Cayo Levantado

Cayo Levantado is a small, forested island in Samaná Bay, about a 10 to 15 minute boat ride from the mainland near Santa Bárbara de Samaná. Many people know it as "Bacardi Island," a nickname from its appearance in Bacardi rum advertising. It is the most visited beach in the Samaná area, mostly as a stop on boat tours, and it pairs naturally with whale watching in winter.

The island is split in two. Most of it is occupied by the Cayo Levantado Resort, whose beaches are for hotel guests. A separate public section is where the tour and water-taxi boats land. That part has a beach, beach chairs, restaurants serving buffet lunches to tour groups, bars and souvenir vendors. Sources describe the exact layout differently, so confirm with your boat operator where you will be dropped and whether any fee is charged.

The water is the big draw. Because the island sits inside Samaná Bay, it is protected from the Atlantic swell that hits the north coast, so the sea is usually calm, shallow near shore and a clear turquoise on sunny days. That makes it one of the better beaches on the peninsula for families and casual swimmers. The flip side is that the public beach is small and can get crowded when several tour boats arrive at once, especially during whale season (January to March), when many whale-watching trips stop here afterward.

There are two common ways to go. The first is a boat tour from the Samaná waterfront, either as a straight beach day or combined with whale watching or a Los Haitises boat tour. The second is to arrange a boat transfer yourself from the Samaná area, agreeing the price and return time in advance. See our Cayo Levantado day trip page for options.

Sargassum is rarely a major problem inside the bay compared with the exposed coasts, though some floating seaweed and debris can appear after storms. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and some cash for drinks and tips.

Best for: families, casual swimmers, first-time visitors to Samaná, and whale-season travelers who want a beach stop afterward. Not ideal for: people seeking solitude, or anyone who dislikes tour-group crowds and vendor pitches. Arrive early or late in the day to avoid the midday tour peak.