Educational experience with 4 monkey species in their natural area
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Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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OverviewAuto-translated
What's Included
- Private transportationIf there are several people nearby they will be picked up in the same transport
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
All pickups are subject to a time of between 60 minutes and 30 minutes prior to your selected time. If there are several people nearby they will be picked up in the same transport
Itinerary
1
Monkey House Vip
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 22 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Michelle_O
We had a fabulous time with the Monkeys and the staff. The hospitality, education, and time with the different monkeys was amazing. The staff made it so fun and interactive. The monkeys were playful, gentle, and curious. You can tell how deeply the entire team cares for the animals there. Jessica was just the sweetest and shared so much with us about the whole place. Would highly recommend to anyone of all ages. Made great memories with our kids.
Reviews
4.6
based on 526 reviews
sschauble, Mar 2026
The positive: This experience got smiles from my husband and my 14-year old! I enjoyed it and it was relaxing.
The negative: we were told to meet at secrets hotel lobby, although I had requested dreams, and they showed up at dreams anyway and took us 10-15 minutes to figure this out so everyone was waiting. The experience was a little long, teenagers got bored. The pressure for the photo sales was ridiculous and stained the whole experience. I picked out ten photos for $150. She was impatient and sighed many times. She gave me 11 photos. Then added on 10% tip for staff (ok no problem) then another 18% for using a credit card. Ok I agreed. Then she converted it to Dominican pesos and tried to screw me on the conversion rate. I told her that wasn’t the correct conversion rate and then she said she can’t sell me the photos. So she went from getting almost $200 for 11 digital photos that they already took to getting nothing, over a small disagreement in the conversion rate. This seems really silly to me and disappointing.
Kerra_N, Mar 2026
I don't think I would recommend this experience, unfortunately.
Of course it was SUPER cool to see the various monkey species (Capuchin species, to correct the "cappuccino" species listed on the ad) up close for me and my husband.
Off the hop, I was a little surprised to see that the experience was not a private experience like the Additional info suggests ("This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate"), though I was not upset about sharing the experience with others, our total group I think was around 15. I knew going into the experience that we weren't able to have our phones for the first part, this was expected from reading reviews. It did feel like the workers definitely chose "favourites" who had more time with the monkeys in the first part and the second part... where I even heard multiple comments from the workers to members of the group hitting on some of the younger "attractive" attendees. You do you and I wouldn't have minded, but while myself and my husband sat there with no monkey action, and the same folks were continuously visited by the workers, it got a little frustrating.
Instructions were unclear at times... I will say it was very clear that no grabbing was aloud, and we respected that completely. However, one worker would say "this monkey is friendly, you are good to touch!" So we assumed that if the monkey was on us at the time, it was okay to gently pet their back, but yet we would immediately be yelled at by another worker who said no touching. Watching how the workers handled the monkeys themselves (which was at times very playful/playful aggressive), this made no sense to me. I've worked in zoos as a zookeeper and am a biologist at home, so understand the nature and caution needed for interacting with wild animals, but the miscommunication about when we could touch vs not was frustrating, and ended up feeling like we were doing something wrong by touching - which was what I thought the experience entailed as majority of the animals (aside from a few) were communicated as not aggressive or unsafe.
Lastly, we come to the photo packages at the end. Wow, what some transparency could make of this place. After already paying $200 CAD for tickets to the excursion, we are given options of photo packages starting from $20 USD per photo, $70 for 3 photos, $150 for 5 photos, etc. (there were so many options of packages). We opted for the $370 USD package (the most inclusive of them all), as I wanted all the photos taken without having to choose. Our photos on the iPad ended up being over 100+ photos... our worker said it's typically only 95 photos included with this package, but that it would be fine to receive all of ours with the video they make. Well, we go to pay, half cash, half card as we were not prepared with enough. Card turns into a wild exchange rate situation, 18% tax on top, and a pressure-cooker to give 10% tip on top of this; from what I paid with cash and the remaining amount left to put on my card, I am still trying to make sense of the charge on my card because it is way higher than it should have been, even with the exchange rate, 10% tip and 18% tax. I would not have tipped either honestly, so hats off to their workers for the tourist trap.
