During winter season from December to March, pods of humpback whales migrate to the bay of Samaná which is only 40 min away from Las Terrenas. They eat from spring to fall to have enough storage and spend the whole winter mating in Dominican Republic where the is little or no food available. A big percentage of North Atlantic humpback whales are born precisely in Dominican Republic.
You start you experience by taking a boat from the port of Samaná. Once the captain has turned off the boat’s motors, you will know you have arrived at the spot where the whale watching begins, we do not want to disturb the whales. Patiently looking out in the Atlantic Ocean you will see how these big, majestic creatures breach the surface and slap their tails against the water or even be jumping out.
Humpback whales are one of the most active whales, a very high chance of seeing whales makes it a popular experience for tourists and photographers. That said, it is a privilege that these beautiful mammals let us observe them and invite us to be a part of something bigger.
Until you experience this, it might sound like a cool activity and opportunity to simply see these huge whales. However, one cannot understand the true beauty and emotions that come with this experience until you get to witness it yourself. It is much more than a fun excursion you go on in Dominican Republic, this will be something you remember forever. You might get very emotional witnessing the playful whales showing themselves to you or even interacting with you. Do not be surprised if you end up shedding a few tears. These are the true moments of happiness and life’s beauty that should be cherished and appreciated.
The Dominican government has strict rules in place to protect these mighty creatures and make sure tourists can be a part of a unique experience while respecting these animals and their mating process and having on the as little effect as possible.
There are limited amounts of permits given out to tour agencies for carrying out whale watching and strict rules that must be followed. No more than 3 boats are allowed per pod during watching, as we do not want to overwhelm the whales or disturb them too much. What is truly beautiful is that during this experience you will be able to really feel how comfortable the whales are with humans observing them. You will understand that if the whales are putting on a show, playing and jumping out of the ocean it is because they feel comfortable with your presence, they want to show off a bit and play with you. If you are lucky, you might even be able to see a baby whale. There are many theories as to why humpback whales are so active outside of the water. But in the moment, you are witnessing this, you will feel like they are trying to play with you or even communicate.
Whale watching in Samaná is a lot more than just another of many activities you can do in Dominican Republic. It is a truly unique and majestic experience, for a few hours you get to connect with the whales and their nature, be a part of something bigger. After watching whales you will get to relax and dip in the crystal clear waters of Cayo Levantado on Bacardi Island tor lay on a sunbed under a palm tree trying to understand what you just witnessed and how lucky you are to have been able to be a part of this.
FUN FACT: humpback whales seem to have “open relationshipsâ€, at least that’s what we humans call it. Both sexes can have multiple partners and it seems like it works for them.
