Monkeyland and Plantation Safari Tour

Observe squirrel monkeys on this trip to Monkeyland, deep in the Dominican Republic's jungle. Ride a safari truck on this 5-hour tour through local coffee and cacao plantations, then visit the monkey sanctuary and and its botanical gardens. You'll learn about the local farmers' organic farming methods, taste freshly picked tropical fruit, and see and feed 20 monkeys that have been raised to be comfortable around people. Round-trip transportation from Bavaro and Punta Cana hotels is included.

A brightly painted safari vehicle will pick you up in the early morning at your Bavaro or Punta Cana hotel. Get to know your local guide on the way to a typical Dominican country plantation.
Meet the local famers and hear about their organic farming methods, used to cultivate cinnamon, cacao, coffee and vanilla. Taste tropical fruit plucked freshly from the tree, and take advantage of the opportunity to purchase some of these straight-from-the-source products to take home.

Climb back in your truck and ascend a mountain road deep into the jungle. Arrive at Monkeyland, a 5-acre (2-hectare) squirrel monkey habitat managed by a dedicated couple. Follow your guide on a 45-minute tour of the sanctuary, where you'll have the chance to watch and feed the monkeys. Visit the botanical garden, featuring native trees, plants and flowers, before boarding your truck for transport back to your hotel at the end of your 5-hour tour.

Highlights

- 5-hour guided trip to Monkeyland and a local plantation aboard an open-air safari-style vehicle
- Observe squirrel monkeys in their natural habitat offering stunning mountain views
- Get to know the island’s colorful native plants and flowers at the habitat's botanical garden
- Visit a local coffee plantation, mingle with the farmers and sample fresh tropical fruit and organic products
- Round-trip transport from most Punta Cana and Bavaro hotels included

Inclusions

- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Coffee and hot chocolate tasting
- Entry/Admission - Runners Adventures

Exclusions

- Gratuities
- Food
- Lockers fee

Additional Info

- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- It is recommended that you wear comfortable shoes and bring a camera and cash for souvenirs.
- Participants with a cold or a flu will not be allowed to interact with monkeys.
- Participants with severe peanut allergies should refrain from this tour
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Most travelers can participate
- This park is not wheelchair accesible.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 100 travelers

Reviews

Fun and informative

It was a unique experience to get so close to these cute animals. The people in attendance are all walked thru the enclosure and kept in line so that the monkeys can run along the human chain, stopping on heads and shoulders while they eat the small pieces of fruit all are given in metal bowls. They are also close by, playing and wrestling with each other when the food is finished.

You will learn a bit about them and have plenty of opportunity for pictures of them on and around you. Our driver and guide on the bus from our resort, Samuel and Hamlet, were friendly and professional, and gave interesting commentary on local life as we travelled. We opted for the combination zip line and monkeyland tour, and enjoyed both. A memorable day!

Exploration75259
__________

Excellent day trip

We did this fantastic day trip as a family. Interesting drive from the resort to the plantation, great opportunity to see local culture how they live, local markets etc... The tour itself had amazing guides and was very interactive with the monkeys. The plantation tour was incredibly informative on the processes for growing and cultivating vanilla, cinnamon and coffee. I have a whole new respect for these products and a better understanding of how they get from the ground to my kitchen cupboard. There is a chance to purchase all of the products for very cheap as well. I would totally do this excursion again.

882staceyq
__________

So much fun!! Loved interacting with the squirrel monkeys

I absolutely loved interacting with the squirrel monkeys at Monkeyland. Felipe was an excellent guide to assist us in our opportunity to interact safely and also took great photos of us with the monkeys. The photos were available for purchase (4x6 photo for $10) after the 45 minute interaction but there was no pressure to buy them and you could take your own photos as much as you wished.

Jose was the safari truck guide and did an excellent job of entertaining us on the long ride to the monkey park. There was another 45 minute stop to hear about coffee and cacao production that I found to be less interesting and more of a sales job (trying to sell coffee and cacao products). It was wasted time for me as I had already been to a cacao farm in another country and do not like coffee. The usual hotel pick-up and drop-off cycle also added a lot of time to this tour. I was gone from my hotel for more than 6 hours so plan accordingly.

