saona island excursion reviews

Saona Island

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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SAONA ISLAND: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Saona Island Day Trip From Punta Cana with Lunch and Open Bar Included (From $126.48)
• Saona Island Paradise From Punta Cana (From $132.97)
• Saona Island Excursion by Catamaran and Speedboat (From $154.05)
• From Punta Cana: Saona Island & Altos de Chavon Day Trip with Lunch and Open Bar (From $160.54)
• Full-Day Excursion in Saona Island (From $103.78)
• (6.65 km) Casa Rural el Paraiso de Saona
• (6.79 km) Casa Rosada Beach Front
• (6.65 km) Saona Beach House
• (6.48 km) Saona Lodge
• (6.43 km) Habitación Superior con Climatización

Saona Island Tours and Excursions

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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Saona Island Tours and Excursions - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Table of Contents

Probably my favorite day in the Dominican Republic was when I did the excursion to the beautiful Saona Island. If you’re planning your Dominican Republic trip, check out this guide to see more information on the island and how to book your trip.

When I was backpacking the Dominican Republic , I made sure to spend a day exploring the island of Saona. I would highly recommend for anyone to do this trip!

What is Saona Island?

Saona Island is a beautiful island off the coast of the Dominican Republic. It is a protected area, so you can enjoy unspoiled beaches and miles of palm tree jungle. It’s a peaceful gateway for any kind of beachgoer and provides great snorkeling spots.

Where is Saona Island?

The island is located to the south of the country, between La Romana and Punta Cana. The best way to reach the island is by taking a tour from Punta Cana or even from Santo Domingo directly, since it includes transfer from your hotel to the port, the boat ride, food, and the way back.

Alternatively, you can try to make your way to the port yourself in Bayahibe, but you will still have to join an excursion in order to visit the island.

How much does the Saona Island tour cost?

I strongly recommend booking online a few days in advance so that you receive a confirmation and a cheaper price. I hadn’t booked in advance, so I ended up paying a bit more because I found a tour office in the city center. Expect to pay anywhere between $60 to $90 if you’re leaving from Punta Cana. Anything else is a scam. The trip from Santo Domingo is slightly more expensive because it’s farther.

The Catamaran ride

First, your transfer will drop you off in Bayahibe, where you will be placed onto various Catamaran boats. The boat ride lasts about 90 minutes and is on the open water, so be sure and wear sunscreen! I enjoyed getting my tan on in the front of the boat but there are some shaded areas.

On the boat, there will be salsa music playing and an open bar. After a few drinks, some of our fellow guests started dancing and it turned into a party.

There are also local guides who will go around the boat taking your picture. The guy I had was great, and also took amazing photos of me once we reached the island. I had fun posing for on the boat and in the sand, but the photos are very very expensive, so just be aware!

During this day trip, you’ll first take a transfer to the port, where you’ll have an open bar on a catamaran boat, filled with salsa music. There are several photographers onboard who took some amazing, albeit expensive photos both on the boat and on the island.

Isla Saona visit + buffet

When you get to the island you will be amazed at the insanely blue color of the sea and pristine white beaches! The island is a hidden little paradise, and you can spend your time wandering around, snorkeling, or basking in the sun on a lounge chair. There is still the open bar with basic drinks, or you can pay a little bit extra to enjoy a piña colada on the beach.

While on the island, you will also be treated to a traditional Dominican lunch- buffet style. They have some local dishes as well as some classic favorites for the picky eaters. The food was delicious!

Natural pool

After a few hours on the island, you’ll make a pit stop on the way back at a natural pool. The water there is a crystal clear blue. It’s really as clear as a manmade pool! There are many starfish who live there, but please do as the guides say and don’t touch them!! We want to preserve their natural habitat. You will spend a short amount of time there before heading back to conclude the day at the port.

Way back to shore

The ride back was in a smaller motor boat. It takes way less time, but a lot less fun! My friend had brought a speaker though so we had fun blaring music that everyone could dance and sing along to. The ride took maybe 20-30 minutes, and then we reached the shore, tipped our guides, and were taken to our transfer vans to bring us back to our hotel for the day.

Is Saona Island worth it?

Honestly, I think this day in Saona Island was my favorite day of the trip so I would definitely say it was worth it! The island is so beautiful and preserved, and I felt that I was in those Caribbean calendars that are hung in the office every year. The transportation alone would have made the price worth it, but it also included food AND drinks? What more could you ask for??

Solo traveler, budget backpacker, masters student, and small town Texas girl now gone global

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The Comments

Hi Jori! I’ll be visiting the Dominican Republic in March with some friends and we want to visit Saona Island. I was wondering which tour operator did you used? There are so many and really don’t know where to book.

Hi Gabriela! I strongly recommend this tour , since everything is included and it has hundreds of reviews! If you book once you’re there they will try to way overcharge you!

