catamaran a isla saona

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Saona Island Excursion

• 7.50 / 10 127 reviews | 2,801 travellers All perfect! Beautiful excursion, the guys on the boat were kind and nice! 10 Stefania Peroglio
• Free cancellation up to 3 days before
• Hotel pick up

Embark on a journey to uncover a one-of-a-kind paradise with this tour. Pristine beaches , crystal-clear waters , and untamed vegetation await your discovery. It promises to be a truly special day!

Description

At the scheduled time, we'll pick you up from your hotel to commence our tour. During the journey, we'll make a brief stop, allowing you to stretch your legs or enjoy a quick coffee. Following this break, we'll proceed to Bayahibe, where we'll board a catamaran bound for our destination: Saona Island , nestled within the Cotubanamá National Park .

We'll have fun and dance to traditional music throughout our cruise, enjoy lively interactions with our onboard guides, and revel in the vibrant atmosphere. With an open bar stocked with water, soft drinks, and the renowned Dominican rum  everybody is bound to have an excellent time.

Upon arrival at Saona Island, we'll have a two-hour window to swim, unwind on the beach, and soak in the lively Dominican music. If you get hungry, you can enjoy a buffet lunch in an authentic thatched-roof location. This buffet includes a selection of fresh fish, meat, salads, rice with guandules , pasta, and tropical fruits, all accompanied by water and soft drinks.

After the fun, we'll return to the boat for the journey back. We'll take a scenic route around Las Palmillas Beach , known for its coconut trees and beautiful golden sand. We'll also have a stop to swim in crystal-clear natural sea pools, where you can see sea stars and fish , creating a colorful spectacle. Plus, you can continue enjoying the open bar onboard. It's a true party in paradise!

Finally, we'll reach the Bayahibe pier, commencing a roughly two-hour journey back to your hotel. Anticipate arriving back at your hotel after an 11 to 12-hour adventure.

Hotel pickup

This tour offers pickup services from various hotels in Punta Cana , Cap Cana , Bávaro , and Úvero Alto , starting at 7:30 am. We'll get in touch with you to provide the estimated pickup time.

Saona Island Beach Tour

For a more relaxed and leisurely visit to Saona Island, you can choose the Saona Island Beach Tour .

Additional Information

• Please note that seeing sea stars is not guaranteed as they are in their natural habitat.
• We'll use both catamarans and speedboats for the trip, you can opt to go by speedboat and return by catamaran, or vice versa .

More Information

11 hours - 12 hours.

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English, Spanish, French and other language.

Hotel pickup and drop–off

Transport by bus, catamaran and speedboat

English–speaking guide

Buffet lunch

Open bar with water and soda on the catamaran

Island natural pool

Admission to Cotubanama National Park.

When to book?

You can book up until 24 hours before the activity as long as there are still places. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible. This must be indicated in the reservation. An accompanying person is required.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• No printing of documentation required.
• Promotes local employment.
• Has a gender equality policy.
• Has a carbon footprint offset policy.

Captain Coco Ecotours Rd Show more

Corporate name: Habiel Dufort

Not permitted.

Frequently asked questions

Q - What happens in the case of adverse weather conditions?

A - In case of adverse weather conditions the tour will be canceled and we'll offer you to do the activity on an alternative date or refund your money.

Q - Are all products and services offered during the activity included in the tour price?

A - No, keep in mind that during the activity there are several products for additional purchase, such as caps on board the catamaran, offered by the team, or products on the beaches of Saona, such as coconut water or handicrafts made by local residents.

Q - What is the total duration of the excursion?

A - The tour includes pick up from hotels in Punta Cana, Cap Cana, Bávaro and Úvero Alto, so the approximate duration can be up to two hours.

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities.

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

Q - Is a minimum number of participants required?

A - This activity requires a minimum of 2 participants. Should this number not be reached, we'll get in touch with you to offer alternatives.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Cancellations

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Chao Cacao Tours Estrella de las impresionantes de aguas de nuestro Mar Caribe. Se recomienda mantenerlas dentro del agua.

Chao Cacao Tours Catamarán Isla Saona. Navega sobre las aguas cristalinas del Mar Caribe con la mejor calidad y servicio garantizados.

Chao Cacao Tours... Pareja disfrutando de sesión de fotos en nuestra bella Isla Saona.

Isla Saona Vip Tours 5 en 1 con fiesta en cómodo Catamarán y piscina natural con las estrellas del mar:

Todo lo mejor de la República Dominicana para ti.

Todo incluido:​

Transporte maritimo:  motomaran  y  catamarán  con fiesta y programa de entretenimiento.

Traslado cómodo y seguro desde su hotel hacia Bayahibe. Viaje ida y vuelta.

Hermosas playas de aguas cristalinas en el Mar Caribe. Parque Nacional Cotubanama.

Llegamos en nuestro Catamarán Costa Romántica a las  Playa Abanico.

Puede visitar varias playas más pintorescas que están cerca.

Gran almuerzo buffet: arroz, frutas, ensaladas, carne, pastas, pastas de marisco, pollo. 

Bebidas ilimitadas:  agua, coca cola, sprite, ron, cerveza en el almuerzo.

Guía certificado en el idioma correspondiente.

Salida todos los días desde Punta Cana a las 7:30 am y regreso al hotel a las 6:30 pm.

