Bus Tours
5–7 hours
Taking safety measures
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$205.00
per adult
Explora Ecotour
Explora Ecotour
5
Boat Tours • Eco Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips
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9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Full view
About
Explora! Ecotour is a small, owner-operated, sustainable ecotourism company based in Santo Domingo. We offer unforgettable private tours to many nature preserves all around the country. With emphasis on sustainability and education, our rain forest, desert, beach, and mountain tours are led by our experienced and knowledgeable, bilingual nature guides.
Tours and Tickets by Explora Ecotour
Bus Tours
6–10 hours
Taking safety measures
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$320.00
per adult
Bus Tours
6+ hours
Taking safety measures
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$245.00
per adult
Bus Tours
6+ hours
Taking safety measures
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$220.00
per adult
Adventure Tours
6+ hours
Taking safety measures
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$245.00
per adult
Travelers talk about
(14 reviews)
(14 reviews)
(18 reviews)
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
221 reviews
Excellent
211
Very good
7
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Phil
1 contribution
Jun 2021
In early June 2021 I booked a private tour of ten days to have enough time to find all endemic birds and the greatest regions, that nature of the Dominican Republic has to offer. Therefore I have decided to book this individual and unique trip through Explora Dominicana, guided by the owner, Manny Jimenez. We have visited most of the wonderful National Parks in all parts of this beautiful island and explored remote and unspoiled areas. Manny is a great person and knows the nature, the history of his country as well as the best restaurants, where locals prefer to go, by heart. It’s obvious that he likes his job and wants to show the real life of the friendly people living there. I had a tailor-made itinerary and everything was perfectly organized. A potpourri of the Best that this Dominican Republic has to offer.
Written June 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katherine M
6 contributions
Jun 2021
Manny’s private boat tour to the Los Haitses was a tour to remember. He’s an incredible guy who built this business from scratch to fulfill a need for ecotourism in the DR. He’s dedicated to educating travelers and showing us the true, unadulterated beauty of the country. Though the car ride was long, the destination was well worth it. We waded through the mangroves, spotting crabs, oysters and birds along the way. The narrow waterway opened up to a delta that unveiled lush rock formations, home to incredible biodiversity and millions of years of history. Manny was so knowledgeable and observant, pointing out every bird species like on the back of his hand. We explored a few caves with pictographs and petroglyphs of the ancient Taino people, all accompanied with Manny’s voiceover of what each image symbolized. To finish the tour, we enjoyed a delicious traditional meal full of fried fish, chicken, rice and beans, the best tostanas from our trip and their infamous coconut sauce. Manny took great of us - his tours are a MUST DO for anyone looking for an authentic glance of the DR!!
Written July 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eric L
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Couples
Big thanks to Manny for helping us arrange the tours to Saona Island and Los Haitises National Park.
If you're looking to get away from the crowds and see the beautiful nature of the country on your vacation, I highly recommend these folks. Kiko showed us an unforgettable time on our Saona Island trip, while Kelvin and our driver took great care of us at Los Haitises.
Word of advice. If y'all are planning on going to Los Haitises, plan for 2 trips or perhaps more; that park is way too big to see it all in one trip.
Next time we come back to the DR, we're 100% booking the same trips again. Thanks again for everything y'all!
Eric & Brenda
If you're looking to get away from the crowds and see the beautiful nature of the country on your vacation, I highly recommend these folks. Kiko showed us an unforgettable time on our Saona Island trip, while Kelvin and our driver took great care of us at Los Haitises.
Word of advice. If y'all are planning on going to Los Haitises, plan for 2 trips or perhaps more; that park is way too big to see it all in one trip.
Next time we come back to the DR, we're 100% booking the same trips again. Thanks again for everything y'all!
Eric & Brenda
Written February 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arthur H
Asheville, NC1 contribution
Nov 2021
My wife and I just returned from a seven day private bird watching tour. We had a wonderful time. All of our guides were professional and very committed to the conservation of the birds and other wildlife of the island. During the tour we were able to see the vast majority (29 species) of endemic birds including such difficult ones as Ridgeway's Hawk and La Selle Thrush. Both Manny and Efram were enjoyable company and we had many interesting conversations with them on a wide range of topics.