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Saona Island

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

SAONA ISLAND: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Saona Island Day Trip From Punta Cana with Lunch and Open Bar Included (From £61.89)
• Saona Island Paradise From Punta Cana (From £65.06)
• Saona Island Excursion by Catamaran and Speedboat (From £75.38)
• From Punta Cana: Saona Island & Altos de Chavon Day Trip with Lunch and Open Bar (From £78.55)
• Full-Day Excursion in Saona Island (From £50.78)
• (4.16 mi) Casa Rural el Paraiso de Saona
• (4.25 mi) Casa Rosada Beach Front
• (4.16 mi) Saona Beach House
• (4.05 mi) Saona Lodge
• (4.02 mi) Habitación Superior con Climatización

Saona Island

Price & Hours

• Food Scene 2.0
• Atmosphere 4.0

U.S. News Insider Tip: If you'd like to reach the island on your own, there is a public ferry once a day from Bayahibe to Mano Juan, the only village on the otherwise uninhabited island with basic accommodation options. – Christian Jannasch

Saona Island makes for a picture-perfect day trip from Punta Cana. Turquoise water, white sand beaches and natural beauty draw visitors to this island located off the Dominican Republic's southern coast. It is the Dominican Republic's main tourist attraction, but this doesn't impact the incredible paradisiacal setting you will find here. Previous visitors praised the island's pristine beaches and appreciated their cleanliness.

The entire island is part of a government-protected nature reserve called the Cotubanamá National Park. The park, which also encompasses some area on the mainland, boasts 500 species of flowers and nearly 300 species of birds. Wildlife also abounds in the surrounding ocean, and visitors may come face to face with sea turtles while swimming or scuba diving in the numerous reefs that encompass the island.

Most travelers venture to Saona Island by catamaran, which takes about 90 minutes to two hours, or by speedboat, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Stops in between, for example at the natural swimming pool, will extend the time accordingly. The cost of the boat ride varies depending on which tour group you book through. There are some restaurants, mostly beach clubs managed by tour operators, on the island, but many formal tours to the island also include meals for participants. Amstar and Viator provide popular tour options. For tours from Punta Cana to Saona Island, expect to pay at least $65 (which covers transfers, boat rides, national park fees, drinks and lunch) per adult. Smaller group tours or VIP premium tours start at about $150 per person.

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#1 Punta Cana Beaches

No trip to Punta Cana would be complete without some time spent on its gorgeous beaches. Playa Bávaro (Bavaro Beach) is one of the most popular shorelines in Punta Cana, with its powdery sands, swaying palm trees, blue waters and bevy of amenities, including water sports rentals, dining options and nearby accommodations. Visitors will find this beautiful (but busy) beach stretching for 12 miles between Macao and Cabeza de Toro, but keep in mind that there are just four public access points (at Corales, El Cortecito, Jellyfish and Bibijagua).

Bavaro Beach has several subsections that all have their own name. However, they are all connected and you can explore them walking consecutively. El Cortecito and Corales are two of these stretches and are very convenient as they abut the Bávaro-Punta Cana downtown district of restaurants, grocery stores, gift shops and more. Arena Gorda is the next beach, northwest of El Cortecito, and its wide sands and shallow waters make it a favored spot among families with young kids in tow. Others say it's a wonderful place for a long walk. Keep in mind that much of the beach is backed by large resorts, hence the only public access point to Arena Gorda is through El Cortecito.

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Saona Island Day Trip From Punta Cana with Lunch and Open Bar Included

• Children 3-11

Welcome to our Saona Island Excursion, the ultimate tropical getaway in the Dominican Republic. With crystal clear turquoise waters and white sandy beaches lined with palm trees, Saona Island is a true paradise that has been impressing visitors for over 500 years. On this full-day excursion, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the island’s natural beauty and indulge in a variety of activities such as swimming, and lounging on the beach. You’ll also enjoy a traditional Dominican BBQ lunch served buffet style and have the chance to dance the merengue.

English, Espanol, Multilingual

Included/Excluded

• Bilingual guides: Our knowledgeable and friendly guides will ensure that you have a smooth and enjoyable experience on the tour. They will provide information about the island and its history, as well as answer any questions you may have.
• Roundtrip transportation: Convenient round-trip transportation from your Punta Cana resort is included in the tour price. This means that you won't have to worry about getting to and from the island – we'll take care of all the details.
• Catamaran and speedboat trip: On this excursion, you'll have the opportunity to travel to and from Saona Island on a catamaran or speedboat. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea and the natural pool as you journey to the island.
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages: Refreshments are included in the tour price, so you can enjoy a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during your time on the island.
• BBQ Lunch: A delicious BBQ lunch served buffet style is included in the tour price. Indulge in a variety of tasty dishes and fuel up for your day on the island.

Tour Itinerary

Description, reasons to visit saona island:, tour highlights.

• Stop at the Natural Pool, a crystal clear sand bar.
• Enjoy a traditional Dominican buffet-style lunch.
• Return the mainland in a speedboat or catamaran.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer transportation for from hotel/rental, how much does it cost to go to saona island, how long does it take to get from punta cana to saona island, why is saona island so popular, questions, or group options contact us below, don't just take our word for it, our clients love working with us, just read what they have to say.

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Saona Island

$ 90.00 $ 85.00

The Caribbean Sea, waist-deep sandbar, savory buffet, catamaran, speed boat, Latin music, Sun, Sand and Palm Trees. Sound interesting? Come with us to Saona Island to live the unforgettable experience. Last call at the Tiki Bar! You coming?

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Here’s What You Get

We’re taking YOU to the Super-Star of off-shore islands in the Dominican Republic. Think Sun, Sand, Booze, Boats and Bikinis! You can thank us later but for now let us tell you about the ridiculously beautiful Saona Island… The first tourist boat to dock at Saona was Christopher Columbus in 1494 and Saona has not ceased to amaze visitors for the last 500+ years!