To end this lovely experience, we are heading back to our resort and realize some of our photos weren't received, and I actually ended up with 4 photos of someone else. This added up to 92 photos and 1 video, not even the 95 promised, nor the total photos we saw on the iPad... minus the 4 photos of someone else, means we only received 88 photos. There was one specific photo I was hoping to receive that was not included, so I reached out to them to try and get it sent over. I was argued with and told I only paid for 95 photos, etc. etc., eventually they said they'd check and send it back. No response since then, so here I am writing the review. The final cherry on top, is they ask if you'd like a drink (water or pina colada), considering I just paid $200 CAD + $370 USD + various hidden charges on my card, I expected this to be complimentary - NOPE, it's an extra charge.
They have a lot of potential to grow and be a 5 star excursion, but at present, I would say expect to bring hefty cash with you to avoid card charges like me, or head to Monkeyland, where photos are much more reasonable. I don't get the vibe of a true sanctuary here, I think it's more of a tourist trap exploiting monkey's they've paid for - as they aren't native to DR. I would have liked to have heard more about the rehabilitation and what happened to the monkeys to get them to need a sanctuary, what the rehab looked like, including enrichments and eliminating sterotypies (again, as I've worked in and with many wildlife rehab facilities across my country), but never got any of these answers.
Michelle_O, Mar 2026
We had a fabulous time with the Monkeys and the staff. The hospitality, education, and time with the different monkeys was amazing. The staff made it so fun and interactive. The monkeys were playful, gentle, and curious. You can tell how deeply the entire team cares for the animals there. Jessica was just the sweetest and shared so much with us about the whole place. Would highly recommend to anyone of all ages. Made great memories with our kids.
Susan_D, Mar 2026
Family of four with adult children visited. Everyone had a fantastic time and it was an experience to remember. The staff was very friendly and you could tell they had deep relationships with the animals. I recommend the excursion while visiting Punta Cana.
Note to Monkey House VIP: I recommend increasing the price of the experience and lowering the cost of the photo/video packages. I would have paid up to $200 for the memories but not $400 plus. If the packages were closer to $150-200 USD, you would probably sell more packages.
Danielle_R, Feb 2026
I woke up feeling sick the morning of this tour. I reached out to try to change the day possibly to a future date. I reached out to the driver who didn't communicate pick up time until 930pm the night before to let them know that I was not feeling well. No response at all. Then I get a call that morning the driver is there to pick me up. I told him I sent the message on WhatsApp letting them know I was unwell and he said ok just reach out to them to change to a different day. I still haven't received any response. I reached out to Viator who also tried to get in touch with them and they didn't respond to them either. Even if I'd received a simple no that they couldn't work with me on that I'd understand but zero response? Not cool. Reading through the reviews it sounds like it was for the best anyway because I'm certainly not going to drop 300-500 dollars on pictures.
seyed_f, Feb 2026
Everything was prefect
Everything!!!!
The only thing is the pictures they got from us was very expensive
For 4 pictures and 1 video they asked for $150 US
And for full package of pictures $275
But everything else was prefect
Highly recommended
Thx
jennifer_p, Feb 2026
So the experience was EXCELLENT. The time with the monkeys and the hands-on experience was well worth it. There’s a guy recording the whole time who partners with the guy taking the photos. The end was a little aggressive and that’s the only reason I didn’t give a 5 star. They took my phone, tried to leave their own 5 star review, got angry when I didn’t submit it (and they were awesome up until this point). Buying the pics and vid was also aggressive . Us and a friend separated to buy from different guys (there were about 10 of the hosts) and the prices were WILD. $150 for the video, $30 per pic and her and I ended up getting wildly different “deals” when buying that I felt swindled. I told my guy my budget was $200 and he failed to share that there was an 18% tax on credit cards despite me asking several times that the total will be no more than $200, it was an additional $40 which I thought was pretty sneaky. Experience was great, sales practices were dishonest and aggressive (my friend got a MUCH better deal, which obviously I didn’t appreciate).
Sandra_S, Feb 2026
Great experience with the monkeys!! Didn’t like the sell of very expensive photos at the end. They did allow you to take pictures of your own at the end.
Shelly_A, Feb 2026
Very interactive experience with the monkeys. Much more so than Monkeyland. You can tell the monkeys really love the handlers.
Joe_M, Feb 2026
Staff made sure everyone was involved and having a good time. The pictures were very expensive but they did a very nice job with them
Alexa_L, Feb 2026
Being a travel agent, I scoped this experience for future clients. The experience with the monkeys was great, it was overwhelming, but fun. we were offered water at the end and for almost $80/person, a water could be included. They didn't tell us it wasn't until as we were leaving. We had already given them our cash as a tip, and we're disappointed how hustled we felt. The photo/video package was between $175 - $500, which is craaaaazy. Felt like a big money grab at the end which left us feeling disappointed, mostly because they were so friendly throughout the experience until we declined purchasing the photo packages. We understand that they need fo make money to run, but the pricing was out of control. TIP: DO NOT wear white. This is not an excursion for nice clothes. You will get dirty. They feed the monkeys while they play with you. Its sticky. Its messy.
