Isla Saona is one of the most famous excursions in the Dominican Republic – but most visitors only see a small, crowded part of it.
In this updated 2026 guide, I’ll show you how you find the right tour, how you avoid the typical tourist traps and what the difference is between all those tours you see online. Having visited the island multiple times, I’ll give you an honest comparison of the best Saona Island tours from Punta Cana and give you some insider tips of how to prepare the right way for your trip, whether you’re looking for the cheapest option, fewer crowds or a more upscale experience.
If you’re coming here because you want to know how to visit Saona without the typical tourist scams and ideally off-the-beaten track, have a look at this specific Saona blogpost.
Isla Saona is part of the most exciting attractions in the area. To check out more amazing things to do in Punta Cana, continue reading here.
If you are looking for some private tours to Saona Island instead of group tours, you can check out this article.
And if you feel that Isla Saona gets visited by too many tourists, you can also check out the little sister of Saona Island, Isla Catalina.
Are you interested in further Punta Cana tours? If so, check out our comprehensive Punta Cana Excursion Guide with the most exciting 40+ activities for your vacation.
Completely UPDATED by your Punta Cana expert Chris: January 2026 (updated tour suggestions, removed helicopter option, double-checked all information, specified recommendations, added expert & insider tips, general update of the blogpost)
Quick overview: the best Isla Saona excursions
Quick solution: the best overall Saona Island tour
You don’t want to read a lot and are just looking for a recommendation of the best Isla Saona excursion from Punta Cana? Here you go: a tour that combines the best spots at Saona Island with outstanding customer service and amazing quality. It runs in small groups, which is why it is a bit more on the pricey side but usually it is worth every dollar. Check it out here*.
For cheaper Saona tours, check out the sections below or have a look at this well-rated affordable Saona excursion*.
And here you can find a shorter Saona blogpost, where I am specifically explaining how to visit Saona Island off-the-beaten-track.
The best Saona Island tours for every type of traveler
In case you are in a hurry and don’t have time to read all the details below about the different Saona Island excursions (even I promise it is worth reading 🙂 ), you can check out the following table with the best Isla Saona tours and can book them directly.
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The best catamaran cruises to Saona Island
In case you specifically want to go with a catamaran, you can check out the following tours. Those are the best catamaran cruises to Saona Island from Punta Cana and Bayahibe according to our experiences and customers’ reviews.
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However, please take care that there are different types of catamarans. Among the best catamaran cruises to Saona Island, you can find proper and spacious (sailing) catamarans, which take it slow and are perfect to enjoy the view of the coastline, a drink and some entertainment, while there are other (motorized) catamarans (so-called motomarans), which are much quicker and have the chance to bring you to places where other catamarans can’t go.
The best Saona Island tours from Bayahibe
In the table above you already see a few well-rated Saona Island tours from Bayahibe. However, sometimes it might be difficult to find the right excursion if staying in Bayahibe as most tours are catering to travelers from Punta Cana. To help you with picking the best option, you can check out the following overview with the best Saona Island tours from Bayahibe.
Standard Tour: best cheap Saona Island tour from Bayahibe*
Discovery Tour: best Saona Island tour from Bayahibe incl. Turtle Sanctuary and Mano Juan*
Premium Tour: best premium Saona Island tour from Bayahibe on a catamaran*
Private Tour: best private Saona Island tour from Bayahibe*
The cheapest Saona Island excursion from Punta Cana
Besides all the tours mentioned above – if you are only looking for the cheapest tour to Saona Island (with good reviews), you can also simply book a tour online. Check out this offer here*, perfect for those who are traveling to Punta Cana on a budget.
Where is the Isla Saona located?
Isla Saona is part of the Parque Nacional Cotubanama (formely Parque Nacional del Este) and is located on the south coast of the Dominican Republic, more or less halfway between Santo Domingo and Punta Cana in the Bayahibe area. The island is located in the southern part of the national park and is separated from the mainland by a natural channel. The distance to the other island where you can do excursions to, Isla Catalina, is approximately 15 miles. Read a full review of Isla Catalina here.
