Whale Encounters - Dominican Republic

8 days
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5/5 Excellent
81 reviews  
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Small Ship Cruise
There’s no place quite like the Silver Bank. A shallow, underwater, limestone plateau located between the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos, the Silver Bank is one of the truly special wild places on the planet. North Atlantic humpback whales gather here in the thousands from January through April to mate, calve, and rear their young. Designated as ...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Explore Silver Bank: The region of the Silver Bank was one of the shipping routes that were the lifelines of the Spanish Empire. In September 1641, the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de la Pura y Limpia Concepcion set sail from Havana, Cuba, laden with treasure. A week later, she was nearly destroyed by a hurricane and began a month-long trek to Puerto Rico for repairs. But just short of the goal, the Concepcion struck a shallow reef and began to sink, losing 300 passengers and crew and a fortune in silver that inspired the reef’s name. Enjoy watching the Wildlife: Humpback Whales: Humpback whales are extravagant creatures, ranging from 40-50 feet in length and weighing in at 35-40 tons. They derive their name from the distinctive high humping of their back when they dive and also from the pronounced hump at the leading edge of their dorsal fin. Watch in awe as the whales put on a show, slapping their wing-like pectoral fins on the surface of the sea, lobtailing, breaching, spyhopping and peduncle throws.

What's this trip about?

    There’s no place quite like the Silver Bank. A shallow, underwater, limestone plateau located between the Dominican Republic and the Turks and Caicos, the Silver Bank is one of the truly special wild places on the planet. North Atlantic humpback whales gather here in the thousands from January through April to mate, calve, and rear their young. Designated as a marine mammal sanctuary, it’s one of the few places on earth where entering the water to swim with whales is permitted. Marvel in the beauty of these magnificent creatures from the intimate perspective of a week-long, live-aboard excursion with ROW Adventures. On this extraordinary journey, we have a full week among humpback whales, encountering them at close range both above and below the water. Topside, we witness a variety of spectacular behaviors, including mother and calf interactions. When we slip into the sea and float among them, we see them spin and play, hear their haunting songs resonating through the water, and sense the power and grace of some of the most intelligent mammals on earth—it’s a life-changing experience. We see a dazzling display of behaviors from the deck of our tenders and eye-to-eye as we slip quietly into the sea to interact with these graceful giants in their ocean home.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 18 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityPuerto Plata, Dominican Republic
End CityPuerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • Central America
  • Dominica

Activities

  • Nature
  • Snorkeling
  • Whale watching
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Services of our talented adventure consultants and professional guides
    • All meals/beverages as indicated in itinerary
    • Accommodations as indicated
    • Nightly turn down service
    • Entertainment library

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Arrive in Puerto Plata, Journey to the Silver Bank

Meals: Dinner

Welcome to the Dominican Republic! We board our vessel at the Ocean World Marina in the Cofresi Beach area in the late afternoon, at which time we receive our cabin assignments and a brief safety orientation. Once we’re settled into our cabins, we...

Day 2: Silver Bank

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Rise and peer out the window to see that we’ve arrived at our destination! After breakfast, we enjoy an informative briefing on humpback whale behavior and snorkelling safety. A snorkelling orientation in the water precedes lu...

Day 3: Silver Bank

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we get our gear ready and promptly board the tenders for the morning, ready to see and swim with whales! Our goal is to spend as much time in the water with the whales as they are comfortable with. We return t...

Day 4: Silver Bank

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We start our day with a hearty breakfast before heading out in the tenders for another swim with whales! After a morning of observing these awe-inspiring creatures, we return to the ship for a scrumptious lunch and time to mar...

Day 5: Silver Bank

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

In order to spend as much time in the water with the whales as they are comfortable with, we get an early start this morning. Enjoy breakfast before boarding the tenders for another day of seeing and swimming with the enormous...

Day 6: Silver Bank

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

We start our day with a hearty breakfast before heading out in the tenders for another swim with whales! After a morning of observing these awe-inspiring creatures, we return to the ship for a scrumptious lunch and time to marvel in ...

Day 7:

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

After breakfast, we depart the Silver Bank anchorage and head back to the Ocean World Marina. We expect to arrive in the late afternoon, at which time you are free to shop and explore a bit before returning to the yacht to enjoy a festive farewell dinner.

Day 8:

Meals: Breakfast

Early breakfast and depart the yacht by 8am - Fly home or continue your travels.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,295
Price per day$537
Last Updated: 5/15/2023

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with ROW Adventures.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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ROW Adventures Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
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Other ROW Adventures Reviews

A

Andrew

Mar 2020

Provided byROW Adventures

Great trips--great company

I have travelled with ROW numerous times, including four trips on the Rogue River. Every trip has been wonderful and every person associated with ROW has been nice, ...

