Saona Island day trip from Punta Cana: our experience

As we mentioned in our article about our stay in Punta Cana, there’s no shortage of day trips… And since we were feeling a little “trapped” in our hotel, we were itching to get out! We opted for the most famous of them all: Saona Island, in the Dominican Republic. A natural pool full of starfish, postcard-perfect beaches, grilled lobster… but also a rather too chatty guide. Here’s our honest account of the day, along with all the practical information you need to plan yours: how to get there, how much it costs and when to go.

Saona Island at a glance

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Our Saona Island day trip

We’re meeting in front of the hotel at 9 am. The coach is waiting for us, then we stop at a second hotel to pick up other travellers. The guide explains how the day will go, then tells us we’ll be stopping at a shop selling lots of local products… So here we are in “compulsory-tourist-trap-stop” mode. We browse anyway and, oh dear, I fall for it and buy a larimar necklace, the local stone.

At around 10.30 am, we reach the jetty, where we board a speedboat.

We’ve barely set off and we’re already taking 50 photos a minute.

It’s stunning: the shades of blue, the boats… For our first stop, here we are in a natural pool: WOW, the water is crystal clear, the starfish are gigantic and we’re served a little cocktail in the water, or “la vitamina” as they call it here! (Read: rum 😀) We’re happy!

At lunchtime, we land on Saona Island. To be honest, we hadn’t even noticed we’d left the coast… Before lunch, we take a tour of the island: little houses, local life. There used to be no electricity here, until a telephone company donated solar panels to the island. Everything seems authentic at first, but the more the guide talks, the more his speech “bothers” us. He keeps insisting that the people here have nothing, that they have to climb a tree to make a phone call because it’s the only place with signal, that they built a gym with whatever they had, and so on and so forth. Honestly, after a while we’re fed up with his speech, and our feeling of authenticity is long gone. It sounds like a speech he’s repeated countless times. Meh.

The island isn’t exactly deserted: we’re not the only tourists. Time to refuel, and at 1 pm we sit down at the restaurant, where there are only tourists… On the menu: grilled lobster. It was good, but nothing special. No, I’m not being fussy! But they were rather lukewarm, and the side dishes were on the small side…

It’s also a chance to chat with the other holidaymakers, since we can’t really talk to the locals… Some come here every year, others are on their honeymoon. After a well-deserved break to let lunch settle, you can go for a dip if you like. I must admit that with a full stomach and the sun at its peak, I’m not feeling my best and don’t really enjoy the moment. Despite the heat and my head spinning, I keep taking 50 photos a minute… We are, after all, surrounded by incredible postcard scenery.

It’s 4 pm when we head back to the little port. This time the crossing is a peaceful one, by catamaran…

Saona Island day trip: our verdict

At almost US$300 for two for the day (that was in 2015, booked through our hotel), it’s fair to say it made a “small” dent in the budget. On the other hand, we felt it was the best value of all the excursions in terms of what was included and how long it lasted… Admittedly, if you want to discover local life, you’ll have to look elsewhere! But the scenery is truly magnificent! Despite the other tourists once we’d landed, we very often felt like we had the place to ourselves. We never once regretted our choice of excursion.

Practical tips for visiting Saona Island

Still on the fence? Here’s everything you need to know to plan your day on Saona Island… and avoid a few of the traps we fell into!

How to get to Saona Island

Saona Island lies off the south-east coast, within Cotubanamá National Park. Almost all the boats leave from Bayahibe, a small fishing village that has become the departure point for excursions.

• From Punta Cana or Bávaro: most excursions include a coach transfer from your hotel; allow around an hour’s drive to Bayahibe. That’s what we did during our stay in Punta Cana.
• From Bayahibe or La Romana: you’re as close as it gets, excursions are slightly cheaper and the journey is much shorter.

How much does a Saona Island excursion cost?

For a group excursion from Punta Cana, expect to pay between US$80 and 130 per person today, including transfers, boat, lunch and drinks. From Bayahibe, prices are more like US$60 to 80. Private or small-group excursions cost considerably more.

As for us, we booked directly through the hotel. It’s convenient: they pick you up at the door and you don’t have to organise anything. But do compare prices, as the same excursions are often cheaper online or through local agencies. For example, you can book this full-day Saona Island excursion from Punta Cana.

Catamaran or speedboat?

The classic option combines both, as in our case: a speedboat on the way out (around thirty minutes – it’s bumpy and you’ll get a bit wet!) and a catamaran on the way back, slower but so much more relaxing, with music and free-flowing rum. Some excursions are catamaran only, in which case the crossing takes 45 minutes to an hour.

The natural pool and its starfish

This is THE highlight of the day. The boat stops in the open sea, on a sandbank where the water only comes up to your waist. The water is crystal clear and there are starfish everywhere. An important reminder: admire them, but don’t take them out of the water, as they don’t survive long in the open air.

When is the best time to visit Saona Island?

The best time is from December to April: it’s the dry season, and the sea is generally calm. It’s also high season, so the beaches are busier. Hurricane season runs from June to November, and in some years sargassum seaweed can wash up on the beaches in spring and summer.

What to bring for the day

• Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses: the sun is fierce, as we found out after lunch…
• Swimsuit already on, a towel and flip-flops or water shoes
• A waterproof bag for your phone, especially on the speedboat
• Some cash for drinks that aren’t included and for souvenirs
• Your passport or ID, which is sometimes requested at boarding

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Have you been to Saona Island? Does it tempt you? Tell us all about it!

Saona Island FAQ