German.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Los Haitises and Bacardi Island

• Pickup from hotels in Puerto Plata
• Travel by air-conditioned bus to Samaná Port
• Boat tour of Los Haitises National Park
• Explore mangroves, caves, and San Lorenzo Bay
• Visit Bacardi Island for beach lunch
• Swim in crystal-clear beach waters
• Return to Samaná

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Puerto Plata, where a certified driver and guide collect passengers hotel by hotel in a comfortable air-conditioned bus. The route heads to Samaná Port, where you board a boat to enter Los Haitises National Park. The park's defining feature is its mangrove swamps (giant trees creating a dense canopy above winding waterways), and the small islands and Taíno caves scattered throughout. These caves were once inhabited by the island's early settlers, and the tour includes access to explore them. The boat moves through San Lorenzo Bay and the broader Samaná Bay, so the journey itself is part of the experience, not just transport between stops.

After the park tour, the boat heads to Bacardí Island for lunch served directly on the beach. You have time to swim in the water before the return journey begins. The full outing runs about ten hours from pickup to drop-off, so the day is substantial but fits inside a single departure from the north coast. The bus returns you to Puerto Plata in the late afternoon.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport in an air-conditioned bus.
• boat tour through Los Haitises National Park.
• access to Taíno caves and mangrove waterways.
• lunch on Bacardí Island.
• swimming time at the beach.
• a live guide in your choice of English, Spanish, French or German.
• alcoholic beverages.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and SaturdayDeparts at 05:20

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (18 to 55 years) · Senior (56 to 70 years) · Youth (5 to 17 years) · Child (under 5)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 26 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tony Tours By AMGMT puerto plata shore excursions

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour with a guide leading the boat and the stops, so you follow the itinerary and pace set by the operator. Choose it if you want the caves, mangroves and island lunch arranged and guided without driving yourself, and if a ten-hour day from Puerto Plata fits your schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 17 years); Child (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Los Haitises National Park?

Los Haitises is a protected natural reserve in the Dominican Republic built around mangrove swamps, small islands, and ancient caves. The mangrove trees form a thick canopy over the water, and the Taíno caves, remnants of the island's earliest inhabitants, are accessible by boat during the tour.

Do I need to swim or be comfortable in water to do this?

Swimming is optional. The tour includes time to swim at Bacardí Island, but you can stay on the beach or in the shallow water if you prefer. The boat ride through the park does not require swimming or water skills.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, lunch is included and served on Bacardí Island beach. The operator describes it as a buffet, though the specific menu is not detailed in advance.

How long is the full day, and when does pickup happen?

The excursion runs about ten hours from hotel pickup to return. Pickup happens in the morning from your hotel in Puerto Plata, with the exact time depending on your location and the operator's schedule.