P

Pip

Mar 2020

Provided byROW Adventures

most memorable holiday

Wow, wow, wow, wow. As a family group of six adults we have just returned from four day Whale Camp at Magdalena Bay. We were so well looked after by Monica, ‘Sherman...

J

Jackie

Dec 2019

Provided byROW Adventures

My dad and I had a wonderful time, and would not hesitate to recommend ROW!

My dad and I booked this trip as a special experience to share together, and we knew we wanted to go with ROW because we had taken a family rafting trip with ROW 20 ...

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Tour Operator

ROW Adventures

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Connecting people to culture, wildlife, and nature

If there is water, there is ROW Adventures! While we started out as a Northwest whitewater rafting company in 1979, we have since expanded our reach to include tours on five continents and over 25 countries. Our ultimate focus is providing life-enriching journeys around the world that not only benefit you, but also our guides, and the people and places we visit. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth,” and voted “World’s Best Tour Operator” by Travel & Leisure magazine readers, we continue to pioneer new trips and ways of adventuring in both popular and remote places of the world.

ROW offers a wide variety of trips that cater to many different activities - rafting, kayaking, hiking, biking, fishing, multisport, etc. – interests – family-focused vacations, lodge-based tours, wildlife viewing, custom itineraries – and locations – camping in the Galapagos Islands, hiking in Machu Picchu, ecolodges in the Amazon, safaris in Africa, yachting in Europe, wildlife viewing in Antarctica, sea kayaking in Baja, kayaking with orcas in British Columbia, and more.

At our core, we are all about “sharing nature, enriching lives.” We strives to connect you to the places we visit in a meaningful and personally relevant way, inspiring you to be a part of the culture and lifestyle, and creating a safe-space for you to grow and gain new insight through your travel experiences.

The driving force behind our company is a team of people passionate about travel and customer service. Setting the pace and tone are the original ROW owners and founders Peter Grubb and his life partner Betsy Bowen. With our superlative team who have an average of eight years of guiding experience, many with extensive wilderness medical training, and natural and cultural history interpretation training in order to share a deeper understanding and appreciation for the incredible places you visit, we continue to set the high watermark in adventure and guest service.

ROW has a high guide-to-guest ratio, allowing our guides to be more involved with you – joining in on meals, ensuring your comfort, answering questions, telling stories, entertaining, and sharing in on the fun and adventure. And not only are our guides there to lead the adventure, they also do all of the heavy lifting, food preparation, gear transfers, camp setup, and more, so that you can focus on your vacation.

Our guides prepare each meal for you using fresh, healthy ingredients, and there is beer and wine to boot. Luxury camping, with spacious tents, dining tables, chairs and sun showers, provides a high level of comfort even when you’re exploring remote wilderness areas. ROW provides all camping gear including tents, sleeping bags, and thick foam mattresses, and watercraft for our trips; you just need to bring clothes, yourself, and enjoy being on your adventure! And of course, we are passionately dedicated to “Leave No Trace” camping ethics and supporting a variety of conservation efforts around the world. 

We have it all covered, and we are here to provide you with the best travel experience out there. But don’t take our word for it; check out our reviews, join us for an adventure, and go home with incredible experiences and lifelong memories!

