Monkeyland Puerto Plata: Feed squirrel monkeys by hand
Squirrel monkeys eating fruit straight from your hands in the Dominican jungle.
Monkeyland Puerto Plata is a 4.5-hour wildlife and cultural tour from Puerto Plata combining an open-air safari truck ride through the Dominican countryside with hands-on interaction at Monkey Land, where you feed squirrel monkeys directly from a plate of fruit, followed by a visit to a traditional rural home. The tour includes a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French and additional languages, hotel pickup, and samples of hot chocolate and coffee. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular concerns. Strollers and wheelchairs must be foldable.
What’s included
- Bottled water throughout the day.
- hot chocolate and coffee samples.
- open-air safari truck transport.
- live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French and two additional languages.
- hotel pickup.
Times
- Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Runners Adventures
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with a pickup at your hotel, then heads straight into the tropical jungle on an open-air safari truck. At Monkey Land, trained staff hand you a plate of fruit, and the squirrel monkeys do the rest. These small, curious creatures will eat directly from your hands, though they're also known to pocket shiny objects if you're not watching your watch or sunglasses. It's the kind of moment that doesn't photograph the way you remember it, so most people just watch and let it happen.
After the monkeys, the truck takes you to a typical countryside home where locals live without running water or electricity. This isn't a museum or a staged stop. It's a real house, and the visit is built around understanding how people actually live on the island and what the daily rhythms look like when modern utilities aren't part of the picture. The guide walks you through the history and traditional customs of the Dominican Republic as you move through the space.
The whole tour runs about four and a half hours. You'll get bottled water throughout the day and samples of hot chocolate and coffee along the way. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and two additional languages, so language isn't a barrier. Hotel pickup is included, which means the logistics of getting to Monkey Land are already arranged.
Is this one for you?Most monkey tours in the region keep you behind glass or at a distance. This one puts the fruit in your hands and the monkeys in front of you. The countryside home visit adds a second half to the day that's about how people actually live, not just what tourists see, which is what makes four and a half hours feel like two different experiences instead of one long stop.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).
Can I actually hand-feed the squirrel monkeys at Monkey Land, or do I just watch them?
You hand-feed them directly. Trained staff give you a plate of fruit and the squirrel monkeys eat from your hands. They're accustomed to human contact and will come right up to you. Just keep loose items like watches and sunglasses secure, since they're attracted to shiny objects.
Is hotel pickup included, and what time does the tour start?
Hotel pickup is included in the tour price. The specific pickup time isn't listed in the tour details, so you'll confirm that when you book.
What's included in the tour besides the monkey feeding and countryside visit?
The tour includes bottled water throughout the day, samples of hot chocolate and coffee, and a live guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and two additional languages. Transport is by open-air safari truck.
Are there any health restrictions I should know about before booking?
The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. If you're bringing a stroller or wheelchair, it must be foldable. People with flu, runny nose or upper respiratory infections cannot participate.
How many people typically go on this tour, and is it a small group?
The group size isn't specified in the tour details. You'll want to confirm the typical group size when you book if that matters for your experience.
Monkeyland Puerto Plata: Feed squirrel monkeys by hand
4h 30m · EN · ES · FR · DE · IT +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 69 per person
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