Excursion Los Haitises + Cayo Levantado (Bacardí Island) from Santo Domingo

You’ll spend a full day getting out of the city and into some of the most interesting natural areas in the Dominican Republic. This is a 14-hour private day trip, so it’s a long day, but it’s well-paced, and everything is taken care of for you from start to finish.

The day starts early with pickup in Santo Domingo and a comfortable drive toward the northeast coast. Once you reach the water, you’ll get on a boat and head into Los Haitises National Park. This part is calm and quiet. You move slowly through mangrove channels, with steep green hills and limestone rock formations all around you. If you enjoy nature, this is a highlight. You’ll often see birds flying low over the water, and the guide will point out how the mangroves and islands fit into the local ecosystem.

You’ll also stop at a few caves inside the park. Some are wide and open, others are darker and more enclosed. Inside, you can see old Taíno carvings on the walls, which give you a real sense of how long people have been connected to this place.

After the park visit, the day shifts gears as you head to Cayo Levantado. This is where things slow down. You’ll have time to swim, walk along the beach, or just sit in the shade and rest. A local lunch is included, simple and satisfying, and usually served near the beach.

Because the tour is private, it never feels rushed. You’re not moving with a big group, and the timing stays flexible. By the time you head back to Santo Domingo in the evening, you’ll have seen a very different side of the country than most visitors do.