Saona Island Catamaran and Speedboat Day Trip Punta Cana
Overview
This shared day trip takes you from your Punta Cana or Bavaro hotel to Saona Island, the best-known beach excursion in the Dominican Republic. You cross by speedboat and catamaran, stop in the shallow natural swimming pool, spend about three hours on the island's white sand and finish with a Dominican buffet lunch. A guide looks after the group all day. It suits couples, families and friends who want a full beach day without organising any transport, and the VIP option adds lobster to lunch.
Highlights
- Speedboat and catamaran crossing to Saona Island
- Swim stop in the shallow natural pool, where starfish are often seen
- About three hours on Saona's palm-lined beaches
- Dominican buffet lunch with barbecue, salad and local dishes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from Punta Cana and Bavaro resorts
- Professional guide with the group all day
- VIP option available with lobster added to the buffet
Full Description
Saona Island in the East National Park
Saona Island lies off the southeast tip of the Dominican Republic and belongs to the East National Park (Parque Nacional del Este), a protected area of beaches, mangroves and reef. Most people searching for a Saona Island tour want the classic postcard: pale sand, coconut palms and calm turquoise water. You get exactly that, with about three hours on the island to swim, walk the shoreline, rest on a lounger or join a beach game. Is Saona Island worth visiting? For beach lovers, yes.
The best time to visit Saona Island is the dry season from December to April, when skies are clearer and the sea is calmer, although the trip runs all year. Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring sunscreen and a hat, because shade is limited on the sand. Our guide tells you about the island and points out the best stretches of beach for photos.
The natural swimming pool (Piscina Natural)
Halfway through the day the boats stop at the natural swimming pool, a wide sandbar out at sea where the water is only about waist deep and so clear that you can see the ripples in the sand below. It is the moment most guests remember, and the reason many people look for a Saona Island natural pool tour. The stop lasts around half an hour, enough to wade, float, swim and take photos with the catamaran anchored close by.
Starfish often rest on the sandy bottom here. Look at them, photograph them and leave them in the water, because lifting them out of the sea harms the animals. Bring a waterproof phone pouch, and keep small children within arm's reach as the seabed shelves in places.
The boat ride from Bayahibe: speedboat and catamaran
Your minibus or coach drives along the coast to Bayahibe, the fishing village that is the departure point for Saona Island, with a short café and shopping break on the way. From there the speedboat crosses the channel quickly and the catamaran gives the trip its relaxed mood, with music and room to move around on deck.
How do you get to Saona Island from Punta Cana? Most visitors book a day trip like this one, because it combines the road transfer, the crossing and the return in a single ticket, and the boats leave from Bayahibe rather than from the resorts. Seats on deck fill fast, so board early for the best view of the water.
Lunch on Saona Island
Lunch is a Dominican buffet served on the island: barbecued chicken and pork, rice and beans, salad and fruit. About an hour is set aside so you can eat without hurrying and then go back to the beach. Snacks are also handed out during the day. The VIP option adds lobster to the buffet, but lobster is not served between 1 March and 1 June each year, when it is protected by a closed season.
If you follow a special diet, tell us when you book so we can pass it on to the guide. Bring a bottle of water and a little cash for optional extras such as souvenirs and photos, which are not included in the booking.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickupAn early-morning pickup from hotels in Punta Cana and Bavaro; the exact time is confirmed after booking.
- Road transfer to BayahibeAbout an hour along the coast in a minibus or coach, with a short break at a roadside café.
- Speedboat and catamaran crossingBoard at Bayahibe and cross to Saona Island by speedboat and catamaran with your guide.
- Natural swimming poolAround 30 to 40 minutes of wading, swimming and photos in the shallow, clear water.
- Saona Island beach timeAbout three hours to swim, walk the shoreline, relax on a lounger or join beach games.
- Buffet lunchOne hour for a Dominican buffet with barbecue, rice, beans, salad and fruit.
- Return journeySail back to Bayahibe, then transfer to your hotel, usually in the late afternoon.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Speedboat and catamaran to Saona Island
- 30-minute stop at the largest natural swimming pool
- About 3 hours on Saona Island
- Buffet lunch with BBQ, salad and Dominican dishes
- Snacks
- Professional guide
Not included
- Tips
- Souvenir photos and DVD (available to purchase)
Not suitable for
- Pregnant travellers, because of the movement of the boats
- Wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments, because of boat boarding and soft sand
- Travellers who cannot spend a long day in the sun and on the water
Meeting point
Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in both options, from resort areas in Punta Cana and Bavaro. The first pickups start early in the morning, from around 6:30. We confirm your exact pickup time and place after booking, so keep your hotel name and room number ready and wait in the lobby ten minutes early.
Important information
- Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat
- Wear sandals or water shoes, as you step from the boat into shallow water
- Bring a little cash for tips and optional extras such as souvenir photos
- Pregnant travellers cannot take part because of the movement of the boats
- Pets and oversized luggage are not allowed on board
- The order of stops can change with the weather and sea conditions
- Lobster in the VIP option is not served from 1 March to 1 June
- Use a waterproof pouch for your phone and keep valuables to a minimum
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Saona Island day trip cost?
The price depends on the option you choose. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option, for adults and for children, once you pick your date.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes. Both options include hotel pickup and drop-off from resort areas in Punta Cana and Bavaro. We confirm the pickup time after you book.
How long is the Saona Island tour?
The whole day takes about 8 hours from pickup to drop-off, including the road transfer, the boat crossing, the swim stop, around three hours on the island and lunch.
Is the Saona Island trip suitable for children?
Yes, children are welcome and have their own reduced rate in the booking panel. Keep young children close at the natural pool and on the boats. Pregnant travellers cannot take part.
What should I wear and bring to Saona Island?
Wear swimwear under light clothes and bring a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, water shoes or sandals and some cash. A waterproof pouch protects your phone.
Can I book the Saona Island tour for today or tomorrow?
If a date shows as available in the booking panel, you can book it. Departures are early, so we recommend booking at least a day ahead to have your pickup time confirmed.
What is the difference between the options?
Both are shared tours with the same route, boats, natural pool stop and time on the island. The VIP option adds lobster to the buffet lunch. The standard option includes the regular Dominican buffet.
What is the best time to visit Saona Island?
The dry season, from December to April, usually brings the calmest sea and clearest skies. The trip also runs in other months, but rough seas can change the schedule.
Will I see starfish at the natural swimming pool?
Starfish are often seen on the sandy bottom, but sightings are never guaranteed. Please look and photograph without lifting them out of the water.
