Los Haitises is the closest thing the Dominican Republic has to a lost world. Limestone hills rise straight out of the water, mangroves run for kilometres, and the caves along the shore still hold the pictograms the Taíno painted before Columbus arrived — including drawings of the whales that come into this same bay every winter.
The day starts with a boat crossing of Samaná Bay. Inside the park you visit three caves, walk among the rock art and the stalactites, and spend the rest of the morning on the water watching frigatebirds and pelicans over the aquifers, where fresh and salt water mix and feed crab, oyster and shrimp.
After the park you choose your afternoon. The Cayo Levantado version lands on the island’s white sand for lunch and swimming. The Caño Hondo version heads inland to a lodge with freshwater mountain pools, and lunch is served there. Both are all-inclusive.
The Los Haitises tour from Las Terrenas leaves in the morning with hotel pickup included, and the Cayo Levantado version runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It suits families: the boat does the walking.