Salida desde el punto de encuentro en Bayahibe a las 9:30 am. Regreso al hotel a las 5:00 pm​

Aceptamos en efectivo  (dólares, euros y pesos dominicanos).

Al pagar con tarjeta de crédito, se puede cobrar desde un 10 a 18% adicional.

El pago se realiza el día de la excursión. Las reservas se realizan sin prepago.

Mejores precios y calidad superior garantizada:

50 USD  por adulto con nuestra recogida desde Punta Cana.

Niños de 4 años viajan gratis.  De 5 a 11 años pagan  30 USD . Desde la edad de 12  años  como adulto.

Salida los martes, jueves y s ábado . Grupo de 5 adultos o más puede salir cualquier día. 

Salida todos los días.

Los huéspedes que se alojen en hoteles en el área de Uvero Alto y el área de Cap Cana pagan 60 usd por adulto. ​Puede solicitar un traslado individual o privado. Te ofrecemos los mejores precios. Minibuses hasta 15 personas por 

60 USD  por adulto con nuestra recogida  desde Santo Domingo, Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, la Romana, Jarabacoa, Santiago, Puerto Plata, La Vega. 

55 USD  Precio especial para un grupo de  10 adultos y más.

45 USD  por adulto con nuestro recojo desde su hotel en Bayahibe.

Los niños menores de 4 años viajan gratis .

De 5 a 11 años pagan  30 USD .

Desde la edad de 12 años como adulto.

$40 USD por adulto sin nuestro servicio de recogida. Salida desde el punto de encuentro en Bayahibe.

35 USD por adulto precio especial para 10 adultos y más.

Niños menores de 4 años viajan gratis . De 5 a 11 años pagan  20 USD.   Desde la edad de 12 como adulto.

Llegas en tu propio medio de transporte. Nos encontramos a las 9:30 am en la playa de Bayahibe.

Salida todos los días. ​

Desde $55 USD por persona...

Tours Privados Isla Saona en lancha rápida o catamarán o yate.

Escríbenos y crearemos para ti el mejor viaje individual en el Caribe o en el Atlántico, según tus deseos. Dependiendo del tamaño de su grupo, envío y otras condiciones, seleccionaremos los mejores precios. En barco podemos visitar Mano Juan, Canto la playa y otras playas. La capacidad de los barcos es de 8 a 60 personas.

Lo que te interesaría saber de Isla Saona:

Isla Saona es considerada un paraíso turístico en República Dominicana, convirtiéndose en el destino más visitado por miles de turistas cada año.

No te puedes perder esta aventura en una isla bañada por el sol, brisa tropical con aguas cálidas y cristalinas, arena blanca.

Itinerario de la excursión:

1. La Aventura comienza en Bayahibe, un pueblo turístico fundado por pescadores que ahora se ha convertido en un paraíso de playa.

2. Partimos en catamarán hacia el Mar Caribe y disfrutamos de 1.5 horas de navegación, entretenimiento y paraíso dominicano hasta llegar a Isla Saona.

3. Del lado izquierdo en el sentido de la marcha verás playa Dominicus, donde se encuentran los hoteles más populares de la costa sur de República Dominicana, la zona turística de  La Romana y Bayahibe.

4. Más adelante está el Canal Catuano, que separa el Mar Caribe y el Océano Atlántico, las Islas Hispaniola y Saona. Rodeada principalmente de cocoteros y manglares, extensas playas de aguas cristalinas y tranquilas, esta pequeña pero hermosa isla es nada menos que un paraíso tropical que todo visitante de República Dominicana desea.

5. El área total de ​​Isla Saona es de 110 kilómetros cuadrados. Unas 500 personas viven en la isla. Se trata principalmente de familias de pescadores, personal de playa y cocina. Puedes quedarte en Mano Juan. Para hacer esto, deberás pasar la noche en la isla de Saona.

6. En el catamarán de la Costa Romántica llegamos a la playa de Abanico en Isla Saona.

Puede visitar algunas de las playas más pintorescas que se encuentran cerca. Y ver palmeras interesantes en cualquier posición.

7. No hay electricidad en la isla Saona, te cocinaremos una comida increíble en un fuego abierto, sin agregar aceite.

Durante 3 horas disfrutamos de las paradisíacas playas de Isla Saona.

8. Luego, en un motomaran, nos dirigimos a una piscina natural, donde los turistas suelen tomarse fotos con estrellas de mar.

Atención. Por favor, nunca saques una estrella de mar del agua. En la piscina natural nos relajamos durante 30 minutos.

9. Una vez en Bayahibe, nos dirigimos a diferentes hoteles.

Duración del tour: día completo, 9 horas.

Recomendaciones:​

Favor de traer toallas, bloqueador solar, accesorios de baño, sombreros y anteojos de sol.

Por un cargo adicional, puedes solicitar un sesión de fotos , disfrute de un cóctel de piña (piña colada), fresco sabor a coco, cocine pescado fresco, langostas y camarones.

Reserva aquí servicios adicionales, en este caso te garantizamos los mejores precios y servicios de calidad.

Durante el viaje, el equipo puede pedirle propinas. No olvides que solo pagas propinas si quieres.

+1 809-753-9469 WhatsApp - ¡RESERVA AHORA!

Excursiones en Punta Cana y a la Isla Saona con CAPITÁN GRINGO

¿quiénes somos.

