DISCOVER CAYO LEVANTADO, THE BACARDI ISLAND
You are probably having an exhilarating weekend! We are going to keep you in the dreamy weekend vibe a little longer with this beautiful BOP places, so you can start planning a trip to Cayo Levantado next week.
We mentioned it before. We love, love, love beaches and the Samana province. Put these two together and you have a trip to the beautiful island Cayo Levantado. It is also called the Bacardi island, because of the brand supposedly did an advertising campaign on the island in the eighties. Others say it is because the palm trees resemble the ones from the Bacardi campaign. We did some research and could not find the campaign, but that does not mean it never took place.
How to get to Cayo Levantado
Since Cayo Levantado is an island, you will need to get to Samana Bay first. It will take you around 4 hours to get there from Punta Cana. To make it really exciting you can turn this drive into a road trip. You will be passing Juan Dolio, where you can visit more sites. When you are in Samana, stop by the Cascada de Lulu, and visit the Treehouse village. Or you can take a different route. Travel to Miches from Punta Cana and take the boat to Samana from there. Before you take the boat, stop by the tallest waterfall and the Montana Redonda. If you really plan it very well there might even be time to visit Playa Esmeralda.
Cayo Levantado is located in Samana Bay. From the port of Samana town/ city, there are boats leaving every day. They cannot be missed.
Beautiful beach
The beach that surrounds this Bacardi island is known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. We know, the Dominican Republic has so many gorgeous beaches, but every time we are even surprised by the beauty of them. This one is as heavenly as it gets. White sand, crystal clear blue water and the feeling of being in a Bacardi commercial. All you need is 50 extra actors to make the dream come alive.
What to do on the island
Honestly, you do not have to do anything. Just spend the day swimming and relaxing on this idyllic island. The island has two beaches. One public one and one that is only accessible for the guests of the Gran Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado hotel. If you are not staying at the hotel, do not worry there is enough stretches of beach available where you can relax yourself. During the Humpback whale season, you can spot some of these mammals from January to March from the island.
When you need a break from your sunbed and feel like eating some good food, there are places that serve fresh fish around, but also Dominican food. One of the most popular ones is Bacardi Seafood Restaurant. It is in the name. Owner Alexi Mejia will welcome you with a smile. Enjoy their delicious shrimps and lobster together with an ocean view.
For the ultimate relaxation try a massage at the beach and doze off with the sound of the sea in the background. Don’t sleep to deeply though because you need to take the boat back to Samana city.
But don’t stress yourself, in the end you are in paradise!
Photo: Colonial tour one of the touroperators that also provide tours to Cayo Levantado.