Saona Island Full-Day Tour

Escape to the most photographed island in the Caribbean on this iconic full-day excursion from Punta Cana. Saona Island sits inside Cotubanamá National Park (Parque Nacional del Este) - a protected nature reserve where towering coconut palms lean over powdery white sand and the sea shifts through every shade of turquoise imaginable.

This is the postcard image of the Dominican Republic - and the experience that nearly every visitor remembers as the highlight of their trip.

Your day in paradise

Early morning hotel pickup takes you through the sugar cane country to the fishing village of Bayahibe, where your boats are waiting at the marina. From here you’ll head out across the Caribbean - one direction by catamaran with music, dancing and an open bar, the other by speedboat for a thrilling skim across the waves.

Halfway across the channel, the boat anchors at the famous Piscina Natural - a natural sandbar in the open sea where the water is waist-deep, crystal-clear and home to wild starfish resting on the white sand below. It’s one of those places that doesn’t quite look real until you’re standing in it.

On Saona itself, you’ll have several hours to swim, snorkel, walk the endless palm-lined beach, or simply lie under a palapa with a cold drink. Lunch is a generous Dominican buffet served right on the beach - grilled chicken, fresh fish, rice and beans, tropical fruit, plenty of salads. The open bar runs all day with rum, beer, soft drinks and water.

Why this tour is the classic

For over twenty years Saona has been the signature day trip of the Dominican Republic, and for good reason. You get three completely different experiences in one day - the high-energy catamaran party, the heart-stopping speedboat ride, and a few hours of utterly peaceful island time on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.

Wildlife sightings along the way are frequent - sea turtles, manatees, pelicans, and occasionally dolphins escorting the boats. The waters are sheltered inside the national park, so the sea is almost always calm.

What’s included

Round-trip transportation from your Punta Cana hotel, both catamaran and speedboat journeys, the Natural Pool stop, full Dominican buffet lunch on Saona, open bar throughout the day, national park fees, and bilingual guide.

Bring sunscreen (reef-safe please), a swimsuit, towel, and a waterproof phone case for the boat photos. The day starts early - pickups are between 7:00 and 7:30 AM - and finishes around 5:30 PM.