Saludos amigos de todo el mundo. Somos el equipo de trabajadores de la compañía Capitan Gringo o Coligrin Tours, que es nuestro nombre legalmente constituido. El nombre de Capitan Gringo surge de su fundador nativo de Bayahibe que de apodo le dicen Gringo, y cuando empezo el negocio era el, el Capitan de nuestro primer bote. El nombre de Capitan Gringo se hizo famoso entre los Españoles que con el hacían sus excursiones, y atravez del tiempo se ha convertido en un nombre de marca famoso de las excursiones a la isla Saona. Somos una compañía pequeña dedicada a realizar excursiones ...

ISLA SAONA VIP (Completa con Fiesta en Catamaran)

La Isla Saona localizada en el Mar Caribe es la Isla mas grande de la República Dominicana. Ver Precios Con nosotros tendrás la oportunidad de vivir una experiencia inolvidable en esta Isla. Primero recogida en los Hoteles de la zonas de Punta Cana de...

SAONA Tranquila y familiar (con Rio Chavon)

Esta es la excursión Ideal para aquellos con espíritu de explorador y amante a la naturaleza, totalmente ecológica y familiar. Ver Precios Primero: Recogida en los hoteles de Punta Cana  6:00hr – 7:00hr, partimos hacia Bayahibe. En modernos y cómodos autob...

ISLA SAONA PRIVADO

Esta opción es para aquellos que quieren hacer las excursiones solo o modificarla a su gusto. Tenemos una variedad de lanchas a escoger dependiendo de los grupos. Solo déjenos saber cual recorrido quieres hacer, si el de la Saona VIP, Saona Explorer o si...

Nadar Con Delfines

Isla catalina.

SANTO DOMINGO CIUDAD COLONIAL

BUGGIES Y QUADS Aventuras

SAFARI TOUR (en camiones super grandes)

SAMANA (via terrestre)

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Limited Offer until March 31st!‎ 10% off Private Catamaran Deluxe .

Curious about other travelers’ experiences? Check out our customer reviews !

100% refund up to 24 hours!

Private Isla Saona Catamaran

Visit Isla Saona

Drop By Palmilla

Private Catamaran Yacht

Private Full-Day Yacht Experience

Join us on the ultimate Dominican adventure where you can relax on the catamaran, visit top beach spots, enjoy picturesque views, see giant starfish, and simply spend the perfect beach day

Observe the giant starfish in their natural habitat

A private full-day experience to Isla Saona on a catamaran

Relax on the idyllic beaches of Isla Saona & Palmilla

Get lost in Palmilla, the country’s biggest natural pool

Click the tabs to find out more

Trip details.

1-5 people – $1,895 6-10 people – $2,285 11-15 people – $2,755

16-20 people – $3,225 21-30 people – $3,950 31-60 people – $4,995

Departure time

10:00 am untill 5 :00 PM

Meeting point

Pick up included

Availability

7 days a week

Minimum 1, maximum 60

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Private sailing in catamaran
• Visits to Isla Saona & Palmilla
• Lunch at Isla Saona
• Beer and rum

Not included

Good to know.

For our cancellation policy, please check our  terms & conditions .

SAONA ISLAND (CATUANO) & STARFISH CAY (PALMILLA)

Between 9:00 – 9:30 am, you will board the catamaran for a breathtaking full-day cruise to Dominican Republic’s most famous island. This is the ultimate tour to unwind, and the first item on the agenda is to sit back & relax under the shade of a coconut tree, or soak up the rays under the Caribbean sun. After approximately three hours of leisure time on Isla Saona, we’ll head to another tropical paradise, Las Palmillas. The relaxation continues here with a dip in the country’s biggest natural pool, Palmilla, while keeping your eyes peeled for the famous giant starfish. Snacks will also be served during beach time. On the way back to Bayahibe, take in the picturesque views as we navigate along the coast.

Lunch : Buffet consists of pasta salad with tomato and cucumber dressing, spaghetti with lobster, chicken, pork chops and a variety of fruits.

We'll Show You the Best of Isla Saona

You may also like..., shared catamaran experience, private catamaran deluxe, private isla saona & palmilla experience, shared isla saona sea & wildlife, shared isla saona catamaran experience.

Choose your language

Beaches & Islands

Set Sail for Saona Island

Saona Island, Dominican Republic

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Find Saona Island

External links.

Saona Island is one of the most beautiful destinations on the planet, and the secret is out - this remote, pristine paradise has become one of the focal points of the Dominican Republic’s  tourism boom, and now attracts about one million visitors every year.

Happily, this paradise isn’t in danger of becoming a parking lot - the whole island is protected as part of the Cotubanamá National Park. The only buildings you’ll find on the island are the two tiny settlements of Catuano, a Navy base on the western edge of the island, and Mano Juan, the main town located to the south. Thanks to the protections in force on the island, Mano Juan is still a sleepy fishing village, and its traditional wooden houses painted in different colors are part of the island’s charm.

What to expect on a boat trip to Isla Saona

Most Isla Saona tours take you there by speedboat or catamaran and depart from Bayahibe (although you can also set off from Bavaro, Punta Cana , Cap Cana and even Santo Domingo). Traveling by speedboat will get you to Saona faster, while catamarans offer a more leisurely journey - you can walk around onboard comfortably and see more of the coastline as it glides by.

Traveling to Saona by boat gives you the best chance to admire the bird-thronged mangroves along the coastline, the deserted beaches, some of the park’s eight emerged coral reefs and almost 400 grottos.