I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who is interested in seeing the birds of the Dominican Republic
I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who is interested in seeing the birds of the Dominican Republic
Written November 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael L Fleming
Seattle, WA331 contributions
Feb 2022
While on a bird watching tour to the Dominican Republic by Rockjumper in February, Explora Ecotour was our ground agent. Manny was super and fun to bird with, as were the three other guides who worked with him at various times during the tour. You can't get much better than this as everything was well coordinated from the pick-up at the airport to the final drop off. This was a group tour so all hotel accommodations and meals were planned in advance and proved to be well thought out. Highly Recommended.
Written March 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn
1 contribution
Sep 2022 • Solo
I took 2 half-day birding tours, departing from Santo Domingo, to Ebano Verde and Cotubanama National. Both days were excellent. Manny was an awesome guide and I saw a ton of birds, including many endemics! Manny patiently pointed out all the birds, often setting up his scope to make sure I got a good view. I learned so much about not only the birds but also flora and fauna in both parks. As a huge added bonus, he talks about the countryside as you drive through it, enlightening you about the Dominican people, culture and history. Couldn't have been better. Highly recommend!
Written October 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamie d
Midland, Canada5 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
My husband and I took the Ebano Verde Cloud Forest Birding Tour from Puerto Plata, Sosua, or Cabarete. The trip was so well organized. Rubin picked us up EXACTLY at 5:30, he was very pleasant with decent English. He shared with us info about the country on the drive, to and from the park. Manny was amazing, with a great "story". I really appreciated the fact that he has first hand knowledge of living in North America, and can easily address the differences in a way that Dominicans who aren't able to leave the country aren't able to do. To me, this was a treat in learning more about this amazing country. The Ebano Verde Cloud Forest was stunning. Given we were there on a weekday, we had the park to ourselves, and were able to see many amazing birds native to the Dominican Republic.
Written February 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marty15101
Allison Park, PA33 contributions
Jan 2020
We recently visited Punta Cana and my wife and I thought we'd enjoy some birding while we were there. We arranged before we left to use Explora Ecotour. I can't begin to tell you what a wonderful experience that it was. Manny is patient, extremely knowledgeable and a hell of a nice guy. We enjoyed our time with him and saw 22 species of birds that we hadn't seen before. All in a beautiful state park next to the ocean. Get out and enjoy nature with this guy! You will find out what lovely country the Dominican is and get a nice break from the beach. Thank you Manny! Best day of our trip.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
quistravel
United States375 contributions
Aug 2022
Explora Ecotour is our go to tour guide company in the Dominican Republic. We've gone on many tours with them over the past 20 years, most recently to some of the most incredible places on the Northeast coast. The owner, Manny speaks fluent English and Spanish and knows the country inside and out.
Written January 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristin I
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • Friends
Manny was very responsive and booking was easy, no issues with booking or payment. Kiko was a GREAT guide-got us everywhere safely and showed us some beautiful places. Natural swimming pools, snorkeling-we saw turtles, stingray, and starfish in crystal clear starfish. The private tour allows you to make the day exactly what you want. Would def book again!
Written February 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamie d
Midland, Canada5 contributions
My husband and I are coming to a resort in Puerto Plata (Playa Dorado) on Feb 20-Mar 6. We may be interested in booking a bird watching day trip. I saw on your website that pick up time is 5:30 AM. Will there be an opportunity to pick up food for the day, or would we need to do that in advance?
Erica T
12 contributions
They provided us with lunch on both tours so it is likely included and they are very accommodating and offered to stop at gas stations so we could get snacks
Jens S
Muenster, Germany2 contributions
where can i get more information about the tour? we are here in santo domingo and i cant reach your website.. what does a one-day trip cost?
Manny J
Santo Domingo Province, Dominican Republic1 contribution
Hello! We offer many different private and group nature tours from Santo Domingo. To see all the different options and pricing, please see our website, which is up and running.
Diwskanny M
16 contributions
I will love to book a 3 days private tour with Explora Ecotour; Is Just my litter sister and I going. Is this Tour of 3 days worthy and safe? Does the lodging is totally free or we have to pay for the place we stay in?