Brian_C, Feb 2026
The interactions with the monkeys were nothing short of amazing. This was our second visit and we will do it again. If you want a small group, intimate experience with monkeys this is a must do tour. Robinson was great and helped to make our experience even better.
tina_b, Feb 2026
It was amazing to see the monkeys. It was a very small group which was nice. They told us right away no phones during the first part while they explained about the monkeys and which ones you could touch and what ones you could not touch, after that we could bring our phones or cameras to take pictures while playing with them. They also take pictures of the hole experience but will charge a lot for the package... We got plenty of photos with our phones so we kindly declined to see or purchase these.
Cynthia_M, Feb 2026
The Monkeys are amazing!! We weren’t prepared for the cost of the video and pictures - and do not accept Amex.
Daniel_B, Feb 2026
Had an absolute amazing time! In my opinion worth every penny. My wife had chosen this excursion and we did not know what to expect. The monkeys are adorable and so much fun! The staff is beyond excellent! Very intimate for the interaction with the monkeys in comparison to bigger companies that do this type of excursion. Highly highley recommend!
Sarah_H, Feb 2026
My partner and I chose this over the monkey zoo to get the “included” personalized photo shoot with the monkeys. I thought the large sum of money I paid for this booking included getting the photos but nope - just included getting the photoshoot and I had to cough up another $150 to keep only 10 of the pictures (there were over 100 taken). The only time they let you take your own photos is the last session which is of course this shortest one. It was amazing to meet all the monkeys but the entire experience was basically them having you pose with the monkeys so you feel obligated to spend a crazy amount of money on photos at the end because otherwise the experience felt a little pointless.
Gena_W, Feb 2026
It was the highlight of the entire trip in DR. It's a must go. I would definitely recommend doing this as one of the excursions.
Diana_D, Feb 2026
This place is really nice but the pictures are too expensive.Monkeys are really cute .there were 4 different types and u were not aloud to pick them up only pet them.
Dynasty_G, Jan 2026
Amazing experience! The monkeys were great , photos were great ! Staff were very friendly. I would most definitely recommend if coming to Punta Cana
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Ohh!! We are so happy to read this comment with such love, thank you very much.
A hug from the whole team Monkey House Vip 🐒
Adalia_O, Jan 2026
Visiting the monkeys themselves was very cool, but as others have said, they do not allow you to take your own photos during the first half. For the second half, when everyone is sitting in essentially beanbag chairs on the ground in bad lighting, you are then allowed photos. Afterwards, they tried to charge us $400 for 30 pictures!!! We asked how much for 15 pictures and it was $275, all pictures were taken during the point where we were not allowed to take our own. Someone in my group was willing to pay the $275, until the employee said there is an 18% sales tax for cards. At this point we said forget it and left. Visiting the monkeys was a one of a kind experience, but I don’t appreciate the sales tactics
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hello Adalia!
We are happy to know that the experience with the monkeys turned out to be unforgettable and fun for your group, that is the priority, that they enjoy a unique experience.
I would like to explain again, in the first part we do guided activities and a presentation of each species, it is accompanied by a professional photography and video team, prices vary according to the number of favorite photographs.
In the second part we have a big picnic with all the monkeys and lots of fruits to play and enjoy with them freely.
We do not have bags of beans, they are individual and comfortable armchairs that are placed in the shade of a large tree for the purpose of giving them comfort and a safe place for their experience.
The photos taken in that part are usually very cute and natural.
The whole Monkey House Vip team will be waiting for you soon!
Greetings!!
Lola_S, Jan 2026
I had such a great time visiting Monkey house VIP big s/o to 💜💜💜💜 & Robinson yall made my day and made sure I had a great experience and please dont hesitate to visit I can’t wait to come back!!! Omgg
Jason_Y, Jan 2026
The experience was amazing. Lots of time to interact with the monkeys! They climb all over you and you get to pet them and feed them. The downside to this tour is that while you have great photo opportunities in the first hour, you have to keep your cameras and phones in a locker while the staff photographs you with all kinds of monkeys. There is time later where you can grab your camera or phone and interact with the monkeys at an outdoor gazebo. You will have nowhere near the same photo ops as you did in the first hour. Then they present your photos and a video to you. The photos and video look very professional, but if you want them they charge HEAVILY. $475 for the whole package of photos and video and they won't negotiate. We got a few cool photos on our phones, but we were not willing to dump that kind of money.