Most tours, whether by speedboat or catamaran, will stop to let you off for a swim in the biggest natural pool in the Dominican Republic - a huge expanse of shallow sea in the Catuano strait that separates Isla Saona from the mainland, with a floor of silky-soft pure white sand and unbelievably bright-turquoise water. Many tours provide snorkelling gear so you can get up close and personal with starfish and schools of colorful tropical fish.

From the natural pool site, it’s another 20 minutes to Saona Island proper. If your tour didn’t include lunch aboard the catamaran, then you can expect lunch on arrival. The buffet lunch is a great introduction to Dominican delicacies featuring fresh fish and shellfish, chicken, plantains, rice, juicy tropical fruit and exotic rums and cocktails as well as a standard party bar.

If swimming in paradise isn’t quite enough, you can liven things up with a game of beach volleyball or don fins for some more snorkelling.

Book your tour to Saona Island here!

Where to stay

Because Isla Saona’s status as a pristine paradise depends on its protection from new tourist megaplexes, you won’t find anywhere to stay on the island itself. Instead, your best bet is to stay at one of the many resorts or boutique hotels in La Romana , Bayahibe or Punta Cana .

Getting there

Saona Island lies offshore of the southeastern tip of mainland Dominican Republic. Dead south of the La Altagracia province, politically Saona belongs to Altagracia’s western neighbor, La Romana.

Getting to La Romana from the capital city of Santo Domingo takes approximately 2 hours by car. From La Romana to Saona Island, travel time varies enormously depending on how you decide to get here.

You’ll find more than a dozen tour companies offer public and private tours , with many offering extras like lunch, an open bar, hotel pick-up and drop-off, scuba-diving and live entertainment. Shop around for the best tour by asking agencies what extras they offer. Prices vary according to the agency and the extras included, and sometimes how you book, but you can expect to pay between USD $50 - $100 for a round trip.

You can also get to Saona by helicopter straight from Punta Cana . Helicopter flights take 25 minutes and start at USD $299. The view from the air is other-worldly - in fact, you’ll be flying close to where the helicopter scenes in the original Jurassic Park were filmed! You can read more about famous DR movie locations here.

Written by Aura De Los Santos.

Published June 2020.

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Saona Island Private Tour – VIP Catamaran Excursion from Punta Cana, 2024

-15% $2453 $ 2,085

Chat with our Consultants!

Saona Island is the top-recommended tour in the Dominican Republic. It’s a true paradise with crystal-clear waters, pristine white sandy beaches, and lush palm trees. Situated just 1.5 miles off the coast of the Punta Cana peninsula, it’s a part of the Cotubanamá National Park and remains virtually uninhabited. As a protected area, its beaches offer the perfect peaceful getaway for families.

We invite you to embark on a journey to this splendid destination aboard a private catamaran, exclusively with your family and friends. This will enhance your experience, making it even more enjoyable and exclusive.

After a quick safety briefing by our world-class staff, you’ll set sail on a catamaran, basking in the beauty of tropical views and the refreshing ocean breeze. Along the way, we’ll make a stop at the Natural Pool, where you can take a dip in the crystal-clear waters.Upbeat music on the catamaran, along with our lively catamaran crew, will ensure your journey is exhilarating and engaging throughout.

Then the island with fine sand, many coconut palms, and calm turquoise water awaits you! Relax lying on the white sand beach with a fresh coconut directly from the palm. Enjoy a delicious lunch and drinks included.

Have an unforgettable experience on a beautiful island during this private catamaran adventure!

Private Saona Island Tour Program

Transportation

We provide comfortable private transportation for most hotels and residences in Bavaro-Punta Cana area with an experienced driver. The journey begins!

Catamaran Trip & Natural Pool Stop

After a brief safety instruction, you embark on an exciting catamaran cruise with magnificent views and the refreshing sea breeze. Accompanied by lively music and a fun crew, you'll also make a stop at a Natural Pool to take a dip in the clear, transparent waters.

Saona Island

Step on the white sand beach and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Isla Saona. You'll have everything you need to unwind and enjoy your time in this paradise. Swim in the clear sea, sunbathe, and capture beautiful photos.

Lunch and Drinks

Enjoy a delicious lunch and open bar included during your stay. Enjoy this exclusive catamaran experience, surrounded by your closest loved ones.

Saona Island Excursion Details

• Approximate pick-up time: 7:00 AM (depends on your location)
• Duration: 8 hours
• The minimum drinking age is 18 years
• We don’t recommend certain tour to pregnant women
• What to bring: swimming suit, towel, camera, sunscreen, hat, change of clothes, spending money, good mood

VIP Catamaran Tour Prices:

• 1-5 person group: $2085
• 6-10 person group: $2930
• 11-15 person group: $3030
• 16-20 person group: $3550
• 21-30 person group: $4345

What is included?

• Comfortable hotel pick-up and drop-off service
• Private catamaran sailing experience
• Safety briefing with a world-class staff
• Security requirements
• Entrance fees Natural Park
• Entertainment

Pick-up and drop-off is included in the price for most hotels and residences in Bavaro-Punta Cana area. Additional charge may be applied for pick-ups from Uvero Alto, Cap Cana, Miches, Veron, Bayahibe and La Romana.

What isn’t included?

• Pictures are available for an additional price

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How to find the best Private Tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina?

