Los Aitises

Los Haitises National Park

Los Haitises is a popular national park located on the southern coast of the Samana Peninsula, covering an area of 208 km². It is home to many historical and natural sites and about 100 species of plants, including bamboo, mangrove trees, mahogany and cedars. The protected area is home to over one hundred species of birds, as well as the endangered crevice-toothed rodent, a rodent found in the extensive mangrove swamps that cover much of the park.

General Information

The park has limestone caves that were once inhabited by the Taino. You can still see their portraits carved on the walls. The boat tour, which usually lasts 2.5 h, introduces tourists to the main attractions of the park, which necessarily includes the caves with Taino drawings. The tour usually starts with the Cueva Arena group of caves. Passengers disembark from the boats to view drawings depicting the daily lives of Native Americans and sea creatures, as well as marvel at the marvelous grottoes. Some of the caves once served as a hideout for pirates, which gives them a special spice. And the San Gabriel and Remington caves are famous for the portraits of taino carved on the walls. Bird lovers will be able to see pelicans, roseate terns, white herons, and long-tailed parrots living naturally in the park.

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A walk through the park

Due to the fact that the park has the status of a nature reserve, visitors are not allowed alone in all its corners, but only accompanied by a guide. You can, of course, walk, but there are not many convenient paths in the park, and the swampy terrain makes it difficult to move, so it is best to take a boat. Most of the rock art caves are located right on the shore, and there is plenty of wildlife to observe in the marshes where you’ll head on the tour.

There are two ways to take a boat tour of the park: either take the ferry from Samana (the landing point is on the Malecon, just across from the People’s Bank) to the town of Sabana de la Mar, where you will find a large number of buscones that offer boat tours for groups of two or four people, lasting from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The guide who directly conducts the tours must be paid separately, in addition, prepare a small amount as an entrance fee.

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An alternative to this method is to book a tour with a tour operator in Samana. You can take a package that will include a walk, a guide and lunch.

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Boat tour operators

Moto Marina

The tour that this tour operator organizes starts right in Samana with a traditional Dominican rum cocktail. Half an hour later, you will already be in the park where a well-trained guide will introduce you to all its attractions. Breakfast will be secretly served on the beach near the caves, and guests can also stop at Cayo Levantado for a swim there before returning home.

Avenida Malecon. Tel: 809-538-2302. motomarina@ yahoo.com.

MS Tours SA

This agency offers tours directly from Samana, with full service and guides.

Avenida Malecon 7. Tel: 809-538-2499 / 3343. ms_tours@hotmail.com.

Victoria Marine

Tours start from two departure points and include a guide, transportation and lunch.

Malecon.Tel: 809-538-2494. Two tours daily, departing at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Cayo Levantado. Tel: 809-538-2494. Two tours daily, departing at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.