What’s so amazing about Isla Saona? A good question deserves several good answers:

• This is a real island mon! We’re talking about 110 sq kilometers. Saona is not a tiny off-shore key. The beach stretches as far as the eye can see.
• Is turquoise, transparent ocean water your thing? We hope! Take a Selfie because ocean water this color is found at few places on earth.
• Seriously, white sand AND palm trees? Yes, it’s a killer combination. The quintessential Caribbean island deserves the quintessential Caribbean scenery; ivory sands lined with rows of swaying palms.

You may be saying: “Ok I get it, Saona is beautiful but why should I spend money to visit?” An excellent question deserves several excellent responses:

• We’ll hit the Caribbean Sea on a speedboat and slowly cruise you back to the mainland on a spacious catamaran. Oh, there’s also music, animation and open bar. This is the Caribbean Sea folks. How many opportunities will you have to sail the Caribbean Sea?
• It’s an All-inclusive, Full-Day, outing and you need some time away from your Punta Cana resort. You get the boat, the open bar and the food. Oh and we pick you up and drop you off at your lobby. That was easy!
• The natural pool is so stunning it’s not really fair. So, we kinda take you to a sandbar, far from the coast with clear, waist deep water. We give you rum and you may find a starfish or two at your feet. We hope this sounds ok to you…
• The time on Saona island is priceless. Visit the Tiki Bar, dance merengue, visit the Tiki Bar, play volleyball, visit the Tiki Bar, walk the beach, visit the Tiki Bar, hit the buffet.

It’s your vacation to Punta Cana and you may only have ONE opportunity to do this the right way. Go with the pros to Saona!

Isla Saona is the #1 demanded excursion in Punta Cana so Book now to ensure your spot.

The Sun the Sand and a Drink in Your hand!

Join us for our Classic Experience to the Dominican Republic’s famous off-shore oasis – Saona island.

What’s Included

• Round trip transport
• Professional guide
• Speed boat and catamaran to Isla Saona
• BBQ, buffet lunch

What to Bring

• Beach clothing
• Bathing suit

44 reviews for Saona Island

Mac (verified purchase) – January 14, 2024

Excellent service with local collection points, good connection to boats and a very good day out. My only criticism would be the beach vendors, but this is not really the companies fault so I would not drop the rating because of it

Wendy (verified purchase) – December 26, 2023

This was a fantastic cruise! I highly recommend it! The staff are awesome, the transportation to and from your hotel is nice (our van had A/C!!😁) and the lunch on the beach was delicious, fantastic, awesome!!!…

Linda (verified purchase) – September 4, 2023

Had a great time on this excursion!! Max was our tour guide . He was very informative and made us feel secure with the locals and what we would be doing. Playing in the ocean on the sandbars, drinking rum and coke, and jetting along on a fast boat to a catamaran party. Couldn’t have had a better time. The lunch on the island was very good but the restrooms were a little scary. Make sure u bring towels and plenty of sun screen! This tour was exactly what we wanted it to be. Spending the beautiful day on the water. We even had our own pirate along for the ride.

Troy (verified purchase) – August 6, 2023

Our tour to Saona Island was great. Punta Cana Tours did a great job making sure we had a good time. The tour operated pretty close to on time but you are in the Caribbean and everything runs a little slower here. LOL Our tour guid Ramond or Raymond was great. He spoke 4 languages and gave information very clearly so you knew what you were supposed to do and where to go.

Now to the good stuff. The bus ride was an hour through some pretty countryside on a nice bus with AC. Once you get to the drop off location where you get on the boat its time to go to the island. There is one stop along the way where you can get in waist deep tropical water and have some drinks. All provided and not watered down like I was expecting. Then back on the boat and on to the BEAUTIFUL Saona Island. Words can’t describe it. Palm tree lined seashore with white sand beaches and tropical aqua blue water. Plus they feed you and furnish all the drinks you want. Overall this trip is a MUST DO if you’re in the Dominican Republic. And Punta Cana Tours should be the tour company to take you there!

Andrew (verified purchase) – May 24, 2023

This is truly an exceptional company. It is not often you find a company with this level of customer service. A very special thank you to Garry for going above and beyond, even after hours, to make sure all of excursions and transportation needs went flawlessly. We will definitely be back many more times. As for Isla Saona, it really is like being placed inside of a post card. All of the guides made sure that we were not only safe at all times, they went out of their way to ensure we had to best time. Thank you all for making our wedding trip special for all of us.

Bruno (verified purchase) – May 17, 2023

I just come back from a 5 day vacation , Me and my wife did two attractions with Punta Cana Tours and all I get to say is that was perfect , Speed boat with snorkeling and snuba was amazing and then next day we went to isla saona which was excellent . I recommend to everyone . They picked us up at the right time in our resort ,no complaint at all. Thanks Punta Cana Tours.

Kye (verified purchase) – May 14, 2023

Isla Saona is one of the most beautiful beaches we saw near Punta Cana, specially when we stayed inland. The water, sand, view, natural pool were the highlights of this excursion but it could have been organized a little better. The food and drinks were ok. All in all its worth it just for the transportation and beauty itself. Tip: Carry your own beach towel. A lot of sunscreen, sun glasses and snack food.

Valentin (verified purchase) – May 3, 2023

We had a great time! Its a long day on the bus. But well worth it. Nice tour ended at Saona Island for eats and a big party! We would go back!

