The Dominican Republic is a country full of life, both inside and outside the hotel, on the land and in the water, in the flora and the fauna.

That’s why, at Princess Hotels in Punta Cana, we pride ourselves on our ability to maintain a wonderful balance, creating spectacular tropical gardens full of flowers and animals for our guests to enjoy.

Today we would like to introduce you to some of the most popular animals you can photograph during your holiday in the Dominican Republic.

1. Visit the Humpback Whales

Probably one of the best-known animals in the country are the humpback whales due to their magnificent presence and great size. Humpback whales are the stars of the many excursions that take place between January and March.

Every year, hundreds of whales travel from different parts of the world to the warm, shallow waters of Samaná Bay to breed or give birth to calves.

Can you imagine witnessing a 40-tonne male leaping out of the sea to conquer the heart of a female, or a loving mother helping her baby out of the water to take its first breath of air?

It is definitely worthy of an excursion, which can be booked with any of the tour operator representatives in the lobbies of our Princess Hotels in Punta Cana.

Don’t forget your camera and a good protective cover, and then share your best snapshots with us by tagging us on social media.

Click on the link to discover more about the fascinating world of whales in the Dominican Republic.

2. Swim with Dolphins in Bavaro

Funny, playful and friendly, dolphins are a beautiful marine mammal that have conquered our hearts. One of the things you can do on your next holiday is to make your dreams of swimming with dolphins come true.

In the area of Bávaro Punta Cana, we have several centers that allow you to swim with dolphins in a pool, but if you prefer to swim with them in the sea, there are different companies that also offer this option. We are sure that this is an activity that will fascinate both children and adults.

An advantage of this activity is that it can be done near the Princess Hotels in Punta Cana, and for that reason, the excursion only takes half a day! It is the perfect addition to your holiday!

3. Take a Selfie with Manta Rays and Sharks

An experience only for the bravest: swimming among manta rays and nurse sharks is possible on your holiday.

As always, we have representatives from different tour companies in our lobbies who can help you organize this adventure. You don’t have to travel far as the aquariums are close to the Princess Hotels in Punta Cana. These aquariums are enclosed but they are not artificial pools, they are in the sea.

In these enclosures in the sea, you will be accompanied by an expert who will guide you as you swim and observe these beautiful animals through your snorkel goggles.

You can also take fun photos with the manta rays, under the supervision and guidance of professionals.

4. Swim with Starfish in Dominicus

Starfish are the stars of the excursions to Saona Island. One of the stops on this excursion is to swim in the natural pool of Dominicus, where you will be able to admire the marvelous and enormous starfish.

However, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you that they are a protected species. They should not be taken out of the water or disturbed to take photos with them, and you should definitely not move them, put them on your head or do anything similar, as this generates a lot of stress that weakens and kills them.

You also can’t take them away as souvenirs. The best thing to do is to enjoy them in their habitat with respect, care and from a distance, and to take photos without disturbing them, leaving them well alone.

That way, the next time you come to the country, there will still be starfish to admire!

5. Discover the Fauna of our Hotels: Flamingos, Iguanas and Peacocks

Of course, we can’t talk about the animals of the country and not mention the wonderful species of flamingos, ducks, peacocks and iguanas that roam freely around our tropical gardens at Grand Bávaro Princess, Caribe Deluxe Princess and Tropical Deluxe Princess.

They are undoubtedly an attraction for our guests. Regardless of age, everyone likes to come and watch the peacocks display their spectacular tails to court the females, or see the striking flamingos strolling and eating peacefully around our lagoons. You can even give some bread to the entertaining ducks that waddle freely along our hotel paths. And our beautiful iguanas have been featured in many of our guests’ photos!

But as always, we ask that interactions with our animals are done with care and respect. They are not pets, and although they are used to seeing people around them, they can get hurt unintentionally or act unpredictably if they feel threatened.

We always look forward to seeing your photos of them, as long as they are taken with common sense and care.

Which animal would you like to see? We look forward to your comments!

Categories: Caribbean, Travel Tips, Lifestyle, Live Nature, Punta Cana