Isla Saona and Isla Catalina are two of the most popular excursions when staying in Punta Cana. It’s easy to say that both are the most beautiful islands in the Dominican Republic as well. When staying in Punta Cana, there are tons of group tours to book, but what should you do if you are looking for a private excursion to Isla Saona or Isla Catalina? Especially when looking for a little extra, a Saona Island private tour can be an amazing deal compared to sharing a catamaran with 70 other people. Find out in this article what other advantages you have on Saona Island and Catalina Island when booking a private tour.

The cheapest private boats to Saona Island

The best catalina island private tours, saona island private tours for 16 guests and more.

This article is exclusively about private tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina. If you are interested in group tours and regular excursions, please check this article for Saona Island and this one for Catalina Island . 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.

Completeley UPDATED: February 2023

What is Isla Saona?

 Isla Saona (or in English Saona Island) is the most popular tourist destination for day-trips in the Dominican Republic. It is an island in the southeast of the country, dotted with palm-fringed beaches (some of the best beaches in the Domican Republic ) and surrounded by incredibly blue turquoise waters. It is part of the National Park Cotubanamá (formerly called Parque Nacional del Este).

 Isla Saona gets visited every day by thousands of tourists. Despite those hordes, it is a beautiful place (I couldn’t believe it before I was there for the first time). When arriving at this picture-perfect island with its stunning coastline, you will feel like you are in paradise. Just check out some of the photos here or in my comprehensive guide about Isla Saona .

 Most of the Saona Island excursions have a set amount of stops. You will see the natural swimming pool with some starfish, have (sometimes) a quick mediocre snorkeling stop (please note that Isla Saona is not a snorkeling excursion – check out this post if you are looking for better snorkeling options ), cruise along the coastline of the national park with an ocean catamaran and have a speed boat ride the other way back. In between all of this, you’ll enjoy a simple but tasty Dominican lunch and, of course, a lot of rum. 

 If this sounds perfect to you, then check out the best Saona Island tour offers here * or continue reading my Isla Saona Guide .

 If you feel that this itinerary might limit your expectations or it is not as much fun as it could be, you should continue reading below, as in this case, a private tour to Isla Saona might be exactly what you are looking for.

The best Saona Island private tours

I know it is sometimes boring to read all those articles with all my personal experiences and recommendations. 😉 In case you just have 2 minutes and want to find the best Saona Island private tour immediately, check out the following table. I have summarized the best Saona private tours for you in this comprehensive overview.

(mobile users: please turn your device to landscape mode to enjoy the best view of this table)

Are you a small group or maybe even just a couple looking in getting away from the huge groups and the crowded Saona excursions ? In this case, have a look at the cheapest Saona Island private tours which are more affordable than you might think. Private tours to Saona Island are already starting at 450 USD per group, which is a real bargain considering that you have the crew and boat all on your own. For further information, check out the following table with the cheapest Isla Saona private tours.

What is Isla Catalina?

 Before we are delving into the private excursions to Isla Saona (and Isla Catalina), let’s have a look first at Isla Catalina , which can easily be regarded as the little sister of Isla Saona. Smaller in size, less popular, fewer visitors and to a certain amount also not as (incredibly) beautiful as Isla Saona – that’s Catalina Island, just 15 miles away from Saona Island.

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 However, this shouldn’t mean that a visit to Isla Catalina is not worth-to-go – by no means. A catamaran trip to the island is one of the most attractive excursions you can do while vacationing in Punta Cana. The cruise to the island epitomizes the genuine Caribbean holiday feeling. Furthermore, Isla Catalina offers one of the best snorkeling opportunities in the Southeast of the Dominican Republic . And last but not least, the island and the beach of Catalina are beautiful in their very own way.

 Tours to Isla Catalina are offering a relaxed cruise and have a snorkeling stop included. You can also enjoy plenty of time at the beach and a local Dominican lunch.  Check out here the best tours to Catalina Island * or continue reading my Isla Catalina guide .

 But why not consider a private tour (from Punta Cana or elsewhere) and setting your own itinerary?

There are not as many private tours available for Isla Catalina as for Isla Saona, hence a comprehensive list with different tours and providers doesn’t make that much sense. However, you can check out the following tour which is one of the best private tours to Isla Catalina.

Advantages of private tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina?

 Private tours are not cheap, especially when boat rides or catamaran cruises are included. You have to pay the full boat and the entire crew, doesn’t matter how many persons are in your group. However, tours are sometimes cheaper than you might think, hence it is worth having a closer look at Catalina Island and Saona Island private tours.

TRAVEL COACHING

Do you need help planning a customized vacation in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic? Is it difficult for you to decide what and where to book? Would you like to take advantage of someone with years of experience in the tourism industry (knowing all the travel hacks 😉 ) and living right in the place where you would like to spend your holiday? That’s what my personal travel coaching is for. I will design your tailor-made itinerary, tell you how to save money on your trip and send you the best insider tips and recommendations. All the information I send you are crafted with love and passion – and are coming with a money-back guarantee. Let me know how I can help you ( check my packages here ) and send me a request here !