Brian (verified purchase) – April 26, 2023

When vacationing in a foreign place it’s always the best when you hook up with a tour group that shows you the real side of the country. I give two thumbs and two toes up for this trip. It could not have been done any better with the beautiful beaches, great barbeque and dancing. The laid back side of life is a beautiful thing. Brian S

Mazikee (verified purchase) – April 2, 2023

The island of Saona is beautiful and we loved the whole experience on the catamaran. The crew were all friendly and you could tell they totally enjoyed their job. The food was good and honestly the massage (for additional fee) was one of the best I’ve ever had. It was by far our favorite day in DR. Only downside, it wasn’t clear from the website details that we would be on a bus for almost 3 hours going to the port to leave. I would definitely recommend this excursion!

Abbigail (verified purchase) – March 15, 2023

Excellent service, very punctual, great environment, great food. The natural pool and Saona Island are two of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Sandro, the tour guide was FANTASTIC, very charming, friendly, and makes sure everybody understands. (He gives the tour in Spanish, English and French). I would highly recommend Punta Cana Tours and will likely book another trip next year when I plan to take my entire family to the Dominican Republic for my wedding!.

Nate (verified purchase) – February 28, 2023

We also used This company for a trip to Saona Island and we used them for our Airport Transportation. The Saona Island trip was beautiful I only wish we had more time to chill on the Island. The drive to and from the airport were good my one gripe is to find my driver At the airport you need to push through a sea of quick talking taxi drivers all of which try to confuse you so you buy a ride with them instead of taking the trip you already paid for. Overall I rate the company 4 out of 5 stars for one hiccup on our first excursion.

Enola (verified purchase) – January 19, 2023

Great day trip to Saona Island! I was in Punta Cana with my boyfriend for the weekend and was so glad we took a day trip to Saona Island! We were picked up early in the morning from our resort and it was about an hour’s drive to the beach where we’d get on the boat (which is good, because we had time to sleep). We took a catamaran there and really enjoyed it. There was dance music, unlimited rum & coke, “paparazzi” staff to take our pictures, and lots of time to relax and get a tan. When we got to the beach, they gave us an AMAZING barbecue lunch, consisting of grilled pork chops, BBQ chicken, seafood spaghetti, potato salad, seasoned rice, and a bunch of other sides and fruits. The rest of the time I spent napping and swimming on the beach with my boyfriend. I didn’t time it but we had a good amount of time on the beach. The sand there is white, clean, and really lovely. After the beach, we got on a speedboat and got out to a flat pool to swim and take pictures with star fish for maybe half an hour. And again we went out to a deeper location so they could throw fish food out of the boat and we could snorkel and look at the schools of fish. After that, they offered to sell us back the “paparazzi” photos they took of us ($40, why not?) which came with photos of you, stock photos of Samoa, and the music they were playing on the catamaran. Overall, it was a super fun experience and I loved it. I want to emphasize that the staff are really fun-loving and the good vibes are infectious! They really do keep you entertained.

Richelle (verified purchase) – December 4, 2022

I would caution families on the Saona Island Trip. The island is beautiful, but just be prepared for a long day- about 5 hours round trip transfer time to and from the boats (which included changing shuttles at a gas station). There are LOTS of locals selling things at the boarding point and on the island, take money (or be prepared to say no a lot 😉). There was a photographer that took a lot of pictures of our family in the water- also for a high cost (but you can really get them down in price!) I’m not sure if we would do this again with kids- it was about a 13 hour day. We do HIGHLY recommend Punta Cana Tours for transfers and excursions and would definitely use them again!

Everly (verified purchase) – December 1, 2022

The waters around Saona Island are crystal clear and probably some of the prettiest turquoise waters you will ever see. The beaches were super nice, the palm trees made you feel like you were in the south Pacific, and the lunch was good. The catamaran out was entertaining and speedboat back was a nice change of pace. It was a great place to visit while we were in Punta Cana and I would highly recommend a visit to Saona Island if you get the chance.

Jared (verified purchase) – November 9, 2022

I arrived with my wife in Punta Cana this year for our vacation. I was promptly greeted by our driver who was very friendly, professional and courteous. The ride to our hotel was nice, and the van was clean, and well maintained. During the week, we also used Punta Cana tours to book a tour at Isla Saona. We had a great time! I’d highly recommend Caribbean Dream and their staff. I travel a lot, and rarely am I treated with such professionalism. Thanks for a great trip, Jared

Jayda (verified purchase) – November 3, 2022

The island was very beautiful, the ocean had far less seaweed that our resort beach, Bavaro, so we were pleased. The buffet brunch was very plentiful and good. The staff were friendly and we felt comfortable following them all day from bus to boat to island to boat to bus! My only negative remark would be the bus commute time. From our resort to the dock to board the speedboat was 3 hours. The return bus ride was half of that time, 1 1/2 hours. There were also two stops along the way that did not look like passenger pick ups.

Bruno (verified purchase) – October 4, 2022

Jones (verified purchase) – September 28, 2022

I send an email asking few question about a tour, my surprise was to have an answer from them super fast. I booked the tour, the picked me up in the time they told. Not even 5 or 10 minutes like I’m used to (in DR they have a saying “Hora Dominicana” which is 1/2 or 1hr after the time is set up) . The tour to Saona was OUTSTANDING! The guide was explaining all the way about the city and the culture. Isla Saona is a paradise, great food and good animation team. Im already making plans to book more tours. Gracias, I had a BLAST!