All boat trips to Saona Island start in Bayahibe, so no matter if you are coming from Santo Domingo, Punta Cana or elsewhere in the Dominican Republic, you always head to Bayahibe by land transport. Depending on the hotel you are staying at, the journey time from Punta Cana to Isla Saona is not too far, between 60 and 90 minutes (the same as from Bavaro, Macao or Uvero Alto). Further down you will find the easiest ways on how to get to Saona Island from Punta Cana.
From Santo Domingo it is a little less than 2 hours to Bayahibe, where the Saona Island excursions are starting. (check tours to Isla Saona from Santo Domingo here*)
Once in Bayahibe the journey to reach Isla Saona is between 45 (speed boat) and 90 minutes (catamaran).
Both, land transport and the trip on the ocean are already included in the typical excursions you can book for Saona Island.
In case you have a rental car, you can also travel to Bayahibe by yourself and start the excursion from there. You can check prices for rental cars from Punta Cana or Santo Domingo here*.
Details and itineraries: the best Saona Island excursions
If you want to go on an excursion to Isla Saona (from Punta Cana or elsewhere), you have different tour options. They vary in what is included, where they go (obviously all to Saona Island, but different places) and what quality you can expect. If you are interested in the best private Saona tours for 2024, continue reading here.
The standard tour to Isla Saona
Even tour descriptions might vary slightly, usually all the standard excursions to Saona Island are set up the same.
You will get picked up by a tour bus in Punta Cana right in your all-inclusive resort or guesthouse/hotel and dropped off in Bayahibe. Here you will change onto a boat and head towards Isla Saona – either on a speed boat with a stop at the natural swimming pool or with the catamaran listening to music while having drinks and dancing time.
My expert tip: if you book one of the cheaper tours to Saona (approx. 60 to 90 USD), chances are high that you pick up more people from other resorts in Punta Cana and that you do a shopping and toilet stop on the way, stretching the transfer time from Punta Cana to Bayahibe easily to over 2 hours. Come prepared or book a small group tour like the VIP tours suggested further above or below.
Don’t worry if you have a preference for one of both options, on the way back from the island in the afternoon you will get the other one you haven’t had in the morning. This means, you either go to Isla Saona by speed boat and come back by catamaran or you will start with the catamaran and have the speed boat in the afternoon.
While on the island, all Isla Saona tour companies of the standard excursion usually offer you a marvelous stretch of beach (I have been there three times with different tours and it was always amazing), a simple buffet lunch, free drinks (usually just soft drinks and rum, sometimes also beer) and time to enjoy, relax, sunbath and swim. Note that Saonas’ beaches might get full and beach conditions can vary. All the photos included here in this article were talken either on regular (and cheap) Saona excursions or during our Saona overnight adventure (see further details below).
My personal tip: if you don’t like the beach where you’re being dropped off, you’re always free to move some hundred feet to the left or to the right or explore the area on your own. Just ask your tour guide when the departure is so that you know when to be back.
You can check out some Saona Island tour options from Punta Cana here:
Expect to pay between 70 and 90 USD for Saona Island tours starting and ending in Punta Cana, some promotions are starting for as low as 60 USD per person. Don’t expect anything special on those tours service- or food-wise, the reason you’re visiting is Saona Island and the amazing scenery.
Discovery and/or premium excursions to Isla Saona
Depending on your needs, it might be a good idea to spend a little extra money on your Isla Saona tour as the standard excursion is just a basic tour. Fun (rum), sun and beach are the main ingredients here, but if you would like to cruise in style or see different parts of Saona Island, another tour might be a good idea.