Justine_G, Jan 2026
This was the best experience with the monkeys, my son and I loved it expect to be dirty that is part of the experience. The guys were all very nice there. The photos at the end were a little pricey but I did buy a few. You can choose to buy just a few for a smaller price or you don’t have to buy them at all. It’s your choice although at the beginning, I did think that I wasn’t gonna make it because nobody was responding to what time the pick up time was but then somebody called me and told me they were outside. thank goodness I chose a pick up spot that was like right downstairs from my hotel. It didn’t take me but two minutes to get down there or I might’ve missed it but all in all it was a good experience would definitely recommend.
Elisha_B, Jan 2026
Monkey House was an absolutely amazing experience! It’s incredibly interactive and fun for all ages. You get plenty of time with the monkeys, including the chance to hold and feed them, which makes it truly unforgettable. The staff were attentive, knowledgeable, and fantastic, making sure everyone felt comfortable and had a great time. Highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for something unique and memorable!
Sheryl_F, Jan 2026
This was not a good experience. They take your phone away when you enter. They have you sitting on a bench where they bring monkeys to jump all over you. So they can take about 50 pictures of everyone. I got to feed a baby for 3 seconds. You didn't get to spend any time with the monkeys.Until maybe the last thirty minutes very disappointed.It's all a set up to sell pictures.Twenty dollars a piece
Marietta_C, Jan 2026
I booked this trip in May for January 2026. I received tickets in advance of the trip including that the operator would pick us up between an hour and 1/2 of the time. I received no email confirming a time of pick up. At 9:54 pm the day of prior to the trip I received a WhatsApp notification about the upcoming trip. I was asleep at that time. The following morning there were more attempts to reach me using WhatsApp as well, but I do not use WhatsApp and it wasn't installed correctly to receive calls. I keep refering to the emails I received and found nothing identifying this method of communication.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hola Marietta, lamentamos que su valoración no se base en su experiencia vivida con los monitos.
Aunque usted reservara con meses de antelación, es un día antes de su experiencia cuando le contactamos para sar detalles precisos, si se le envió varios WhatsApp es porque usted tiene la aplicación y por eso pudimos enviar los mensajes por esta vía. También nos comunicamos con usted por la plataforma de Viator.
Ojalá pueda volver a visitarnos, le estaremos esperando nuevamente todo el equipo para que disfrutede una experiencia única.
Un saludo cariñoso!
Hello Marietta, we regret that your assessment is not based on your lived experience with the monkeys.
Although you booked months in advance, it is a day before your experience when we contacted you for precise details, if you were sent several WhatsApp is because you have the application and that is why we were able to send the messages in this way. We also contact you via the Viator platform.
Hopefully you can visit us again, we will be waiting for the whole team again to enjoy a unique experience.
A loving greeting!
Amy_A, Jan 2026
We loved the whole experience. They didn't rush, gave lots of time the monkeys. Took lots of photos for us. And opportunities for us to take our own pictures so you don't have to buy theirs. That was the only downside the photos and video for sale were outrageous price, although you can do some bargaining to get price down, which we did.
Justine_M, Jan 2026
It was a nice excursion. There’s a ton of interaction with a couple different monkeys. Make sure you wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, the monkeys do poop and per on people.
Mark_W, Jan 2026
Don’t wear really nice clothes…you might get a little dirty. Monkey’s climb on you, if the bothers you…maybe not for you. Pictures and video at end..pricey. Lots of monkeys…a really fun time.
Kelley_W, Jan 2026
The monkeys were cool but you learn NOTHING about them. We watched a couple of the monkeys start to fight and one actually bite one of the workers friend who was then told to leave. It was unsafe with NO precautions made for the customers. One of the other members of my group was bite by one of the birds and just brushed off. My friend that was with me who was afraid and told the employee that she DIDNT want the monkeys on her was told by an employee NOT TO SAY NO! As he was putting monkeys on her. I asked for a partial refund and was denied. Unfortunately when we returned to our resort and asked about the Monkeys, we couldn’t with a clear consequences let a family with kids go there without knowing what we encountered. Definitely don’t feel it was safe definitely not to children.
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per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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