Leon (verified purchase) – September 19, 2022

Fun, Fabulous, Lots for the Price! A four hour boat trip, with snorkeling, island swimming, a ton of fresh grilled chicken, fish, and sandwiches, open bar, dancing and the most accommodating staff! Lots of fun!! A must do in Punta. Cana!

Tanner (verified purchase) – September 9, 2022

Catamaran ride to Isla Saona was the most memorable experience of our DR 2022 trip. The excursions with our hotel were pricey so I found this offer online for a much better price. The bus picks you up at the hotel and takes you to the catamaran where girls with rum and coke were already waiting for us. Everybody on the boat had a lot of fun dancing to the rhythm of latin music. The island itself is the prettiest place that I have ever been to, surrounded with palm trees, white sand and butterflies. As soon as we arrived to the island, buffet was open. On the way back we stopped by the natural pool where we took pictures with the star fish. Thank you for the great time!

Katie (verified purchase) – August 25, 2022

We went to Saona Island with my family on 8/16 and we had the best experience ever. The ride from the Resort to the boat was smooth. We had a funny guide who kept us entertained. He spoke English very well which made it easier for us understand each other. It was a long day but was worth it. The speed boat ride, the Cataraman, party boat was really fun. We enjoyed ourselves. Thanks to the team at Punta Cana Tours. Next time we come to Punta Cana we will surely use you again. Thanks again!

Allison (verified purchase) – July 12, 2022

We booked the Saona Island excursion. The actual island experience itself was wonderful. The shuttle was late in coming to get us (which we found out later was not the fault of the tour company but a large group of guests who only showed up partially on time). There were some children on our excursion that were very loud and energetic on the bus; our tour guide was great in joking around about the noisy kids. We took the speedboat to the island, stopping at the natural pool to swim and take pictures with starfish, then relaxed at the island, ate lunch, and took the catamaran back. Other reviews mention the vendors approaching them at the island and made it seem as though they were very aggressive and wouldn’t leave you alone. I found that a firm but pleasant ‘no thank you’ for any venders ended any persuading they tried. Any of the vendors the whole week we were there weren’t loud or obnoxious, they would simply try to show you their wares but were really good about backing down when you said no. Overall we really enjoyed the trip; it was worth the long ride from our resort in Punta Cana. The island was beautiful, all of the employees and our tour guide were friendly and really made the trip fun. I’d recommend it for anybody looking into day excursions from the resorts!

Amber (verified purchase) – July 3, 2022

We used PuntaCana Tours for our hotel transfers and the excursion to Isla Saona, they were the best and most professional tour provider we have ever come across thank you again!

Kennedi (verified purchase) – June 20, 2022

We booked our tour with Punta Cana Tours after reading several online reviews. We were not disappointed. Our tour guide, Emerson, got us off to a great and welcoming start and continued to keep us informed about local information and the what to expect next on the tour. After a short drive to Bayahibe we boarded a powerboat and headed to Saona Island with a short stopover to swim with the starfish. The island, beach and water were gorgeous! A nice lunch and drinks were provided. At the end of the day we boarded a large catamaran for a lively ride back, complete with rum drinks and dancers. It was a great day and our tour guide was exceptional. Long day but well worth the time and money.

Yenery (verified purchase) – June 3, 2022

I did the excursion to Saona Island and it was pretty good. I can surely say the team of Punta Cana Tours is super attentive, punctual and professional. I know a lot of DMC companies in Punta Cana, but their Customer Service is incomparable. I highly recommend them. Besides the wonderful staff, the tour was excellent, very safe, the food and drinks really good. I had a great time!! yen

Mckinley (verified purchase) – May 14, 2022

We didn’t find out until late the night before we were due to go home that our trip was going to be extended for a day due to weather back in the US. We had wanted to go to Isla Saona but did not have time during our initial trip. I immediately went online to try and book a trip to Isla Saona with an outfit. Punta Cana Tours allowed us to book at almost 9pm the day before the trip and their tour guide Max and driver Elvis were amazing! The transportation in both the van and boats were clean and safe. The trip was a beautiful way to spend our extra day. I will go again with this company in a heartbeat and recommend it to anyone wanting to experience the Dominican outside of their resort!

Angelo (verified purchase) – April 20, 2022

Had an amazing time! From the speed boat ride to the island, having pictures taken with starfish, swimming in the beautiful ocean, to the catamaran ride back, it was all extremely fun!! I would definitely recommend doing this excursion if you plan on visiting the Dominican!

Lachlan (verified purchase) – April 14, 2022

Overall the experience was very pleasant. We were picked up and greeted at our hotel promptly. Once picked up, we stopped at other nearby hotels to pick up other guests who too were going on the excursion. On our way to the dock, we stopped on the side of an intersection to switch and wait for another van.The cruise, natural pool, and the island was everything the website promised. The staff was very friendly, energetic, and professional. We would highly recommend this cruise for adults as it is not too kid friendly (a lot of alcohol, loud music, an dancing).

Diana (verified purchase) – April 5, 2022

We had the best time here. The entire crew from the bus driver to the crew on board the boats were fantastic making sure everyone was having a good time. I would recommend making your reservations with them for a very memorable experience.