 A private tour to Isla Saona or Isla Catalina comes with many advantages. Some of them are:

• You’ll have much smaller groups – just the people from your traveling party. Some of the ordinary group tours to Isla Saona are packed with up to 70 people per boat.
• You can define the itinerary. As there are just your people on the boat, you can decide how long you want to stay or if you want to skip a stop completely.
• You don’t have any strangers on the boat. You can roam around freely and create the vibe you want.
• As mentioned, there is quite an amount of people visiting Isla Saona (and to a lesser extent Isla Catalina as well). With a private tour, you can have a more exclusive experience.
• The staff is just there for you. Whatever request you have, you get their full attention and chances are high that it gets fulfilled.
• Even the particular beach you visit always depends on the company you book with, but chances are that you visit a less crowded part of the island.
• For lunch, you don’t have to line up with 30 or more unknown people. Lunch will be prepared just for your group, which means there is no queue at the buffet.
• In case of any problem, you can always seek immediate help from the staff or with the organizer. Usually, on those big group tours, there is not much that can be done if you are not satisfied.
• If you are traveling with a large family or a group of friends, the prices of a private tour can be even more affordable than if booked individually. In the section below I am recommending you the best private excursions with competitive pricing.
• Social distancing can be enforced. That’s particularly important in times of Covid-19 . Check the next section for further information.

 Those are just a few of the advantages when booking a private excursion to Saona Island and Catalina Island . 

 In case you want to try this particular exclusive experience, check out the offers in the widgets further below in this article. Especially when traveling with a large family or small group, the prices are absolutely affordable.

Private Tours in times of Covid-19

 Especially in these unprecedented times, private tours are offering an enormous extra value compared to standard group excursions: safety and health. 

  Even the Dominican Republic has its own (very extensive) hygiene protocol , which gets excellent reviews and international recognition, a group tour is still a group tour – with many other people. While in most cases the safety measures are fine with hand sanitizer, face coverings and avoiding people’s congestion, the risk of transmitting Covid-19 can never be lowered to 0% – especially with 70 other people on the boat. Furthermore, there are some companies which are taking the hygienic protocol not too seriously.

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 Hence, if you are concerned about Covid-19 in Punta Cana , but still would like to enjoy an easy and worry-free holiday, private excursions are the best choice for you. You will only have contact with your traveling party and social distancing to other people like staff members can always be guaranteed.

 If you are interested in further excursions that are Covid-19 safe or certified, check out this article .

Best private excursion to Isla Saona

 If you are seriously interested in private excursions to Isla Saona , you might ask now about the price tag they are coming with. You might be surprised!

Affordable private Saona Island tours for families and small groups (up to 6 people)

 One of the cheapest and most recommended tours is this Private Saona Island Cruise for up to 6 people *. It brings you to the most beautiful places of Isla Saona with a private speed boat. With the current price of 450 US (subject to change), it is just 75 US per person – an unbeatable bargain.

Editor’s Choice: the best experiences 2024

Most unique experience in a small group: Authentic rum tasting * (rating 4.78/5) Best Rated Punta Cana excursion: Isla Saona Premium in small groups * (rating 4.95/5) Most booked through Punta Cana Travel Blog: Small-Group Snorkeling * (rating 4.91/5) Best off-the-beaten-track excursion: Montana Redonda & Costa Esmeralda * (rating 4.79/5) Best excursion for family fun: Jungle Buggies + Zipline Combo * (rating 4.91/5) New and trending for 2024: Evening Buggy Tour with Water Cave and Dancing * Not the right tour for you? Check out the 45 best Punta Cana excursions here at Punta Cana Travel Blog!

 Lunch and alcoholic drinks are not included, but you can also bring your own if you do not want to buy them. I recommend you to discuss the details with your host/organizer after booking and before the tour.

 If you need a transfer from Punta Cana, they can organize it as well. Alternatively, you can check out this return transfer option * as well. It is about an hour from most all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana to where the boat leaves.

In case you’re looking for some other Saona Island private tours – among them some with food, drinks and transfers included – there are plenty of options for groups of up to 6 people. Check out the following widget with some alternative tours.

Private yachts and boats to Saona Island (up to 10 people)

If a speed boat is too small for you and you prefer a private yacht to visit Isla Saona , you can check out this private yacht tour for up to 10 people *. The yacht features a kitchen, a covered seating area and sufficient space outside to lounge and to enjoy the sun. 

 Transfer and lunch are optional, hence I recommend to make proper arrangements with the organizer of the tour before so that they exactly know what you wish for your private excursion to Saona Island.

Each boat to Saona Island is different. In case the proposed option is not to your liking, there are plenty of other yachts you can charter. Check out the following options for some additional Isla Saona private tours for up to 10, sometimes even 12 people.

Private Catamaran to Isla Saona (up to 15 people)

 This is by far the most elegant private tour to Isla Saona – a full cruising-style catamaran exclusively for your group *. Hop on board, sail along the Caribbean Sea, feel the ocean breeze and sip on an ice-cold beer or a delicious Cuba Libre. All of this is included in your private catamaran excursion to Saona Island for up to 15 people (just lunch and the national park fee is extra in case you’d like to book it). Furthermore, you get a customized itinerary and the full personal attention from a company rated No. 1 on Tripadvisor (out of 54 water sports and excursion companies in Bayahibe , the departure port to go to Isla Saona). That’s not surprising if you see the photos of this exclusive catamaran, which will bring you straight to paradise! And even the price seems steep at first glance, if you break it down to 15 people, it is just a bit more than 100 US per person – a real bargain for a private full-day catamaran cruise! 

When traveling with up to 15 people, there are also other options available you can book online. Check out the following options if traveling with a big family or a bunch of friends.