The premium Isla Saona tours are more distinct with specific differences between them. Tour companies are offering the same tour as above but with better quality, for example, more professional tour guides, high-quality drinks and lobster menus. Others are doing both ways with a catamaran highlighting the chillout atmosphere of the tour. And yet others, usually I call them Discovery Tours, are just using a speed boat and doing some kind of sightseeing around Saona Island, showing you many beautiful and untouched sites the standard tours usually don’t go to, for example, El Peñon, Canto de la Playa and Mano Juan.
The tour options below are all hand-selected and are operated by some of the best Saona Excursion tour operators:
As these tours are more individual with more service and/or less crowded groups, they are more expensive as well – you should plan with around 100 to 180 USD for these options.
Especially the Saona Island excursions to Mano Juan and Canto de la Playa are highly recommendable. We have visited both places and they are a true heaven for adventurers. Tourism here is much less than on the main beaches of Isla Saona (which doesn’t mean that the regular Saona beaches are less beautiful) and everything is more peaceful and quiet. Particular Canto de la Playa, which is included in some of the Isla Saona tours, is spectacular and awe-inspiring, it is in fact one of the most pristine and beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic. Check out the following Saona Island tours (or this offer here* or this one here*) if you’d like to visit Mano Juan and Canto de la Playa.
If you’d like to know how you can visit Mano Juan and Canto de la Playa without an Isla Saona excursion, continue reading this post, you find further information below in the section “Visiting Isla Saona on your own (without an excursion)“.
VIP and private yachts for Isla Saona
If that’s not enough for you, Isla Saona still gets you covered as there are also options for the most demanding visitors. Renting a private yacht or an elegant exclusive catamaran are your choices if you would like to splurge a bit. Of course, prices vary enormously depending on the services included, but if you are interested, you can check out the following offers.
Saona Island private tour
If a group excursion is not the right Isla Saona tour for you, you can also consider a Saona Island private tour. Interestingly enough, a private excursion might not be as expensive as you think and has a couple of advantages compared to a typical Isla Saona excursion:
– you can design the itinerary according to your needs
– you can guarantee social distancing
– you can enjoy places with fewer or no tourists
– you can adjust the timetable according to your preferences
– you have more private space on the boat
– you’ll have much smaller groups – just the people from your traveling party
– the tour staff is exclusively there for you
– you can immediately ask for help in case of any problems
This is especially helpful when you are traveling with your family or with friends as a small group. You can decide the pace of your own tour, don’t have to share with strangers and get much more personal attention.
Those are just a few advantages of a private Isla Saona excursion. Check out this article for further information on Saona Island private tours.
For a particularly affordable private tour, you can also check out this special offer here*.
In case you don’t see the widget above, you can find the best private tours for Saona Island 2026 here.
Top tips for your Saona Island visit (and things you shouldn’t do!)
I often see complaints about Saona Island in our Facebook group, but mostly those are not because the tour was so bad or the island isn’t worth it, it’s more because people are expecting different things or are booking the wrong tours. To be honest, you can’t expect a lobster lunch if you’re booking the cheapest tour for 60 USD.
Therefore, to help you preparing your trip, here are my top tips for your Saona Island experience:
- Pick the right tour: don’t go with a cheap tour if you expect premium services or if you want to avoid big groups
- Read the tour description & reviews: there are party tours, discovery tours, premium tours and catamaran tours. Know the difference – or ask me!
- Prepare for a long day: it’s quite a ride to Saona – don’t book a Saona tour if you don’t want to be away from your resort the entire day
- Stay hydrated & don’t overdrink: are you reading horror stories of food poisoning at Saona Island? The truth is that it is mostly not food poisoning, most health issues occur due to too much alcohol, extended sun exposure and lacking drinking of water (or all three of them)
- Take a good book or podcast for the ride from Punta Cana to the harbour, especially when booking a cheap Saona tour with multiple pick-ups
- Don’t be pressured by vendors: yes, everyone wants to make a living – the photographer on the tour, the massage ladies on Saonas’ beaches or the Pina Colada seller on the island. A simple and determined NO is enough to continue enjoying your day
- Book your tour in advance online, so you have the full choice of options and not only the standard tour your hotel rep is selling.