Randi (verified purchase) – February 28, 2022

The Isla Saona tour, it was definitely my favorite. Picked up by shuttle, transferred to bigger bus, taken to an area where we were to get on a boat and head towards our destination. This was the clearest, most beautiful blue water I have ever seen. (They had several photographers taking candid photos throughout the trip and offered a dvd to buy at the end for both excursions). The photographs taken on the Isla Saona tour were especially great, I’ll admit. Actual time on the island was only a couple of hours, including time to eat, but it was a blast. Then we left on a catamaran where more drinking and dancing ensued. We were then shuttled right back to our hotel! If returning to this area I would definitely book through this service again!

Pauly (verified purchase) – February 20, 2022

I booked this trip on line in Feb. 2022, Saona Island Excursion, after reading all the great reviews of all the other travelers. They picked us up ( wife and I ) in our hotel lobby on time like they had promised in a new and clean vehicle with the A/C on. This was the best money spent during the week. It was a full and fun filled day, catamaran boat ride out to the Island and a nice speed boat ride back. Also great entertainment, dancing and beverages for all ages all day long. I highly recommend this trip when going to Punta Cana and for a very reasonable price you can a purchase a Caribbean Lobster on the Island…Thx. Paulv-Bos

Rosa (verified purchase) – January 28, 2022

had a wonderful time. i was worried about the tourist draw for this excursion, but you’re in punta cana, you’re already part of the tourist trap. anyway, the tour guides were amazing and so accommodating. we went to the island by a speed boat and came back in a catamaran, which i think is the best and only way to do this. also, the provided buffet lunch was probably one of the best meals i had while in punta cana. fill up on the tender chicken. definitely worth going. the only annoying part was when they tried repeatedly to sell the pictures they took of us. it would have been easier if they weren’t trying to sell all the photos as a package. they’d sell more if people can just buy individual pictures. but great trip overall

Sthephen (verified purchase) – December 4, 2021

Trip and service was great. Tour guide “Presidente Daniel” was a treat. We did the all day Sonana trip. It was beautiful but I wouldn’t recommend it for children. Many all day drinkers can’t handle their booze. Trip there and island was fine but boat ride back was full of college kids that were there for free booze and they we are mess. Maybe we just had a bad group,but it was terrible experience. Nothing against tour company but maybe cut back on the booze on the way back. My better and half can party with the best of them, but rude drunk people throwing garbage in the sea, spilling drinks and falling on everyone is a little off. Take a booze cruise for that.

Mike (verified purchase) – November 21, 2021

After a long flight, complete with delays, from Chicago, we arrive at PUJ for a much needed vacation. Going though security and immigration in the airport was a real pain. My suitcase had been gone through and a wheel on my bag was busted off. All I wanted to do was get to my hotel, and so far, this trip wasn’t starting out well. After leaving the security area, we were greeted by a nice man (I forgot his name) that was ready and waiting to take us to our hotel. There were what seemed like a sea of taxi drivers all vying for our business. I was very glad I had pre-arranged to be picked up by punta cana tours. They were courteous,very nice, and helpful as they took my wife’s and my luggage and helped us into the van. I was impressed. The van was clean, nice and comfortable and our driver was very helpful and informative on our drive to the hotel. Later that week, we also booked a tour to Isla Saona through the Again, they were fast, prompt, and very professional. The trip to Isla Saona is something not to be missed. What started off as a less than perfect trip, ended in a very enjoyable vacation. I know Punta Cana Tours and their staff, had a lot to do with it. Thanks for everything guys, Mike

Paisley W. (verified purchase) – November 7, 2021

Our trip to the Dominican Republic was terrible. The only thing that was great was how the staff as promised, helped us to make the best of it. We had all kind of problems with the hotel, good thing we had 3 days out booked with Punta Cana Tours. We went on Saona Island everything was Great, the trip to the capital city was too long but well organized and our fishing charter for the day was professionally planed. We thank you guys for your service, we will speak highly about you in Texas. Woods

Vivian (verified purchase) – November 7, 2021

While our trip was short to DR, transportation provided through Punta Cana Tours was long. We waited over 30minutes for transportation from our resort to the excursion and no contact was made from the company to notify us. Had we not stayed in the lobby a little longer, the driver would’ve came and left without us and have no regard to reach out to us. However, Isla Saona was beautiful, the transportation to and from the dock to the island was fun filled, with entertainment, drinks and a beautiful view on a speed boat and a catamaran.The food given to us during lunch on the Island was buffet style and American food but tasty! We would definitely recommend this excursion to anyone visiting DR as it is a beautiful sight and worth visiting!

Louise (verified purchase) – September 3, 2021

Unbelievable excursion. Such a fun time. Transportation and each piece of the excursion was very well managed. Crew on the boat were a BLAST. They made the sandbar bar and the snorkeling portions highly enjoyable as well. Definitely not for kids or those NOT trying to have fun!

Murphy (verified purchase) – September 3, 2021

The best day of our 2 week trip to punta cana. Beautiful beach, dancing, snorkeling, photo shoot on beach, banana boats, innertubing, eating, playing games, shopping…etc I could go on and on amazing.