Manny J
Santo Domingo Province, Dominican Republic1 contribution
Hello! Thanks for writing! We would love to help. Our 3 day tours are very safe, take you to the most beautiful off the beaten path regions of the Dominican Republic and include all meals and lodging. For more information please visit our website or send us an e-mail. We hope to see you soon!
dunger99us
canada215 contributions
Hello, I will be visiting punta Cana in a week time on Nov 11 precisely, I am looking for a tour to salto alto I Punta cana or Marlboro falls ,,,can you assist? or provide at least a GPs location of these falls, you are listed as one of the providers to these tours.please.
thanks
Manny J
Santo Domingo Province, Dominican Republic1 contribution
Hello! We offer several great private nature tours from the Punta Cana area. However, we do offer tours to Salto Alto Waterfalls, but only from Santo Domingo, since those falls are located too far from Punta Cana. Please visit our website to see which tour options are available to you from the Punta Cana area. We hope to see you soon!
Savanna C
Adelaide, Australia
Hi there, I am a year 11 student from South Australia and am conducting an assignment based off of the Explora Ecotour company and would like to ask a few questions on your experience in the Dominican Republic.
- What was the day tour you partook in and was it a private or group tour?
- If a group tour, what was the maximum number of people allowed?
- What were the particular regulations suited for your tour in order to protect the natural environment if the area? This is in terms of behaviour e.g. not allowed to walk off the path etc.
- What cultural awareness (in terms of how to improve environment) did the guide teach you about the local area?
- Who are the host/local community?
- Do you know whether the company puts some of their earnings towards environment conservation?
- Do you know whether the company keeps some of their earnings and puts the rest towards helping the local community and their projects?
- Did you have a very memorable experience on their program?
- Did the guide inform you on how to preserve the local environment and raise awareness of environmental sensitivity?
- Did the company show recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of the indigenous people in the community and work in partnership with them to create empowerment?
If you could answer these questions ASAP, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thankyou, Savanna. :)
mariun0
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic26 contributions
Sure thing, ill gladly help.
- It was a group tour, eventhough they do offer private tours and the last one i participated in, was septiember 28th, 2015.
- Maximum number of people is unknow, but in total we were around ten participants.
- Regulations were stricktly personal (sun blocker, hats etc.) but they did require a personal thermos, no paper napkins, no disposable cups, etc
- Local awareness, the importance of manglares, these are water plants, known for purifying fresh water and a high ratio of air cleansing.
- We visited the rural area of Montecristi, small local coast villages, near the border with Haiti.
- Since its a small family business, I cant confirm it, but they really raise awareness
- Do you know whether the company keeps some of their earnings and puts the rest towards helping the local community and their projects?
- Did you have a very memorable experience on their program?
Yes, very gratifying.
- Did the guide inform you on how to preserve the local environment and raise awareness of environmental sensitivity?
Yes, they are very professional about it.
- Did the company show recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of the indigenous people in the community and work in partnership with them to create empowerment?
They require the services of the locals for food preparation and protection of the environment. In facebook they are always posting when the lobsters are multiplying, so you should not eat it in those months, as well as the conch, etc No trash in the beaches, no plastic bottles,etc.
Maureen B
Superior, MT7 contributions
we are looking for a private tour from Santiago to Cabarete for a party of 9 on Jan 17.
We arrive in Santiago late on Jan 16 and can check into our vacation home in Cabarete around 3pm on the 17th.
We were hoping to be picked up around 10am and to see sites around Santiago and around Cabarete with our final destination being our home in Cabarete.
If you don't service this part of DR, can you please make a recommendation for a tour operator who does? You have outstanding reviews and we'd like to go with a company as reputable as you.
thank you & happy new year.
Maureen & family
Jack J
Wilton Manors, FL141 contributions
Manny & Oly will take care of you with a customized trip to meet your needs - I believe they will go anywere in the DR. They will ensure your trip is enjoyable and filled with knowledge of the area that you are visiting. You can reach them at
Explora - 1(809)964-8383
Explora Ecotour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Explora Ecotour Information
Excellent Reviews | 199 |
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Very Good Reviews | 7 |
Explora Ecotour Photos | 282 |