Fees · Destination Guide
Samaná and Las Galeras
Whale season, Atlantic walls, and hidden-beach boat days on the Samana Peninsula
Updated Mar 25, 2026 • 26 sources
Fees And Permits
Confirm these fees before you book so your operator plan and day budget match what you will pay onsite.
Fees You Can't Skip
- Dominican Republic e-ticket - Free
- Tourist card / arrival tax - Usually included in commercial airfare; US$10 for some sea arrivals
- Typical payment pattern: Budget for entry paperwork and transport more than for a destinationwide dive fee.
What people usually pay
Budget for entry paperwork and transport more than for a destination-wide dive fee. Samana and Las Galeras do not currently operate with a blanket marine-park tag for routine recreational diving in the way some Caribbean islands do. The recurring planning items are the mandatory e-ticket, the tourist-card and departure-tax rules tied to your arrival mode, and any excursion pricing bundled by whale-watching or national-park operators.
| Fee | Amount | Applies to | Where to pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic e-ticket | Free Per entry and per exit | All passengers entering and departing by commercial air | Where to pay | Complete it before airline check-in. A roundtrip traveler will generate an arrival QR code and a departure QR code. |
| Tourist card / arrival tax | Usually included in commercial airfare; US$10 for some sea arrivals Up to 30 days | Most leisure visitors, depending on arrival mode and nationality | Where to pay | Official tourism guidance states the tourist card is generally rolled into airline tickets for commercial air arrivals. For some authorized port arrivals by boat, the official tourism site notes a US$10 tourist-card fee per arriving passenger. |
| Departure tax | US$20, usually included in airline fare Per air departure | Air travelers leaving the Dominican Republic | Where to pay | The official tourism FAQ states the departure tax is normally included in your airline ticket fare. |
| Overstay fee | Sliding scale Applies after the standard 30-day tourist term | Visitors who stay beyond 30 days | Where to pay | If you remain longer than 30 days, expect an additional fee on departure. Official tourism guidance says it can be paid online before departure or at the airport immigration section after check-in and security. |
| Routine Las Galeras diving marine tag | Not currently required N/A | Recreational scuba and snorkel trips around Samana and Las Galeras | N/A | Unlike destinations with a coastwide marine-park tag, Samana and Las Galeras do not use a universal diver permit for routine reef access. Protected-area or excursion costs are typically bundled into specific tours such as whale watching or Los Haitises excursions. |