Saona Island and Altos de Chavon Day Trip from Punta Cana

Altos de Chavón

Altos de Chavón looks like a centuries-old Mediterranean village, but it was built in the late 20th century by Dominican stonemasons and artisans, who shaped every lane, archway and lantern by hand from local coral stone. Perched on a cliff above the Chavón River near La Romana, it holds a stone church, artisan workshops, a renowned design school, a small archaeological museum and a large open-air amphitheatre.

On this tour you spend about an hour here with your guide, strolling the cobbled lanes, browsing the craft shops and stopping at the terrace for the famous view of the Chavón River winding through the jungle toward the sea. Many visitors ask whether Altos de Chavón is worth visiting on a Saona Island day trip: the combination of crafts, architecture and that river view makes it a highlight of the day.

The East National Park and the catamaran trip

Saona Island lies within the East National Park, also known as Cotubanamá National Park, a protected area of dry tropical forest, caves, reefs and beaches on the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic. Boats leave from Bayahibe, a former fishing village whose beach is the gateway to the park. Your national park entrance fee is included, so all you need to do is step aboard.

The catamaran trip offers wide views of the coast, the turquoise sea and the low green outline of Saona on the horizon. Bring a hat and sunscreen, as there is little shade on deck. The crossing gives you time to relax and enjoy the breeze, with the guide pointing out features of the national park along the way.

The Saona natural pool

Between Saona and the mainland lies a natural pool, a wide sandbank where the water is often only waist deep far out at sea. The pale sand makes the water glow an almost unreal turquoise, and starfish often rest on the bottom. It is one of the most photographed spots on any Saona Island tour.

The boat stops here for about 40 minutes so you can wade, swim and take photos. Please look at any starfish you see without lifting them out of the water. If you are planning when to go, the best time to visit Saona Island is from December to April, when the weather is driest, although the sea is warm all year.

Saona Island beach

Saona Island is the largest island off the Dominican coast, with long white beaches lined by leaning coconut palms and almost no buildings beyond a tiny fishing village. Its beaches have long been used as the image of the perfect Caribbean shore, and on a sunny day it is easy to see why.

You spend about three hours here, enough to swim, sunbathe and walk along the shore. Lunch is a barbecue buffet of typical island fare served on the beach, with soft drinks and water; a vegetarian option is available if you tell us when you book. Late in the afternoon you head back to the mainland, with a short stop at a roadside coffee and souvenir shop before the drive to Punta Cana.