 If you don’t find the right offer among those private tours and you are looking for other excursions to Isla Saona , feel free to send me an email to puntacanatravelblog (at) gmail (dot) com. Especially when you are traveling with 16 people or more, I am happy to get you in touch with the best companies or give you personal recommendations on your tour.

Private excursions to Isla Catalina

 As indicated at the beginning of this article, Isla Catalina is less visited than Isla Saona – that’s also why there are fewer companies for private tours. 

 The best private excursion I can recommend for Isla Catalina is this private boat tour *. It is suitable for up to 15 people and comes with a price tag of 1500 USD, lunch and drinks are included. That’s just 100 USD per person for a private tour if you go with 15 people, which is much cheaper than most Isla Saona private tours.

 You will start your tour in La Romana and stop at the most famous snorkeling spot in the area , where you can see colorful fish and a tropical reef. At the island, you have plenty of time to enjoy your private lunch, the beautiful beach and refreshing drinks – alcoholic and non-alcoholic. In the afternoon, you head back to your starting point. 

If this option doesn’t suit you, you can check out the following private excursions to Isla Catalina.

What is the best option for a private excursion: the difference between Isla Saona and Isla Catalina?

Those are some of the options you have if you are staying in Punta Cana and are looking for a private yacht or catamaran excursion to one of the islands along the Southeast coast of the Dominican Republic.

Get your free e-book now – “17 amazing things-to-do for free in Punta Cana”!

More Info >>

 Both islands have their advantages. Isla Saona offers more spectacular scenery and picture-perfect views , Isla Catalina is quieter and has better snorkeling.

 As you can read in my review about Isla Catalina , it further scores with its catamaran cruise, as you can enjoy it both ways as opposed to the combined speed boat-/catamaran ride to Isla Saona.

TOP 12 Punta Cana Excursions

Isla Saona : Saona Info | Book it * Private Saona Island Tour: Private Tour Info | Book it * Dune buggy and ATV excursion : Buggy Info | Book it * Punta Cana Ziplining : Zipline Info | Book it * Party boat & booze cruise : Party Boat Info | Book it * Best Nightlife Show: Coco Bongo Info | Book it * Scape Park Cap Cana & Blue Lagoon : Blue Lagoon Info | Book it * Los Haitises National Park : Los Haitises Info | Book it * Santo Domingo : Santo Domingo Info | Book it * Samaná (Salto El Limón & Cayo Levantado) : Samaná Info | Book it * Helicopter & airplane tours : Helicopter Info | Book it * Whale watching (Jan-Mar only) : Whale watching Info | Book it * Looking for more inspiration? Check out the 40+ best Punta Cana tours !

 However, this is different for private tours, which is why I would lean more towards Isla Saona if I had to choose where to go on a private excursion from Punta Cana with my friends or family. Isla Saona offers more things-to-see and more spectacular spots. The crowds (which are currently not present due to Covid-19) don’t matter that much if you have your own tour anyway. Just if snorkeling is important for you or if you have already been to Isla Saona, Isla Catalina might be the better pick for you.

 For more information about both islands, check out my comprehensive Isla Catalina and Isla Saona guide .

For a head-to-head comparison of Isla Catalina vs Isla Saona, you can also use the following table.

SHARING IS CARING! IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS – I WOULD APPRECIATE IT A LOT.

Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean Soul. Since 2011 I have been living in the Caribbean, among them 5 years in the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana is my home-base here in the country and I’d love to tell you more about how to experience Punta Cana off-the-beaten-track and give you all the advice you want to know for your vacation in Punta Cana.

ALSO WORTH READING:

The 24 best Airbnbs in Punta Cana (hand-picked and recommended)

The best Punta Cana resorts with a water park

Whale watching 2024 in the Dominican Republic – how to see the whales in Punta Cana & Samaná

The 30 best beaches in the Dominican Republic – hidden gems, spectacular beaches, paradisical stretches (incl. map)

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Private Catamaran to Saona Island

Available days: Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

Time at Sea: 7 hours on board

Times: Morning

"Pickup times and locations vary depending on the hotel you are staying at. We will be contacting you shortly with the exact time and pickup location"

Yacht Description

Have you ever chartered your very own catamaran to an off-shore island on the Caribbean Sea? Chances are you haven't but now we're giving YOU the chance to live this Tropical dream for the day. Saona Island is an Oasis off the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. Surrounded by lapping aqua-marine waters and brimming with coconut palms, Saona has been a lazy retreat for hundreds of years, beginning with the native Taino Indians who referred to island as Adamanay, meaning refuge or sanctuary in Arawak. Now it's your turn to enjoy Saona Island on a private dual-haul 70 foot catamaran replete with: Covered area with seating & open area for dancing! Complete bar Open deck for a better view of the Tropics Bathroom Animation team and Latin beats to get the party started right! How many times in your life will you charter a catamaran to a small island in the Caribbean? Exactly... So, we're gonna help you do this the right way. Your full day charter to Saona includes: Open bar: Beer, Rum, Mixers and Water Private lunch with barbecued meats, rice, beans, salad Private transport to/from your hotel lobby with a private guide. And what will you do for 7 hours on the Caribbean Sea? Glad you asked: Stop at a sandbar hundreds of meters from the coast with waist-deep, crystalline waters. Here, WE open the floating bar while YOU bask in this tropical playground. Oh, and you may find a starfish or two at your feet. Ya...it's like that. Then, at the beach, on Saona Island you have some incredibly difficult decisions to make: Nap on a hammock? Play Volleyball? Walk the beach? Swim? Visit the Tiki Bar? Drink what? Rum, Beer? Life can be cruel this way! Availability can be an issue, especially for last second bookings, so please contact us NOW for a quote and a chance to block your desired date. It's Isla Saona on your own private catamaran. Do this the right way with Punta Cana Tours...

