Cayo Levantado
About
What It Is
Cayo Levantado is a small island of roughly one square kilometer situated in Samaná Bay, approximately five kilometers off the coast of Santa Bárbara de Samaná in the Samaná Province of the northeastern Dominican Republic. [1][5] The island is divided into two distinct zones: a public beach area on the western side and a private luxury resort occupying the eastern portion. [5] It is widely recognized by the nickname Bacardi Island, a reference to a rum advertisement filmed on its shores during the 1970s that brought the island international visibility. [2][5] The island reaches a maximum elevation of 26 meters above sea level and experiences a tropical rainforest climate with an annual average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. [1]
Activities & Experiences
On the public side of the island, visitors can swim, sunbathe, kayak, and paddleboard in shallow, clear bay water. [2][5] Snorkeling is possible along the rocky edges of the islet, and several open-air restaurants serve fresh fish, rice, beans, tostones, and cold beer. [5] Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent, and vendors sell coconuts, mamajuana, and souvenirs. [5] The island is also known for pina coladas served inside fresh pineapples sourced from the Samana countryside. [3]
Visitors coming from Punta Cana or Las Terrenas frequently combine a stop at Cayo Levantado with other regional experiences. Between mid-January and late March, whale-watching excursions in Samaná Bay commonly include an afternoon extension to the island. [3][5] Outside whale season, organized tours may pair the island visit with a truck safari through the Samana countryside, a horseback ride, and a stop at the Limon Waterfall. [3]
Practical Access
The island is accessible by boat only, with a crossing time of 10 to 15 minutes from Samaná town. [5] Public boats and tour catamarans depart continuously from the Malecón and the Carenero pier in Samaná; shared round-trip fares run approximately USD 15 to 25, with private water taxis available at higher cost. [5] Boat taxis also depart regularly from the Samaná port on Avenida Marina. [2] From Las Terrenas, visitors drive or take a taxi to Samaná town, roughly 45 minutes over a mountain road, before boarding a boat. [5]
Day passes are another access option and typically include lunch on the island plus round-trip catamaran transport. [4] The nearest airport, Samaná El Catey International, is 68 kilometers away. [1] Boats run until late afternoon; visitors should confirm their return time when purchasing a round-trip ticket. [5]
Restrictions
On days when large cruise ships anchor in the bay, there may be restrictions on visits to the island, and the public beach can fill by mid-morning on heavy cruise days. [2][5] The eastern portion of the island is reserved for guests of the adults-oriented all-inclusive resort and is not accessible to general day visitors. [5]
What Makes It Distinctive
Cayo Levantado is one of the few island day-trip destinations in the Dominican Republic that combines a genuinely accessible public beach with a historically documented cultural identity, rooted in both its Bacardi advertising legacy and its earlier association with the British pirate Jack Bannister in the late 1600s. [3][5] Its position in Samaná Bay places it at the center of the region's humpback whale migration corridor, making it uniquely suited for pairing a beach day with whale watching between mid-January and late March. [3][5] The public beach area can be walked in approximately 20 minutes, making it compact and manageable while still offering restaurants, water activities, and natural shade under a palm canopy. [5]
Sources
- Cayo Levantado
- Cayo Levantado - Dominican Republic Tourism - Official Website
- Cayo Levantado: From Pirate Hideout to Modern Day Oasis
- Open year-round
- Typical duration: 8h
Access & fees
- all-inclusive day pass: $65–140 USD per person
- public water taxi or local ferry, round trip: 600–900 DOP (about $10–15 USD)
- standard day excursion: $30–75 USD per person
Things to do
- fresh pina coladas on-site
- kayaking
- paddleboarding
- snorkeling
- sunbathing
- swimming
- whale watching nearby
Before you go
- confirm return boat time
- cruise ship days: restricted access
Amenities
- beach chair and umbrella rental
- five-star hotel on island
- luxury all-inclusive resort
- open-air restaurants
- souvenir vendors
Best time to visit
- arrive before 10 a.m.
- coolest month january
- driest month february
- warmest month september
- wettest month may
- year-round destination
Events & seasons
- whale watching season
Features
- annual avg rainfall
- annual avg temperature
- climate type
- highest elevation
- island in samaná bay
- island size east-west
- island size north-south
- nickname bacardi island
- pirate history
- two zones: public and resort
Nearby
- limon waterfall
- nearest airport
- samaná countryside safari
Good to know
- day pass available
- from las terrenas
- island access by boat
- walkable public area
Photos