Tweets by ROWadventures

Why we love this operator
They’ve been recognized by major travel publications for their pioneering adventure travel expertise that spans back to their founding in 1979.
What they’re known for
Industry-leading adventures for outdoor enthusiasts that want a comfortable but exciting experience and all equipment included.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Airfare
    • Gratuities
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Items of a personal nature
    • Tourist card
    • Ground transportation
    • Hotels or shore accommodations
    • Dinner ashore Friday night
Ship & cabin information
M/V Sun Dancer II
The Main Deck   For guest accommodations, the M/V Sun Dancer II sleeps a maximum of 18 guests in nine staterooms located on the Main Deck. There are two Master Staterooms, each with a single queen-sized bed, which makes them ideal for couples; and seven Deluxe Staterooms, configurable with either two twin beds or one king-sized bed, ideal for singles or couples alike. Every stateroom has en suite facilities, individual climate controls, picture windows and flat screen TV with DVD players. They also provide a mirrored cabinet, wardrobe, bathrobes, hairdryer, toiletries, and fresh towels daily. Electricity throughout is 110 volts AC, provided from US style outlets.   The aft portion of the Main Deck contains the spacious Dive Deck featuring two freshwater showers, warm fresh towels, and separate rinse tanks for cameras and snorkel gear. For the photographer, there are two large camera tables, and each guest has their own dedicated gear station. Wet suits can be hung on the ample hangers provided.   The Lido Deck   Salon Green 150x150 The M/V Sun Dancer IIThe Lido Deck is the location of the beautiful main salon. With air conditioning and picture windows, the salon is a delightful place to relax, with comfortable seating for the entire party. The salon is where guests will enjoy their meals, and is the venue of various presentations, gatherings and discussions throughout the week. The salon hosts a bar, and is equipped with a complete entertainment center featuring a 50″ plasma flat screen TV.   Sundowner Conversations1 150x150 The M/V Sun Dancer IIThe aft portion of the Lido Deck offers a spacious alfresco seating area and a large wet bar. This area is an ideal place for guests to relax while offering a comfortable place to watch for whales when not aboard the tenders. The Lido Deck is the setting of our sundowner celebrations each evening.   The Sky Deck   Sky Deck Whale Watchers 150x150 The M/V Sun Dancer IIThe Sky Deck is located on the highest level of the vessel. Almost as large as a tennis court, it offers open and covered areas with chaise lounges and hammocks for guests to relax and soak up the sun or enjoy the refreshing sea breeze in the shade. The high elevation of the Sky Deck makes it the ideal vantage point for whale watching by day and spectacular star gazing by night.   Crew and Dining   With a professional and experienced crew of eight plus two Conscious Breath Adventures staff, the M/V Sun Dancer II has a high crew to passenger ratio. The M/V Sun Dancer II maintains an industry wide reputation for excellence, so guests can rest assured that their needs will be attended to quickly and efficiently.   Guests aboard the M/V Sun Dancer II can anticipate a delightful culinary experience. The M/V Sun Dancer II is proud to offer a hearty menu that includes choices for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. The chef aboard is continually refining his art and the menu and utilizes fresh and local products whenever possible.   Table Setting Closeup1 150x150 The M/V Sun Dancer IIThe day starts with a hearty breakfast offering hot and cold selections. Lunch is a relaxed and casual buffet with indoor or alfresco dining, while between meals and while aboard the whale boat, guests will have ample snacks available to keep them satisfied. The evening meal is a delicious full service four course dinner. In addition, there is an assortment of beverages available, including water, coffee, tea, juices and sodas. A selection of wine and local beer is also provided at no additional cost.   The chef of the M/V Sun Dancer II is experienced with addressing special dietary requirements. However, it is very important that those with special dietary needs inform Conscious Breath Adventures well in advance of your expedition so that we can consult with you to identify if and how we may or may not be able to meet your dietary needs.
M/V Sun Dancer II Specs   Vessel: M/V Sun Dancer II Port of Registry: Belize Builder: Derektor Year of Construction: 1995/1996 Construction: Aluminum Type: Mono Hull Length: 138 feet Beam: 26 feet Draft: 8 feet Max Passengers: 18 Staterooms: 9 Number of Crew: 8 Tenders: Two 25 foot tenders with twin outboard motors Fuel Capacity: 5700 gallons Fresh Water Capacity: 3500 gallons Desalination Production: 3200 gallons per day Cruising Speed: 10 knots Range: 1200 nautical miles Navigation Aids: VHF, SSB, Radar, Echo Sounder, Auto pilot, GPS, Weather Fax Oxygen On Board: Yes Voltage: 110 volts from US-style outlets Air-conditioning: To all indoor areas, with individual cabin controls Digital camera rental: Camera rental, Photo instruction Length of Charters: 7 night itineraries, Saturday to Saturday
Cancellation policy

Cancellation Policy:

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, please notify us as soon as possible. If written cancellation is received by ROW (call to verify) before the final balance is due, you will be given a refund less the amount of deposit. Deposits are non-refundable. If cancellations are made on or after the final due date, no money will be refunded. You are welcome to find a replacement for yourself. Please understand that once you’ve signed up, we lose the right to sell your reserved spaces to other individuals or groups. Therefore, we regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason we a strongly recommend you consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

 

Trip Protection Plan

We offer a comprehensive cancellation and trip protection plan through our office and recommend this coverage which protects your payments if you have to cancel for medical or other covered reasons.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

7 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 7 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information

Weather

Humpback whale season is late winter to early spring and the weather may be cool and windy during the passage of stronger cold fronts, but the coral formations throughout the area provide us with plenty of protection from rough seas while at the mooring. Once moored, movement of the vessel is minimal. The nights are cool, around 68F – 75F (20C – 24C) but during the day the temperature can warm to 85F (30C). Days are generally sunny to partly cloudy, rain is uncommon but possible during fronts. The water temperature ranges from 72F -80F (22C-26C). Please note that sanctuary rules prohibit any whale watching activities from the tenders when winds exceed 25mph.

Trip ID
rowadv-WhaEncRow

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