Catherine (verified purchase) – August 22, 2021

A fantastic experience! Well worth going on this day-long trip. We’ve went as a family of 3 with our 4YO daughter. Punctual pick-up from the hotel. Our group counted about 15 people. After reaching our “naval departure” port we’ve been wizzed off in a speedboat which was a very fun ride. After a few moments we’ve found ourselves swimming in the natural swimming pool drinking some vitamins %-). Then had some pictures with starfishes taken and wizzed of again on the speedboat until we’ve reached Isla Saona. Beautiful beaches and postcard picturesque water!!! After lunch went back to mainland on board a catamaran! Fantastic experience! Would definitely recommend.

Maria (verified purchase) – August 13, 2021

Highly Recommended!. This excursion was absolutely worth it. I booked it with Punta Cana tours. A catamaran ride to Saona Island on the calm Caribbean sea with music and dancing, followed by lunch and a beautiful lagoon to swim in. An entire day’s trip, but lots of fun!

Saige (verified purchase) – August 3, 2021

I would like to say that I would DEFINITELY recommend Punta Cana Tours to my friends and family if they visit the Dominican Republic and choose to partake in any excursions. We had a blast on Saona Island. All of the logistics were handled appropriately and we were very pleased. At Saona Island, everything was amazing. The only thing we would have changed is that we would have preferred to take the speedboats out to the island in the morning and then ride the catamaran back in the afternoon. It would have been nice to be able to cap off the fantastic day of relaxation with a party cruise back on the catamaran as opposed to partying on the way there. Just to reiterate, I will most definitely be recommending Punta Cana Tours to any of my friends and family that choose to visit. Thanks for helping make our vacation a fantastic time!

Cyrus (verified purchase) – March 8, 2020

Isla Sona – The tour itself was good, the catamaran sailing was quite nice and relaxing although overpriced products were being sold. Once we got to the island, it was great and we had a good time being by ourselves on the beach. The food was average. Catamaran tour:- Cheaper than the Isla Sona tours and the snorkeling was probably the highlight. Don’t forget to bring in a water camera for the tour. They will hawk you pictures that cost around $40 and its not worth it. Other than that it was a memorable experience

Brandon (verified purchase) – February 20, 2018

just come back from a 5 day vacation , Me and my wife did two attractions with Punta Cana Tours and all I get to say is that was perfect , Speed boat with snorkeling and snuba was amazing and then next day we went to isla saona which was excellent . I recommend to everyone . They picked us up at the right time in our resort ,no complaint at all. Thanks punta cana tours.

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How long is the boat ride from Punta Cana to Isla Saona?

You cannot take a boat directly from Punta Cana to Saona island as the distance is too far. To reach the jump off point for Saona you must first drive to the town of Bayahibe. Normal drive time is about an hour but if you're with a group excursion, drive time can be up to 2 hours due passenger pick up at Punta Cana resorts. Once in Bayahibe there are two options to reach Saona: motorboat, which takes about 40 minutes or catamaran which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.  Unless you've chartered your own private catamaran, all Saona group excursions will include one way via motorboat and one way via catamaran.

How long is the Saona Island excursion?

Expect to be gone approximately 10 hours on a typical Saona island excursion from Punta Cana or up to 12 hours if your hotel is located in Uvero Alto, Punta Cana's northern most section. This includes round trip bus transport from the resorts, round trip boat transport to Saona and of course some island time!

You can opt for a private charter which will take only about 8 hours. And if you want to really get there quick, you can take a helicopter excursion to Saona island .

Why is Saona Island so popular?

At 100 square kilometers, Saona is a behemoth of an offshore island with miles of unobstructed tropical beach, turquoise waters and coconut palms. It really is the quintessential, tropical shoreline in the Caribbean. The motorboat and catamaran ride, to and from Saona, is just as memorable as the island itself with an unforgettable stop at the natural swimming pool - an immense sandbar of waist deep waters where music is played and drinks are served!

What is the best beach in Saona?

Saona island, located off the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, offers miles of tropical, white powdery beaches. The most popular, and the most visited for Saona excursions, is Playa los Abanicos. Also popular is Catuano Point and Playa del Gato. Playa Palmilla is mentioned a great deal but this beach is located on the mainland and not on Saona. Off Playa Palmilla is where the renowned natural swimming pool is located, a popular sandbar stop for Saona excursions.

Where do boats leave for Saona Island?

Saona island boat departures leave from the southeastern Dominican town of Bayahibe which is about an hour drive from Punta Cana. If you are on a group excursion with others, transport to Bayahibe can take up to 2 hours when factoring in other passenger pick ups.

Does anyone live on Saona Island?

Saona island is part of the Dominican Republic's Cotubanama National Park which prohibits development and inhabitants. With that said, the small fishing village of Mano Juan was the only community that existed before the national park's declaration in 1975; it was permitted to remain with development and population restrictions. Today about 500 individuals live in Mano Juan.

How long is the boat trip to Saona Island?

Saona Island is located off southeastern shores of the Dominican Republic and is only reachable by boat. The closest mainland town is Bayahibe from where there are two options to reach Saona: motorboat, which takes about 40 minutes or catamaran which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.  Unless you've chartered your own private catamaran, all Saona group excursions will include one way via motorboat and one way via catamaran.

Why go to Saona Island?

Saona island is the only offshore island relatively close to Punta Cana. The trip to Saona combines two of the most sought after activities for tourists to the Dominican Republic: getting out on a boat and spending time on the beach; preferably the island kind! And Saona itself is worth the trip, surrounding by calm Caribbean seas it is the quintessential tropical island with miles of powdery beaches, bordered lazy coconut palms and lapping turquoise waters.

