The sea temperature at Samaná (Cayo Levantado) today is 29.4 °C (85 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 29.3 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 30.1 °C to 29.4 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 26 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.4°C / 79.5°F | 26.6°C / 79.8°F | 26.8°C / 80.2°F |
| February | 26.0°C / 78.7°F | 26.2°C / 79.2°F | 26.4°C / 79.6°F |
| March | 26.0°C / 78.7°F | 26.3°C / 79.4°F | 26.8°C / 80.2°F |
| April | 26.3°C / 79.3°F | 26.5°C / 79.7°F | 26.7°C / 80.1°F |
| May | 26.9°C / 80.5°F | 27.4°C / 81.4°F | 27.9°C / 82.2°F |
| June | 27.5°C / 81.4°F | 28.0°C / 82.4°F | 28.6°C / 83.5°F |
| July | 28.0°C / 82.4°F | 28.4°C / 83.1°F | 28.8°C / 83.9°F |
| August | 28.4°C / 83.1°F | 28.9°C / 84.0°F | 29.3°C / 84.7°F |
| September | 28.9°C / 84.1°F | 29.3°C / 84.8°F | 29.7°C / 85.5°F |
| October | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 29.3°C / 84.7°F | 29.8°C / 85.7°F |
| November | 28.3°C / 82.9°F | 28.4°C / 83.2°F | 28.6°C / 83.6°F |
| December | 27.1°C / 80.8°F | 27.4°C / 81.3°F | 27.6°C / 81.8°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24.0°C / 75.1°F | 24.9°C / 76.9°F | 25.8°C / 78.4°F |
| February | 23.6°C / 74.5°F | 24.6°C / 76.3°F | 25.6°C / 78.0°F |
| March | 23.8°C / 74.9°F | 25.0°C / 77.0°F | 26.0°C / 78.7°F |
| April | 24.0°C / 75.2°F | 25.1°C / 77.3°F | 26.0°C / 78.8°F |
| May | 25.2°C / 77.3°F | 26.4°C / 79.5°F | 27.2°C / 81.0°F |
| June | 26.1°C / 78.9°F | 27.2°C / 81.0°F | 28.1°C / 82.5°F |
| July | 26.4°C / 79.5°F | 27.4°C / 81.3°F | 28.2°C / 82.8°F |
| August | 26.6°C / 80.0°F | 27.7°C / 81.8°F | 28.5°C / 83.3°F |
| September | 26.5°C / 79.8°F | 27.8°C / 82.0°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F |
| October | 26.3°C / 79.3°F | 27.5°C / 81.4°F | 28.3°C / 82.9°F |
| November | 25.4°C / 77.7°F | 26.4°C / 79.5°F | 27.1°C / 80.7°F |
| December | 24.4°C / 76.0°F | 25.3°C / 77.6°F | 26.1°C / 78.9°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Cayo Levantado holidays
Cayo Levantado, often called Bacardi Island after a rum advertisement filmed on its beach, is a small, palm-covered island in Samaná Bay, on the north-east coast of the Dominican Republic, a short boat ride from the town of Santa Bárbara de Samaná. Its eastern part is occupied by a luxury resort, while the western end has a public beach visited on day trips.
Beaches
The public beach at the western end of Cayo Levantado has white sand, clear, shallow water and restaurants and sun loungers for day visitors, who arrive by boat from Samaná; it is calm and suits children, but can be crowded at midday when excursions land, and access can be limited on days when large cruise ships call, so check arrangements before going. The resort beaches on the rest of the island are for hotel guests only. On the Samaná Peninsula, Playa Rincón and Playa Frontón near Las Galeras, and the long beaches of Las Terrenas on the north coast, are popular alternatives. The sea temperature on this page is measured off the public beach of Cayo Levantado.
Things to do
From about mid-January to March, humpback whales gather in Samaná Bay to mate and calve, and licensed boats run whale-watching trips that often end with a stop at Cayo Levantado. Across the bay, Los Haitises National Park has mangrove channels, karst hills rising from the water and caves with Taíno rock art, visited by boat. Inland, the Salto El Limón waterfall is reached on foot or on horseback through the hills.
Weather and best time to visit
At Cayo Levantado the sea stays above 26 °C / 79 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
Cayo Levantado is warm all year, with trade winds from the east. The Samaná Peninsula receives more rain than the south of the Dominican Republic, and showers are common in most months, usually short. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and the whale season, from about January to March, is also the busiest time for excursions.
Hotels and where to stay
The only hotel on Cayo Levantado is its resort; on the mainland, Samaná town has hotels and guesthouses by the harbour, and Las Terrenas and Las Galeras have beach hotels and villas. Day trips to Cayo Levantado are sold in Samaná, in Las Terrenas and by the resorts on the peninsula.
Signature hotels: Cayo Levantado Resort
Airport and getting there
Samaná El Catey International Airport (AZS), about 40 km west of Samaná town, has seasonal and scheduled flights from Europe and North America; Santo Domingo's Las Américas Airport (SDQ) is about two and a half hours' drive away by the Autopista del Nordeste. Boats to Cayo Levantado leave from the pier in Samaná and take about 15 minutes; the resort runs its own transfers.