A full day on the Dominican Republic's most famous island — sail by catamaran and speedboat to Isla Saona, swim at the starfish natural pool, relax on white-sand beaches, and enjoy a Dominican buffet with open bar.
Duration
8–10 hours
Activity Level
Easy
Pickup
Early morning pickup
$20 USD Deposit to reserve
Pay the rest on the day of the excursion
What makes this excursion special
Visit Isla Saona, the DR's most famous beach, inside a protected national park
Sail by catamaran and ride by speedboat — two boats, two experiences
Swim at the natural pool sandbar and see native red starfish
Relax on miles of white-sand, palm-lined beach
Dominican buffet lunch served on the island
Open bar with rum, beer, and soft drinks
Round-trip hotel pickup and bilingual guide included
Isla Saona is the postcard everyone pictures when they dream of the Caribbean — powder-white sand, leaning coconut palms, and impossibly clear turquoise water. Protected inside Cotubanamá National Park, it's the most popular day trip in the Dominican Republic, and it's easy to see why.
Your day starts with hotel pickup and a scenic drive to the fishing village of Bayahibe, where you'll board your boat. You'll cruise one way aboard a sailing catamaran — music playing, drinks flowing, the open Caribbean all around you — and travel the other leg by speedboat for a faster, more exhilarating ride. Along the way you'll stop at the famous natural pool, a shallow sandbar far from shore where you can stand waist-deep in warm, crystal-clear water and spot the native red starfish resting on the seabed.
On Saona itself, the day slows down. Stretch out on the beach, swim, walk the shoreline, or simply find a palm tree and do nothing at all. A Dominican buffet lunch is served right on the island, with an open bar of rum, beer, and soft drinks to keep the good mood going. Then it's back aboard for the return trip, with one more chance to soak up the sea and sun before heading home.
It's a long, full day — and one most travelers call the highlight of their trip. Round-trip transportation, both boats, lunch, drinks, and your guide are all included, so you can simply show up and enjoy.
Everything covered in your excursion price
Pack these for the best experience
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Common questions about this excursion
Yes — round-trip transportation from your hotel to the Bayahibe departure point and back is included. Travel time is about 1–2 hours each way depending on your hotel.
Yes — a Dominican buffet lunch is served on the island, along with an open bar of rum, beer, and soft drinks.
Plan for a full day — roughly 8 to 10 hours from pickup to drop-off, and up to 12 hours from farther areas like Uvero Alto. Pickups are early in the morning.
Yes — families love Saona. Keep in mind it's a long day and the catamaran has a lively party atmosphere, so it's worth considering for very young children.
Please don't remove them from the water. The red starfish are a protected species inside the national park and cannot survive out of the water, so admire them where they rest on the seabed.
$20 USD Deposit to reserve
Pay the rest on the day of the excursion
