Saona Island
Catamaran out, speedboat back, the natural pool and lunch on a palm-lined beach.
5.0 on Google · about $90 at the hotel desk $75 with us
- Full day, back around 6:00 PM
- Hotel pickup included
🔒 Secure payment with Stripe · Free cancellation up to 24 h before, full refund
Pay securely online. Your ticket and pickup time arrive on WhatsApp right away.
Saona is the island people picture when they think of the Caribbean: white sand, shallow turquoise water and almost no buildings. We pick you up at your hotel, drive about an hour to Bayahibe and you sail out on a catamaran with music and an open bar. You stop at the natural pool, spend a couple of hours on the beach with lunch, and ride back on a speedboat.
How the Saona day goes
- Pickup, 6:20 – 8:20 AMAir-conditioned bus from your hotel. The exact time depends on your hotel; see the table below. We confirm it on WhatsApp the day before.
- About an hour laterArrive in Bayahibe and board the catamaran. Music, Dominican rum, soft drinks and water on board.
- Natural poolA sandbank in the open sea with waist-deep water where starfish live. Look and take photos, but leave them in the water.
- Saona beachDominican buffet lunch, palm shade and a couple of hours to swim and relax on the sand.
- Back around 6:00 PMSpeedboat to Bayahibe and the bus to your hotel.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Catamaran out, speedboat back
- Open bar on board: local rum, soft drinks, water
- Dominican buffet lunch on the island
- Natural pool stop
- Guide
Not included
- Tips (optional)
- Premium and imported drinks
What to bring
- Swimsuit and towel
- Biodegradable sunscreen and a cap
- Some cash for tips or souvenirs
Good to know
- The bus waits 10 minutes at each hotel, then continues the route.
- Light rain doesn't stop the tour. If the port closes for safety, you get a new date or a full refund.
- The speedboat ride back is faster and can be bumpy on windy days.
What goes wrong on Saona tours, and what we do about it
The cheapest Saona listings on booking sites score 3.7 to 3.9 stars. Read the one-star reviews and it is almost always one of these three.
Your pickup time is on this page before you pay
Every hotel area has its time listed below. We confirm your exact time on WhatsApp the day before, and the same number answers at 6 AM on the day.
Instant answers in English or Spanish
We reply on WhatsApp in your language, before, during and after the tour. Your ticket and pickup confirmation arrive in your language too.
$75 is everything we charge
Pickup, catamaran, speedboat, open bar and lunch are in the price. We take no cash at pickup, so nobody asks you for money on the bus. Tips are your call.
Why $75 with us beats a $59 listing
Resort desks add a big commission. Booking sites sell the cheapest seat and leave you alone with whoever runs it that day. With us you have one contact from booking to drop-off.
A couple saves about $30 against the resort desk, and knows their pickup time before paying a cent.
Pickup times by area
Times for Saona, Catalina and Santo Domingo. Your exact time is confirmed on WhatsApp the day before.
| Area | Hotels | Pickup |
|---|---|---|
| Uvero Alto | Zoetry, Sivory, Excellence, Sirenis, Breathless | 6:20 – 6:45 AM |
| Macao · Arena Gorda | Dreams Onyx, Live Aqua, Nickelodeon, Royalton Chic, Hard Rock, Dreams Macao | 6:35 – 6:50 AM |
| Bávaro north | Riu, Occidental Caribe, Royalton, Majestic, Bahía Príncipe, Iberostar | 7:00 – 7:30 AM |
| Bávaro center | Ocean Blue, Princess, Vik Arena Blanca, Palladium, Impressive, Dreams Royal Beach | 7:00 – 7:55 AM |
| Bávaro south | Meliá, Lopesan (Costa Bávaro, Caoba Lagoon, Serenity Bay, Splash Cove), Barceló | 8:00 – 8:20 AM |
| Cabeza de Toro | Dreams Palm Beach, Be Live, Serenade, Catalonia, Radisson | 7:50 – 8:10 AM |
| Punta Cana | Club Med, Four Points, Westin, Tortuga Bay | 7:45 – 8:00 AM |
| Cap Cana | Sanctuary, Hyatt Ziva & Zilara, Secrets, Eden Roc, TRS, Ancora | 7:30 AM |
| Bayahibe | Dreams, Viva, Iberostar Hacienda, Hilton La Romana, Sunscape | 9:10 AM |
| La Romana | Casa de Campo, Bahía La Romana, La Estancia | 8:30 – 9:45 AM |
Photos
A note from the owner
“I’m Carlos, the owner of Excursions Punta Cana. You get answers on WhatsApp instantly, day or night. And if anything goes wrong on the day of your tour, I fix it personally, not a call center.”