My experiences at Isla Saona
I usually don’t like places where you can feel from the first moment that everything is just about tourism. If I have to share attractions with thousands of tourists, I normally do not want to go there, as this is not my idea of traveling. However, I have to admit I really loved Isla Saona (and I have been there three times now) as the scenery is indeed mind-blowing. In my 10 years living in the Caribbean, I have visited more than 25 Caribbean islands and while I have seen a couple of superb and nearly unbeatable paradisiacal places (for example, Tobago Cays, Jost van Dyke, Bequia, etc.), Isla Saona definitely can compete with them. Saona also has some of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic, so be prepared for some amazing views.
If you are or were in doubt like me, no worry, just relax and enjoy yourself. Imagine cruising on a catamaran with chill-out or dance music, sipping at your Cuba Libre (unfortunately with a subpar rum at most cheaper Saona Island excursions) and watching the coastline of the Dominican Republic passing by until you reach the palm-fringed Isla Saona. That is exactly what I was able to enjoy, and the island does not fall short of it.
Shallow water, beautiful beaches, swaying palm trees, usually enough space for everyone, so that it does not feel too crowded. Of course, there are a couple of boats anchoring and visiting(sometimes multiple dozens – you won’t be the only person on Saona Island), but I have seen worse things in my travel life. If you still want fewer people than on Isla Saona, have a look at neighboring (15 miles away) Isla Catalina, which is kind of the little sister of Isla Saona.
My expert tip: if you’re looking for pristine beaches without any people, Saona is not the right choice for you. Also, if you just come to relax at the beach, better to go somewhere closer. Still, Saona’s beaches are incredibly beautiful and definitely some of the most gorgeous stretches in the Dominican Republic. It’s the whole paradisicial backdrop and the journey why you’re coming here, not only the beach.
Furthermore, you can also walk left and right along the shoreline, so you might be able to find your own little beach section because Isla Saona is larger than you may think. The island is home to around 40 miles of coastline. While just a tiny part of it is accessible, it still gives you the chance to venture out and see some untouched or less visited parts.
Isla Saona is indeed one kind of paradise in the Dominican Republic.
The only thing where you should lower your expectations is the snorkeling stop (if it is included at all as some tour companies have ceased the Isla Saona snorkeling over the past years). Some of the tours stop at a wreck, which a few fish call their home. If you have never been snorkeling, it might be a good idea to try it here, but once you have done it at a reef with a diverse and colorful fish population, the snorkeling at Isla Saona won’t impress you. Check out this article here if you’d like to know more about snorkeling in and around Punta Cana. If snorkeling is important for you, Isla Catalina is the better tour option.
On the other hand, the stop at the natural swimming pool is very pleasant – if you are prepared for many boats. However, the color is indeed beautiful and super turquoise and the view of the untouched coastline is amazing.
Important advice: when you stop at the natural swimming pool, please don’t touch the starfish. Don’t touch them, don’t take them out of the water, don’t do anything with them except for taking photos under water without moving them. Unfortunately, some irresponsible Saona tour companies still show their customers how to pick up the starfish, but any direct human interaction will harm them seriously and further diminish the starfish population at Saona Island.
Most important thing to book before your trip – what most people forget: health insurance for the Dominican Republic – get prices here*
(gets you covered in case of illness, accidents or necessary medical treatments)
Is Saona Island worth it?
As you can see, the trip to Isla Saona is worth it and definitely a highlight during your vacation in the Dominican Republic. The important thing is that you do not expect too much regarding the personal attention and the food, especially if you are booking the cheaper Saona tours. Furthermore, Saona is not worth it if you just come for the beach – better stay at the beautiful Punta Cana beaches if you just want to have a relaxed beach day.
