Cayo Levantado day trip

Boat taxis leave Samaná's port on Avenida Marina through the day for this small island out in the bay, known as Bacardi Island since a rum commercial was filmed here in the 1970s. The island is under a kilometre across. A luxury hotel has half; the public half is white sand and palms, with kayaks, paddleboards and fried fish.

Visits can be restricted when a large cruise ship is anchored off the island. Some winter whale-watching boats add a stop here on the way back.