Message us on WhatsAppQuestions and policies
Is Saona Island worth it?
For most visitors, yes. It's the classic Caribbean day: a catamaran ride, the natural pool with starfish and a palm-lined beach with almost no buildings. It's a long day, with about an hour by bus each way to Bayahibe, so it suits people who want one full day out rather than a short trip.
How much does the Saona tour cost?
$75 per adult and $37.50 for children 2 to 12. Children under 2 go free. The price includes hotel pickup, catamaran, speedboat, open bar and lunch.
How long is the day?
Pickup is between 6:20 and 8:20 AM depending on your hotel, and you're back around 6:00 PM.
Catamaran or speedboat?
Both. You go out on the catamaran with music and the open bar, and come back on the speedboat.
What is the natural pool?
A sandbank in the open sea with waist-deep water where starfish live. You can look and take photos, but please leave them in the water.
What is included?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, catamaran and speedboat, open bar with local drinks, Dominican buffet lunch, the natural pool stop and a guide. Tips and premium drinks are not included.
What time is pickup at my hotel?
It depends on the area; the table on this page lists every zone. We confirm your exact time on WhatsApp the day before. The bus waits 10 minutes at each hotel.
I'm not staying at a hotel. Can you pick me up?
Yes. If you're at an Airbnb or a villa, we pick you up at the entrance of the closest hotel on our route, or you meet us at our meeting point. We agree on it with you before the tour.
What should I bring?
Swimsuit, towel, biodegradable sunscreen, a cap, a dry change of clothes and some cash if you want to tip.
Is it good for kids?
Yes. Children 2 to 12 pay half price and under 2 go free. The natural pool is shallow, and families do this trip every day. The Party Boat is the only tour for adults only.
Is there seaweed on Saona?
It changes with the season and the weather. If you're worried about a specific date, message us and we'll tell you what the boats are seeing that week.
Will I get seasick?
The catamaran is smooth. The speedboat back is faster and can be bumpy on windy days. If you get seasick easily, take your usual remedy before the trip. If you're pregnant, check with your doctor and message us first.
How do I pay? Is it safe?
By card, on a secure Stripe checkout page. Stripe emails your receipt right away and your ticket arrives on WhatsApp, or by email if you don't use WhatsApp. We don't take cash at pickup.
Can I cancel or change the date?
Cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund. You can also move your date once, free, up to 24 hours before. Less than 24 hours before, there's no refund.
Is it cheaper on Viator or GetYourGuide?
Sometimes, by a few dollars. The cheapest Saona listings there are $59 to $71 and score 3.7 to 3.9 stars; missed pickups, Spanish-only guides and extra charges are the usual complaints. At $75 you know your pickup time before you pay, you get instant answers in English on WhatsApp, with the owner behind them, and the same number answers on the day of the tour.
Should I book in advance?
Yes. Buses are assigned by hotel route and fill up on weekends and holidays. Booking two or three days ahead keeps your date, and you can still cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Do you speak English?
Yes. We answer WhatsApp in English and Spanish, and your ticket and pickup confirmation arrive in your language.
Will anyone try to sell me things?
Not from us: $75 is everything we charge, and we take no cash at pickup. On the island there are independent vendors and photographers, as on any Caribbean beach. A polite no is enough.
Are there extra fees at checkout?
No. The total you see on the button is what your card is charged. Stripe emails the receipt at once.
What if it rains?
Light rain doesn't stop the tour. If the port closes for safety and the tour is cancelled on our side, you choose a new date or a full refund.
