Whale season in Samaná: what you need to know

Every year between mid January and late March, around three thousand humpback whales migrate from the North Atlantic to Samaná bay to mate and give birth. It is one of the largest and most reliable gatherings in the world. Boats are licensed and limited, must keep a set distance and can only stay with a group for thirty minutes. That regulation is why the whales keep coming back, so choose an operator that respects it. The best weeks are the second half of February, when both mothers with calves and competing males are present. Mornings are usually calmer at sea than afternoons. From Puerto Plata it is a long day: pickup is early, the drive takes around three hours each way and the boat trip is about three hours. Bring a windproof jacket, sunscreen, and motion sickness tablets if you are sensitive. Bring a zoom lens if you have one, but spend most of the time watching rather than filming.