Whales, In Peace - Samana

Overexploit, cheat, deplete. The cycle of greed behind the global whaling industry drove one whale population after another toward extinction. It is still not known if some species will ever recover, even after decades of protection. Come to the Dominican Republic to see the Largest yearly congregation of Humpback Whales in the Atlantic Ocean!
	Beginning in January, the Atlantic Ocean's largest population of majestic humpback whales, an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 males and females, will make their annual pilgrimage to the protected waters of the Dominican Republic (DR).   Established in 1986 by the DR government, the "Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic" is the winter home for nearly a third of the Atlantic Ocean's humpback whale population and encompasses the Northern and Eastern coasts of the Dominican Republic (DR), two of the most popular tourism regions in the country. A unique opportunity to observe humpback whales in their natural calving and mating grounds here in Samana Bay, Dominican Republic. Listen to the male humpback's solitary courting song and witness incredible displays of flippering, tail lobbing and breaching by the most active species of whale in the Atlantic. On board, a Marine Mammal Specialist narrating and answering questions. An experience of a lifetime, not to be missed!   The colossal 50-foot long humpbacks use the three-month period of January through March in the DR as their breeding haven. Cave drawings throughout Samana indicate that humpbacks have been visiting the area for centuries and continue to be attracted to its warm, shallow, calm waters that provide natural protection during their mating rituals. A spectacular sight, this is the time when the whales are most acrobatic with photogenic displays of breeching, twirling and an activity called "spyhopping" in which the whale lifts its head out of the water for up to 30 seconds for a look around.
Samana Bay is where the action takes place for this exciting nature excursion. Depending on your location, most tours depart very early in the morning to ensure you get to Samana in plenty of time to enjoy a great day. Each January through March, more than 10,000 incredible Humpback whales of the North Atlantic population, return to the waters surrounding the Dominican Republic to mate and breed. Marine guides will narrate your boat excursion, explaining mating and breeding information about the whales and their behavior. Witnessing these magnificent creatures, the most active of all whales, is definitely an experience of a lifetime.