JP-in-MD
__________

Monkeys Great; Total Tour Bad

Our tour from start to finish was 6.5 hours; we spent 35 min interacting with the monkeys, which was awesome. My family loved that part. We did not like the extended time in the van going to many other resorts to pick up other people and then meeting by a gas station to regroup the people. The "planation tour" was a joke; no real information or education.

Then you sit for 45 minutes to "learn" about DR products - which they then try to sell you. All a complete waste of time. If I was aware of the wasted time, I would have taken a taxi from my resort directly to the money place (maybe 30 to 45 min away) and saved over 3 - 4 hours. ASK many detailed questions before you sign up!

ficlum14
__________

One of my favorite excursions ever!

My husband and I booked this excursion not knowing what to expect. The monkeys do jump on your shoulders and eat food from the bowl in your hands. The baby monkeys are very precious and it was such a great experience to be so interactive with the wild animals.

The next stop at the plantation was to see how the coffee and cocoa were made. The staff at the plantation were so kind and their products are spectacular. Some of the best cocoa for hot chocolate I have ever tasted. If you pick this excursion, you will have wonderful family memories. I would do this excursion again.

Happiness18671119771
__________

Monkey Land - fantastic excursion, great fun

A definite highlight of our honeymoon in Punta Cana was our visit to Monkey Land with Runners Adventures!

Picked up directly from our hotel lobby and after a couple of other hotel stops to pick up other attendees, we we're driving through the beautiful Dominican countryside towards the mountains. Throughout it all, our guide Leo was entertaining us with little facts and jokes. He seemed to know everyone we drove past and they were all happy to see him!

After 30-45 minutes, we arrived at Monkey Land and were prepared to meet the little guys by the guides there. It was an amazing experience where the monkeys are free to roam within a very large enclosure! If they don't want to come see you, they don't have to. At no point did the guides force the monkeys to do anything, they are just friendly, inquisitive and happy to enjoy the snacks they are given! They will climb all over you and love seeing their reflection in sunglasses.

They may pee on you though. Be prepared for that! They will also drop food on you - they are messy eaters! But it is worth every minute to spend time with our little cousins and see them enjoying life, running, jumping and playing in the trees.

Definitely worth a visit if you are in the country!

Dom L

__________

Dominican At Its Finest

This was an amazing half day tour, from our Tour Guide Hamlet, beyond knowledgeable, and super friendly. This tour will take you into the jungle area of Punta Cana and you will pass through true Dominican towns. When we arrived at Monkeyland I was so excited to have this bucket list moment and our guides Phillip and Alex didn't disappoint.

The Monkeys are all free to roam and not caged, the hourly feeding of fresh fruit and seeds brings them in. You had a feeling that all of the people here really cared about the welfare of these gorgeous creatures from the quick briefing to the sanitizing of our hands and shoes. The experience is truly one of a kind and one I will never forget. We were so lucky to see two mommas and there babies!!

Nice break from the usual over priced trinkets and photos. Whenever my feet hit the Dominican soil again I will return.

PDunnAllen
__________

Amazing trip

This trip was the highlight of my 4th visit to Punta! The mountainside of Punta is such a beautiful area. So lush and green!! The safety and health these adorable creatures really stands out in my mind. Making sure our hands and feet were santized we were brought into their habitat. They immediately cannot wait to jump and climb all over you. It takes a little bit to get used to especially when they land on your head!

Then they give you the bowl to feed them with-wow it's an eating frenzy with them digging through deciding what they want! Oh so cute! Then onto a tour of coconut oil making, coffee and rum sales. There are downfalls to this trip however. Various vehicles changes where we sat in a gas station parking lot in the hot sun waiting for transfer after being told the trip was to be in an air conditioned van.

The hard core selling of items and the presentations you must sit through. Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting food on and a hat to protect your hair as the spider monkeys are messy eaters LOL

Dee W
__________