Enjoy Excursions in Samana!

MONTE PLACIDO is the perfect launching spot for any excursion in the Samana area. You can walk down our hill to the main road and with a reservation, a tour bus will meet you in front of Colmado Nene. You can book your excursion through a tour operator, or you can save money and drive there on your own time schedule. Be aware, tours leave at 8:00 am and most return about 2:00 pm. Many include lunch. Check the tour operator web page for details and the updated prices. Keep tour times in mind when planning your Retreat Classes and also choosing your Meals . As retreat organizer you may want to include a tour in your package, or you can let people sign up individually. Keep in mind the tours can fill up in high season so reservations should be made in advance.
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THE EL LIMON WATERFALLS are wonderful and they can be an inexpensive excursion. The walking trail is about fifteen minutes from Monte Placido right after Rancho Ismael. If you walk you will only pay the Park entrance fee of fifty pesos a person. Taking a horse with a local should cost no more than $500 pesos (about 10 dollars) plus Park entry fee. Tour operators offer the excursion in the morning. We recommend you go on your own, to do it in the afternoon when it is less crowed.
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WHALE WATCHING IN SAMANA. Every year thousands of Humpback Whales start their journey from the cold waters in the North Atlantic to the Caribbean. More than 1,500 of them visit the Bay of Samana each winter so at any given time during the season (mid January  to late March ), there are about 300 Humpback Whales in the Bay. Drive to the dock in Samana and Kim Beddall, a Marine Mammal Specialist and will be your guide for about $64 dollars. (809 538 2494) www.whalesamana.com  You can also book through a tour operator:  www.flora-tours.net/excursion-us/index.php They will include transportation for about $75 - $80 dollars and usually pick-up and drop off at Monte Placido. Tours will leave in the morning. If you drive to the dock directly you will be able to get an afternoon tour at 1:30 pm from the beginning of Feb. - mid Mar.
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WALK THE PLANK ZIPLINE TOUR is an excellent excursion to do with friends, family and children. It's an eco-tourism attraction for all ages that combines connecting with nature, flying into the forest, swimming in cascades and having lunch at the great "El Valle" beach. There are two zipline companies in Samana. The larger one is called "Samana Zipline." Drive there at any time of day and the price at the gate is about $60 dollars for the basic zipline (no lunch). www.samanatreetopzipline.com Tour Operators leave early in the                                                                            morning and transportation is provided for about $105 dollars.
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 LOS HAITESIS is famous for its limestone formations, caves, and grottoes filled with pictographs and petroglyphs left by indigenous Taíno Indians. You can not go there on your own as the park is accessible only by boat leaving early in the morning.  You'll sail around dozens of dramatic rock islands and spectacular cliff faces. Swirling above are hundreds of beautiful coastal birds. A tour costs about $85 dollars and will let you visit the many caverns.     
Flora Tours (809 240 5482) www.flora-tours.net/excursion-us/index.php  We recommended the tour through Flora that combines Las Haitesis with lunch at Cano Hondo. 8am - 5:30pm
RANCHO PLAYA "Equestrian Yoga" is located in La Barbacoa about five minutes from Monte Placido. They have horseback riding excursions to the beach and other interesting destinations. See their website: ranchoplayalt.com/