See large domesticated fish in their natural habitat as they swarm around the coral gardens in this aquarium off the Grand Paradise Resort in Las Galeras.
If you can’t get on a boat excursion but still want to observe Samaná’s majestic humpback whales from land, the Punta Balandra observatory–inaugurated in 2011, and approximately 14 kilometers (9 miles) northeast of Santa Bárbara de Samaná, on the highway towards Las Galeras–offers a unique perspective. An estimated 80 percent of these giant mammals pass by Punta Balandra in season–from mid-January through March every year–on their way to Samaná Bay. Aside from spotting the humpback whales, you’ll get a splendid panoramic view over the peninsula’s surrounding coastline. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars and telephoto lenses!