The key point is that you come here for the natural beauty and the Caribbean feeling. The boat trip is part of the experience. Having said this, Isla Saona is amazing and is definitely worth a day trip. Also note that the transfer from Punta Cana to the port in Bayahibe might take up to 2 hours (particularly with the cheaper tours) due to stops and various hotel pick-ups, so only book this tour if you’re comfortable spending the entire day out of your resort in Punta Cana.
On the other hand, booking one of the premium Isla Saona tours will enhance your experience, which guarantees you one of the best days you will have during your vacation in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic. Particularly Mano Juan and Canto de la Playa are even more stunning.
Visiting Isla Saona on your own (without an excursion)
If you don’t want to participate in a Saona Island excursion at all, you can also head to Isla Saona on your own. There is a public boat to Saona running once in the morning and back to Bayahibe once in the afternoon (which can’t be prebooked). However, when getting to Saona Island from Punta Cana the schedule might be a bit tough as you would have to leave Punta Cana around 7 am latest (the Saona ferry leaves at around 9 am), hence I recommend staying a night in Bayahibe before the trip and – even better – add a night at Isla Saona because it is actually possible to sleep there as there are a few Isla Saona hotels in Mano Juan!
If you’d like to visit the island without an Isla Saona excursion, Mano Juan will be your destination. Mano Juan is an incredibly cute and laid-back fishing village, the only one on Saona. It seems that time has forgotten this place, which is part of the authentic paradise vibe you will find here. And Mano Juan is amazingly beautiful, as you can see in the following photos.
There are currently (as of January 2026) five accommodations in Mano Juan – all basic, all reasonable priced (even though not with the best price-value ratio), all with a certain paradise charm.
For the best price-value ration and a stunning beachfront location, I’d recommend Casa Rural El Paraíso de Saona*.
Check out below in the section “good to know” for further information on Isla Saona resorts and Saona Island hotels.
To get to Mano Juan and Isla Saona from Punta Cana, you first have to get to Bayahibe. The public ferry boat to Saona Island is leaving around 9 am from the main port in Bayahibe. That’s why it might be recommendable to book a night in Bayahibe. There are pretty cheap and recommendable accommodation options available in Bayahibe that won’t break the bank. For example, Bayahibe Guesthouse*, is very recommendable, super reasonable priced and only 5 minutes away from where the ferry boat leaves in Bayahibe to Isla Saona.
With public transport from Punta Cana, you have to leave pretty early as you have to change busses twice – in Higuey and La Romana. There is a direct bus from Punta Cana to La Romana at 7 am, but it might be pretty tough to reach the public boat to Isla Saona on time, hence I’d recommend leaving earlier. If you’d like to avoid public transport to Bayahibe, you can also book a direct shuttle from Punta Cana to Bayahibe or simply rent a car (check rental car recommendations and prices here*).
Once you are at the harbor of Bayahibe, you can board the public boat. You shouldn’t expect a proper ferry to Saona Island, it is more like a typical fishing boat. The price for a one-way trip shall be around 1000 DOP, the return is double the price, even though I don’t have a current update about the price. Expect to pay around 20-25 USD per way. If everything goes well, you shall be in Mano Juan around 10:00-10:30 am. You have reached the island without a Saona Island tour – congrats on mastering this very special Punta Cana adventure.
Once on the island, you can take your time to explore Mano Juan and the surroundings – even though there is not that much to explore. Mano Juan can be walked in 15 minutes, but the Saona beaches there are indeed beautiful. You can also visit the turtle sanctuary and of course, dine at one of the local restaurants. Prices are higher than on the mainland as most of the things have to be shuttled by boat to the island. If you are looking for a cold beer and a good chat, check out the small bar of Daisy & Kurt on the east side of the village along the first beachfront road – highly recommended.
The return boat from Saona to Bayahibe is going back at 2.30 pm, which would leave you around 4 hours on the island. If you stay for the night (see accommodation recommendations below) or are walking really quick, you can also head to Canto de la Playa, one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic and a stop for a few of the Saona Island excursions mentioned above. It is a flat but very hot 3-mile hike one-way – as a reward you can see one of the most pristine beaches in the entire Caribbean.