Can you snorkel on Saona Island?

Typical excursions to Saona island do not include snorkeling. Although there are coral reefs just offshore from the town of Bayahibe - the jump off point for the Saona island excursion - these reefs are located in deeper waters that are more conducive to scuba diving.

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P&O Arvia Caribbean Cruise Excursion – Escape to Saona Island, Dominican Republic

For our second shore excursion on our P&O Arvia Caribbean cruise, we’d picked to do the P&O excursion to Saona Island in the Dominican Republic.

It promised a full day with all the things we’d hoped for on a day trip in the Caribbean – boat rides, snorkelling, all food and drink catered and remote island beaches – and we weren’t disappointed.

We left the ship at 8.15am and made our way to the clearly sign-posted excursion meeting point.

While we do a mixture of independent excursions and P&O’s own ‘official’ excursions on our cruises, one big benefit of the P&O ones is that it’s very clear and simple where you need to go and what you need to do.

You may pay a premium when you book an excursion with P&O, but there’s no stress or uncertainty of having to find your own way around – you simply step off the ship, follow the shore excursion signs and step straight onto a bus without any hassle at all.

The bus soon set off for Bayahibe, the departure point for the speedboat leg of the tour over to Saona Island.

The tour guide ‘Rocky’ gave an entertaining commentary over the bus tannoy during the drive, which was only about 15-minutes or so, at which point we reached a beach where we got off and boarded a speedboat.

There were just under 60 people on our excursion (which is an extremely popular one with P&O and was booked up almost immediately on being released).

We all fitted comfortably on the boat, which made its way out to sea as the morning sun heated up, with a welcome sea breeze from the speeding boat.

We followed the Dominican Republic coastline, over crystal clear blue water, until we reached the first stop on the excursion – a ‘sandbank’ that sits between the Dominican Republic coast and the island of Saona.

At this point, the water is shallow (about waist deep) and you can get out of the boat and wade / swim around in the perfectly clear water, whilst Rocky the tour guide and the boat’s crew dished out rum and other drinks (all included in the price) from a floating ‘bar’ in the sea.

If you have snorkels / masks, it’s worth bringing them (none are supplied on the excursion) as there are tropical fish, starfish and even a few stingrays (small, friendly and harmless) swimming around the boat at the sandbank.

One of the boat’s crew was a professional photographer and he was wading around, photographing people with the stunning Caribbean backdrop, for photos which you could buy from him if you wanted to do so (they were decent photos so we did buy some as they made our own amateur holiday photos look pretty lame in comparison).

After about half an hour at the sandbank, we were back on board the boat and headed for the main destination of the excursion – Saona Island.

The boat pulled up at a sandy beach, where we climbed out and were lead through a small patch of “jungle” to the main beach area on Saona.

This was our first taste of the Caribbean as you imagine it to be. The pure white sand, the clear turquoise water, the coconut trees leaning over with a bright blue sky behind.

It was the kind of place we’d dreamed of coming to when we booked the cruise – and with only a few other excursions here at the same time as us, the beach was quiet enough to find plenty of secluded places to sit in the sun and swim in the warm sea.

The photographer was back and taking pictures if you wanted them – and a very decent lunch was being prepared that was all included in the cost, along with unlimited drinks – rum, beer, coffee and soft drinks.

We helped ourselves to lunch from the buffet at one of the beach bars – chicken, pork chops, rice, spaghetti, salad – and much more to choose from, then spent the rest of the time relaxing on loungers (all provided as part of the excursion) under the coconut trees.

We had about 3-hours enjoying the peace and beauty of Saona Island before we were rounded up to head back to the boat for the final leg of the excursion.

We got back on the speedboat, which took us just offshore where a catamaran was anchored – and climbed from the speedboat onto the catamaran, which set sail back to the Dominican Republic mainland on a journey of about an hour and a half or so.

This was a more relaxed journey – with the crew dishing out plenty of rum to anyone who wanted it, music playing over the speakers and the crew encouraging passengers to get up and dance with them.

We sat looking out over the Caribbean Sea as the catamaran sailed leisurely along, watching flying fish leaping out of the sea and flying through the air next to the boat.

Eventually arriving back at Bayahibe, we climbed onto another speedboat for the short trip (2-minutes or so) back to shore, where the bus was waiting to take us back to Arvia at the La Romana cruise terminal.

The final ‘all aboard’ time on Arvia was 5.30pm and we arrived back at 5.10pm, which was a bit close for comfort for our liking.

However, as it was the P&O official excursion to Saona Island, if you do happen to be late back to the ship, the ship is guaranteed to wait for you before leaving – unlike with an independent excursion, where there’s a risk you could be left behind if you miss departure time.

Because we like to avoid the risk of that ever happening, we always leave a good few hours’ margin for error when we’re doing our own thing, so we wouldn’t have wanted to do the Saona Beach Escape excursion independently, if arrival back to the ship was so close to the departure deadline.

This excursion was a brilliant day. We felt like we’d got to experience the real Caribbean as you imagine it to be, with the stunning natural beauty of the islands, hot, sunny weather – and ample amounts of food and drink all thrown in too.

Really well worth spending the money on and it gave us a day we’ll always remember. We definitely highly recommend it.

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Excursion a la Isla Saona - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)