Half-Day Safari, Four Languages

Overview

This half-day outing from Punta Cana pairs two very different stops: a working coconut and coffee plantation, then the grounds of Monkeyland, five acres of land the squirrel monkeys have made their home. Runners Adventures runs the tour, and it lasts between five and five and a half hours door to door, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Guides work in German, Spanish, English and French.

The first stop is the Casa del Coco, where visitors see how coconut oil is made and taste Caribbean fruit, roasted coffee and cacao. From there the group moves to Monkeyland for a guided walk of roughly 45 minutes among the squirrel monkeys, which climb, play and come close enough to photograph easily. The route also offers panoramic views of the Eastern mountains and local villages, and the tour includes a visit to a typical Dominican house to learn about local culture.

Reviewers repeatedly call this one of the best excursions of their stay, praising the close monkey contact, the air-conditioned transport and the informative guides. Be aware the tour is closed to pregnant women and to guests with heart conditions, limited mobility, epilepsy or upper respiratory infections, so check the health rules before booking.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupA bus collects guests from their hotels. Morning pickups run between 7:00 AM and 8:10 AM, afternoon pickups between 1:00 PM and 2:10 PM.
2. Drive to the siteThe transfer offers panoramic views of the Eastern mountains and local villages along the way. Several reviewers describe the bus as air-conditioned and roomy.
3. Casa del CocoVisitors watch a demonstration of coconut oil production and taste exotic fruits, roasted coffee and cacao. Products are offered for sale afterward, though one reviewer said nothing felt pushed.
4. Monkeyland walkA guided tour of about 45 minutes through the five-acre monkey park, where the monkeys come close to visitors.
5. Dominican houseThe tour includes a visit to a typical island home where guides talk about Dominican culture, coffee and cacao production. The order of the stops within the outing isn't fixed in advance.
6. Return transferThe bus drops guests back at their hotels.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this tour goes, from what not to wear around the monkeys to how much walking is involved.

• Skip the sprays. Do not apply sunscreen, lotion or insect repellent before the monkey interaction, as the listing asks.
• Comfortable clothes. Dress accordingly.
• Cameras ready. Several travellers mention plenty of chances for photos and videos with monkeys climbing close. Bring a camera, plus a little extra cash in case you want anything on site.
• Air-conditioned bus. Multiple reviews single out the transport as comfortable, cool and punctual. One reviewer noted the driver drove fast at moments.
• Time with monkeys. The listing sets the guided monkey walk at 45 minutes, and one reviewer found the encounter much more than expected. Another said the time they had with the monkeys was a good amount, though a little longer would have been great.
• Guides in four languages. Commentary runs in German, Spanish, English and French. Several reviewers praise the guides by name as funny, well organized and full of facts about the country, the plantation and the animals.

Common issues. The tour is not available to pregnant women or to guests with heart conditions, disability or mobility problems, epilepsy, or upper respiratory infections. Some travellers feel the coffee and cacao segments lean toward selling products and would prefer shorter, clearly optional shopping. One reviewer found the close monkey contact a little stressful, and another thought the driver went fast at times. Tips are not included in the price.

Common Questions