Cayo Levantado – Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic: Five Days

 

                 Photos and Story Tab Hauser

   

                                     "Tropical Eyes"                                                                                                      Our Beach Spot For 3 1/2 Days

 

It was a long day to get to Cayo Levantado but sometimes the better or less crowded places are worth the effort.  We caught a 6AM Jet Blue flight direct to Santo Domingo and arrived a little past 11AM. (There is a one hour time difference in the winter).  With carryon luggage we were first to whisk through Customs and in our waiting van moments later.  The ride to the Samana to the north was a pleasant 2 ½ hours with the first 1 ½ hours on the new 2 lane highway.  Hotel check in was done at a building by the dock while waiting for the shuttle to take us over.

     

       Arriving to Cayo Levantado with View of Public Beach                             View of Private Beach and Small Island Off Cayo Levantado

 

To get to the 200 acre island of Cayo Levantado you take the hotel catamaran several minutes across the channel with other guests and employees to the hotel dock.   From there we walked up to the main building for a short briefing and then advised if we were hungry to head to the lunch buffet which was still open. After lunch we given a lift with our luggage in an open vehicle to our beach front Jacuzzi villa as the hotel called it. The VIP suite as this was called came with called butler service and a few minutes after getting there we were met by Alberto. He confirmed what we wanted in our complimentary mini bar, and if we wanted the internet version of the Herald Tribune printed each day  and brought to our room.  He also handed us a pillow menu.  Butler service comes with the unpacking of bags so we asked him to come back in 10 minutes so we can change into our bathing suits.   From 4PM to the 7PM sunset we remained on the beach under a mango tree soaking in the warm tropical air and putting winter behind us having an afternoon cocktail.  When we retired back to the suite we found the mini-bar stocked with 8 year old rum, vodka, mixers, beer, water and soda along with a fruit plate.  The best part of getting back was finding all our clothes folded away or put on  hangers.   For dinner we were only able to get a reservation at the fish restaurant due to our late check in.  I found my seafood soup and grilled lobster very good. I also ordered a small piece of the local grilled fish to try. Maureen ordered the Vichyssoise and grilled tenderloin.   

   

  Forgetting We Left A Very Cold Winter This Morning                                     Glued To Lounge Chairs That Late Afternoon On Arrival

 

     

                                                         Juicy Beef and Succulent Lobster Was On Order The First Night

 

Our days always started with the buffet breakfast.  Here there was fresh squeezed OJ and other tropical juices, local coffee, omelets to order, cheeses, smoked fish and plenty of other things to choose from. The next 3 ½ days were spent at a very leisurely pace.  This included exploring the islands public beach during and again after the cruise boat people in the area left.  We found the public beach very pretty and very peaceful place to be after 3PM with only about 10 people scattered about where 300 were earlier in the day.  This area has a small and typical tourist market selling jewelry, paintings, coffee, wood carvings, t-shirts, rum, cigars and other trinkets so you do not need to go the mainland to shop. Note that the deals get better when the cruiser leave.

 

   

     View Of Main Pool. Private Beaches Are To The Left & Right By Ocean                  Beach Front   Jacuzzi Suites Look From Island Elevator

 

Our main activity at Cayo Levantado was to lounge under the mango and palm trees 20 feet from the ocean on one of the hotels private beaches just behind the pool.  Other things we did during our stay included a one tank dive near the island, hang out one afternoon on a double covered lounge chair in second pool on top of the island, check out their funky not hot tub. (We called in the bubble tub). One evening had our butler prepare our outside Jacuzzi bath which he did complete with plenty of bubbles, rose petals and lilac water.  We enjoyed a few strolls around the island where found the 8 suite villa buildings very spread out in a garden like setting. In fact the entire island is well landscaped.

 

  On Public Beach After Cruisers Left

 

Cayo Levantado is an excellent 4+ star hotel.  To me it is a hair width shy of that 5th star.  I want to make it clear we liked this hotel and found the price reasonable and recommend it.  What made it shy on the 5th star were a few simple things in service.  Examples of this included wheeling the luggage up the hill from the dock to reception when we arrived at the island. Also on the boat any top establishment would have the staff wait for the guests to get on or off first before they do. Here the staff nearly ran us over. They were not nasty, just in a hurry to get to or from work.   There was very infrequent beverage service at the beach and pool.  To me it was not a big deal to walk 2 minutes to the bar and wait for a drink but to be 5 star hotels there should people here to serve you.

 

     

               One Of The Private Beaches With Calm Water                                                  Second Pool On Top Of the Island

 What was also excellent about Cayo Levantado was that while the place was fully occupied with 195 rooms and suites it was never crowded. The staff was friendly and the food service was “not” on island time as I have seen over the years in other places.  Every one of our sit down meals came out efficiently and timely.  There were three sit down places to eat and two buffet areas.  The sit down restaurants were themed seafood, Mediterranean and French style Gourmet. We found the food good in all three places. The hit was Maureen’s birthday dinner where the encrusted rack of lamb was cooked perfect and my special ordered birthday cake was on par with a good bakery.  The buffet dinners were themed on different nights. If we liked the theme we ate half our meal at the sit down place and nibbled at the buffet. Lunch was only buffet style. There was the pool side restaurant with an adequate choice in hot and cold food or a larger buffet in the main building where you can always get pasta to order or something grilled besides the  hot and cold entries which were more than enough to choose from.  The hotel also had room service included. We had arranged for lunch to be at our suite for 12PM so it would arrive when our dive was over.  At 12:15 a micro van pulled up and delivered our cold crisp Waldorf salad and hot burger and fish platter which we enjoyed on our patio.  Drink service at the hotel was also no problem. There was a small beach/pool side bar that did the job.  Here they had a decent aged rum but the vodka was basic bargain brand.  The pool side buffets bar had a little better selection of spirits. The main building had its fancier bar with the best selections of vodka and other alcohol.  All three places had cold local beer on tap as well as two frozen machines with Pina Colada or lemonade that you can have with or without alcohol.  

                                    

                                                         Birthday Dinner of Encrusted Rack Of Lamb and An Excellent Birthday Cake

Cayo Levantado has 96 Villa Suites scattered around the island complete with indoor Jacuzzi bath and large bathrooms, there are 51 basic rooms in the hotels main building, 30 standard villa rooms, 18 VIP Balcony or Beach Front suites with Jacuzzi tubs on the terrace as well in the bathroom.  The beach front suites were perfectly located in two locations. If you want a little more privacy at night and to be closer to ocean ask for the units near the water sports building. Entertainment was low key at the hotel having a singer or small band playing a couple hours in the courtyard at night. We ended each night by lying back on a lounge chair on the patio watching the stars above and listening to the ocean. 

  

   Jacuzzi On Patio Of Beach Front VIP Suite                                          King Bed With Large Bathroom & Second Tub Inside With Separate Shower

 

It should be noted that the staff at the resort was very friendly. Most people had a smile and genuinely wanted to be of service.  Also, due to an ear inflammation we got to check out the islands doctor. We found the young doctor helpful and were supplied with anti-inflammation ear drops.  Lastly, the guests here are mostly of international variety which we find more interesting when on vacation.  I played beach volleyball with an Italian and Spaniard. We also had pool side drinks with Canadians one afternoon and watched the French and German guests go about their business on the beach.


For more information and rates go to  www.bahiaprincipeusa.com. Please email tabh@hascorelays.com if you have any questions


Copy and Pictures May Be Used Only With Permission from Tab Hauser

 

 

 

Below Are From Our One Tank Dive 10 Minutes From Cayo Levantado

      

                  Moray Eel Above With Coral Banded Shrimp Below