Samaná day trip: Horseback ride, El Limón waterfall, Cayo Levantado

Ten hours across rural Dominican backcountry, waterfalls, island beaches and horseback trails

A full-day guided tour of Samaná from Punta Cana combines land and water travel (bus, safari truck, horseback and boat) to reach El Limón waterfall, Cayo Levantado (Bacardí Island), and secluded beaches. The itinerary includes round-trip transport from your hotel, a professional guide in English, Spanish, French or German, buffet lunch with local ingredients, drinks, and bottled water. Small groups keep the pace flexible and the attention personal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Samana day trip with waterfall and beach

• Depart from Punta Cana area
• Travel by bus through Dominican countryside
• Stop at El Limón Waterfall
• Visit Cayo Levantado (Bacardí Island)
• Enjoy traditional lunch with drinks
• Explore Miches and El Limón station
• Visit Rancho Typical and Samaná pier

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in the Punta Cana area (Bávaro or Uvero Alto), and a bus ride inland toward Miches, roughly an hour and a half through rural roads where the landscape shifts from resort coast to Dominican countryside. You'll pass through small towns and farming areas, the kind of terrain most tourists skip, and the guide uses the drive to set the rhythm of the day and point out what's coming. Once you reach the foothills, the group switches to a safari truck for rougher terrain leading to the horse station.

Horseback riding takes you up to El Limón waterfall, where the trail winds through forest and opens onto a cascade that drops into a natural pool. You swim here, and the water is cold and clear. After the waterfall, the group heads to the Samaná pier to board a boat for Cayo Levantado, the island known as Bacardí Island, where you have time on an undeveloped beach before lunch. The buffet is served back on the mainland with fresh local ingredients, and drinks and bottled water come throughout the day. The return journey retraces the route, arriving back at your hotel in the late afternoon.

The tour runs ten to eleven hours total, so it claims most of a day but leaves the evening free. A guide stays with the group the whole time, speaking your language and sharing stories about the region and its people. Children from age five are welcome, though the horseback section and the physical demands of the day mean families should consider fitness levels carefully. The small-group format, not a massive coach tour, means the guide can adjust pacing and answer questions as you go.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup from the Punta Cana area.
• professional guide in your choice of English, Spanish, French or German.
• transport by bus and safari truck.
• horseback riding to El Limón waterfall.
• boat passage to Cayo Levantado.
• buffet lunch with local ingredients.
• drinks and bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to7h before

AgesAdult (9 to 85 years) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Paradise P.C

Is this one for you?The ten-to-eleven-hour commitment means this tour fills most of your day, leaving only the evening free for dinner or rest back at your hotel. If you want to see multiple landscapes and attractions in one outing (waterfalls, island beaches, horseback trails and rural countryside), the full-day format makes it possible. If you prefer a shorter excursion or need to keep the afternoon open, a half-day option would suit you better.

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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: Child (5 to 8 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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 is El Limón waterfall like when you get there?

El Limón is a natural cascade that drops into a pool where you can swim. The waterfall sits in a forested setting, and the water is clear and cold. It's one of the main attractions of the day and the ride to reach it is part of the experience.

Is Cayo Levantado the same as Bacardí Island?

Yes, Cayo Levantado is known as Bacardí Island. It's an island off the coast of Samaná where the tour stops for beach time after the waterfall visit. The boat ride there is included, and you'll have time to swim and relax on the sand before returning for lunch.

Can I bring my five-year-old on this tour?

Children from age five are welcome on the tour. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during transport. Because the day includes horseback riding, swimming, and physical activity over ten hours, you should consider your child's comfort with horses and stamina for a full day of travel and activity.

What's included in the buffet lunch?

Lunch is a buffet prepared with local Dominican ingredients. Drinks and bottled water are provided throughout the day as well. The exact menu varies, but the focus is on fresh, regional food.