The largest city on the peninsula, located approximately 210 km east of Puerto Plata, is called Santa Bárbara de Samaná, or Samana, for short, and is a port town that overlooks the country's largest bay, Bahia de Samana. The town was destroyed by fire in 1946 but was rebuilt to include a few large resorts, hotels, bars and restaurants. The majority of Samana's visitors come for the amazing Humback whale-watching excursions. During January through March, about ten thousand of these amazing creatures return to this area from the North Atlantic, to nurse their young and mate. Boat excursions from the town's port take groups just outside the bay to witness these incredible creatures frolic in the sea. National and international efforts have been undertaken to protect these incredible mammals in the warm waters of the Dominican Republic. Other excursions in Samana include walking the Bridge To Nowhere; a visit to Cayo Levantado , or 'Bacardi Island' - the island used in the famous 1970's Bacardi rum commercials; or to Playa Rincón, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.