Isla Saona from Santo Domingo, Boca Chica and Juan Dolio
If you’re not staying in Punta Cana, Bayahibe or La Romana, don’t worry, you still can experience this fantastic paradise. There are guided tours and excursions from many places in the Dominican Republic to Saona Island.
The experience and the steps of the tour are pretty similar when heading from Santo Domingo to Isla Saona (the same goes for Boca Chica or Juan Dolio). You have a transfer to Bayahibe, board the speed boat or the catamaran (and the other option on the way back) and can enjoy your time on one of the islands’ beaches. Food and drinks are usually included.
If you’re looking for tour offers from Santo Domingo, Boca Chica or Juan Dolio to Isla Saona, you can find them with the following tours:
– Santo Domingo to Saona Island Tour*
– Boca Chica to Saona Island Tour*
– Juan Dolio to Saona Island Tour*
Good to know for your Isla Saona tour
Saona Island and seaweed
Saona Island is also a great option if you’re craving to see some beaches without seaweed during the seaweed season in Punta Cana. In 2025, during the massive sargassum events in Punta Cana, Saona only had seaweed for around 3-4 days twice, while Punta Cana got buried under massive amounts of seaweed for weeks. Therefore, if you’re looking for an excursion from Punta Cana without seaweed, Saona Island is a great option. However, there is never a 100% guarantee, as occasionally Saona sees seaweed as well, especially when tropical storms are shifting the ocean currents a bit.
How to get to Saona Island?
When visiting Isla Saona, you have four options on how to get to Saona Island from Punta Cana:
– a guided excursion from/to Punta Cana with all services included
– getting to Bayahibe on your own (by rental car, public transport or taxi) and take a Isla Saona excursion from Bayahibe* (with all services included)
– getting to Bayahibe on your own and take the public boat (as described above) or a private boat to Mano Juan, the only village on the island (this is not a tourist excursion)
I am explaining the differences in the following sections.
This is the most common method on how to get to Saona Island from Punta Cana. You can find my Saona excursion recommendations above in the section “The best Saona Island excursions”. Simply book an Isla Saona tour and you are good to go. I would say that 90-95% of all visitors to Saona Island are going this way. As described above, it includes transfers from and to your all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, guide, national park fee, drinks, food and boat rides.
In case you don’t like bus rides with picking up passengers from different all-inclusive resorts, if you have your own rental car or if you are coming from elsewhere, getting to Bayahihe on your own and booking a full Saona excursion which starts right in Bayahibe* might be the best option for you. Those tours are usually similar to the Isla Saona excursions from Punta Cana, just without the transfer. Depending on the tour, they might be a bit cheaper, but you have to add your own transfer.
The transfer can be (but is not limited) to the following options:
For Isla Saona excursion options from Bayahibe, you can check out the following offer.
If you want to get to Isla Saona but don’t want to have the typical Saona Island excursion experience, you can also head to Mano Juan, the only village on the island with roughly 300 inhabitants. Time seems to have forgotten this place and you can have a truly local experience far away from every tourist track. Due to the long travel time, it is recommended to spend a night here to be able to enjoy this place.
To book the public or private boat from Bayahibe, it is best to do so via your accommodation in Saona. There are only four rustic guesthouses on the island, you can check the Isla Saona hotels out here:
– Casa Rural*
– Saona Lodge*
– Casa Mano Juan*
– Casa Rosada*
The public boat is running once a day (9 am from Bayahibe, 2.30 pm from Mano Juan), details of how to organize this adventure are described above.
How can I book a tour to Saona Island?
Excursions to Isla Saona can be best booked by one of the various tour operators. I would recommend you booking it online as you can check reviews before. Furthermore, it is usually cheaper than booking it at your hotel. Another option would be to book a tour at the beach and the beach vendor might give you better prices as they don’t have to pay for marketing, offices, etc., but the quality is a hit and miss (and your are risking in getting scammed), hence I’d stick with the online offers.
If you want you can check out the options I outlined above when describing the various tour options.
What to do in Isla Saona?
Probably you go to Saona Island for swimming, sunbathing, relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery. You can also get a massage from one of the local ladies, buy cigars or get yourself a Caribbean hairstyle.
However, there also some attractions and places to see on Saona Island, among them:
Mano Juan – the only village on the island and home of approximately 300 inhabitants who live a remarkably simple life here. There are also four places to stay if you would like to get away from it all. See above and below for more details.
Canto de la Playa – Canto de la Playa is a lagoon and pristine beach in the more remote part of Saona Island. Only a few tourists come here every day. Canto de la Playa is approx. 3 miles away from Mano Juan and one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic.
Playa Catuano – one of the most popular beaches and at the same time home of the marine guard and the aforementioned shipwreck for snorkeling
Saona Channel – the channel that divides Saona Island from the mainland. Usually, only private boats go here.
Parque Nacional Cotubanamá – formerly called Parque Nacional del Este, this national park contains the whole Bayahibe peninsula and the island of Saona including the reefs and protected underwater areas.
Are there any hotels on Saona Island?
There are no proper hotels or all-inclusive resorts on Isla Saona. However, there are a couple of simple guesthouses in the village of Mano Juan, the only little town on the whole island. You can sleep there and have a back-to-the-basics island experience as you will most likely be the only tourist in the village and might have power and/or water outages. But you also will be the only one enjoying this unforgettable sunrise in the morning …
If you are looking for more information about this unique place to stay at Saona Island, check out this article about the best eco-lodges in and around Punta Cana.
Here is a quick overview of some of the Saona Island accommodations.
This is one of the most popular options in Mano Juan. It’s basic but clean and the ocean view rooms are hard to beat. The location is top-notch with the beach directly in front of Casa Rural. The owner also takes care of your trip which is an additional plus.
It’s not the newest accommodation on Saona Island anymore, but you can expect excellent communication of the owner (before and during your trip) here and basic, but well-maintained bungalow huts. They also upgraded to private bathrooms recently.
The best-rated Saona accommodation is currently Casa Mano Juan, particularly due to the familiar vibe and personal attention the hosts are pouring in. Like everywhere in Mano Juan, you shouldn’t expect any luxury, but breakfast, bicycles and simple private bathrooms will make your stay as comfortable as you need it in such a paradise.
Alternatives to Isla Saona
If you feel that an Isla Saona excursion is nothing for you or if you would like to avoid the crowds, you can try the neighboring Isla Catalina, which is described here in detail. It is a beautiful island 15 miles northwest of Isla Saona and also includes a fun boat trip, snorkeling and sufficient beach time. The scenery might not be as paradisical as Isla Saona but a big plus of Isla Catalina is that you will go both ways with a catamaran – 100% Caribbean feeling guaranteed.
Cayo Levantado is another island that is reachable from Punta Cana, but it is farther away and the crossing through the bay of Samaná might be a little bit rough, depending on the wind. Therefore I would not recommend going there just for the island, Isla Saona and Isla Catalina are more worth it. However, if you combine Cayo Levantado with a whale-watching excursion (from January to March) it is an amazing package and very recommendable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are you planning a tour to Isla Saona? Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments! If you already have done an excursion to Saona Island, please share your experiences here as well!
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CHRIS
Author, Travel Coach & Industry Professional (Bachelor’s degree in tourism)
Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean soul, who has been living in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. I’d love to be your Punta Cana expert, as I have stayed at more than 45 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and the country, visited more than 70 beaches, explored more than 40 waterfalls and have seen basically all the attractions Punta Cana has to offer. I have also studied tourism for 3 years and worked in the tourism industry my entire life, which is why I am not only giving you recommendations and tips as a traveler but also the best secrets and travel hacks as an industry professional.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page, send me a travel coaching request or Contact Me here.