• The Charter Includes
•   Transportation
•   Guide
•   Open Bar: Rum, Beer, Soda, Water (Rum, soda and water are served all day. Beer is only served during lunch on the beach)
•   Lunch: BBQ Meats, Rice, Pasta, Salads, Vegetables and Tropical Fruits
• Consider Bringing
•   Comfortable clothing
•   Bathing suit
•   Towel
•   Waterproof Camera
•   Sunscreen
•   Cash

Thanks for contacting Punta Cana Yachts, where we strive to make your vacation here in Punta Cana the best ever! Please fill out the form below when requesting information. If you would like us to give you a quote for a private boat rental, please provide us with the following information

Personal Info

Charter info (only required for a quote), questions or comments.

Full Day Tour to Saona Island by Catamaran from Cabeza de toro

• Private transportation
• professional guide
• This schedule is an approximation. Please, let us know your hotel or accommodation name We will be contacting you to give you the right pick-up time, depending on your hotel or your accommodation.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Isla Saona Stop: 4 hours See details
• 2 Natural Pool Stop: 2 hours See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• Explorer732315 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Loved seeing the Whales. Papa George was amazing. Funny, interacted with everyone and was very knowledgeable about the whales. He spoke Spanish, English, Italian, French and German. The only issue we had was the amount of boats on the water and every single one followed the whales and didn’t cut their engines to avoid propeller strikes. As wonderful as it was to see them, it was less wonderful to watch them being chased each time they surfaced. The island was great, lunch was nice. The vendors were unrelenting which made it hard to want to walk through the area. Read more Written March 3, 2024
• shellabella1228 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Worst excursion experience ever! Worst excursion experience ever. 30 minutes late to pick us up in the morning and then they dropped us off at a gas station to wait for another van to pick us up with my 2 children. Then we get in the next van and we were told we couldn't sit in 4 seats because we had 2 kids we had to sit in 3 seats, so for a 2 hrs drive my 7 year old had to sit on our laps or floor with not enough seat belts. The entire trip was clearly a ploy to give their friends and family as vendors money. We stopped at a store along the way for no reason when we were already late for our 9am boat (according to what I booked). When I contact the tour operator on what's whatsapp, he made it seem like this was all normal and I was in the wrong. We finally made it to our destination at almost 11am. We were supposed to be picked up at 7am. The whale watching was good that's about all I can say but that was a fraction of the trip. I booked a half day (4-6 hr) whale watching tour with round trip transportation and lunch that is what it said on listing. When we were done with whales we stopped at an island where they tried to sell us drinks, photos with animals and we had to walk through a market. No lunch though when we asked when lunch would be they said at the next stop which confused us because we thought we would be going home after the island? We took another boat ride to a port, took a long open air bus ride where I asked the tour guide about us booking a half day excursion and he said no you can't go home the tour wasn't over. When we reached our next stop at a ranch, it was legitimately someone's house where they made rice, beans chicken etc and that was our lunch. I started speaking to multiple people and they had booked only whale watching too, children, elderly people all dressed for whale watching boat tour, just wait next were forced to ride horribly mistreated horses up and down a mountain, my children have never ridden a horse and it was very steep terrain. Then we get to the end of the trail where we had to hike down a mountain in flip flops and crocs and bathing suits (again we only booked whale watching). We reached a waterfall which was pretty but had very slippery sharp rocks under the water and muddy rocks around the water as well, one of us slipped and hit our knee and it bled and swelled. We were not wearning footwear for hiking or goin in the water. We then had to hike back up the mountain wet with slippery sandals, and it's a very steep climb, an older couple with a cane had to take numerous breaks, my mom would never have been able to partake in this never ending ridiculous excursion, and it would have been nice if we got only what we booked and not forced to partake in activities to get their friends extra tips. I called the operator again and he didn't speak much English and said this is a full day tour there's nothing they can do, its not a private tour its shared, like they could make us do whatever because it was a shared tour?! Our guide said complain to the tour company it's not his problem. We had to tip the very nice horse people (they did good but we weren't prepared for this activity) and then didn't have enough for the boat people. This entire excursion was a joke, multiple people were bamboozled into a tour 3 times as long and had to do activities they didn't sign up for. We didn't get home until 8:30pm! We had a dinner reservation we missed and we had started waiting for this tour at 7am! I am surprised more people didn't get hurt, as no one seemed to be prepare for a hike. My children ate only bread from 7am to 8:30pm because we didn't get a choice in lunch. We were all exhausted and sore and were basically held hostage doing an excursion we never wanted. DON'T BOOK THIS TOUR OR USE THIS TOUR COMPANY THEY ARE CROOKS AND PUT US IN DANGER MULTIPLE TIMES!!! Read more Written February 20, 2024
• windwalkerss 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Huge Disappointment This our review for we experienced on a private excursion. Keep in mind I can normally put up with some disappointments but what happened yesterday was terrible and if you are like me you come to the page to gain information on what companies to use etc. We used Shilling Tours and they had great reviews We went on a 6 in one excursion yesterday for 7 people and it was not anything like what we were told. And all of us were extremely disappointed We had Roberto as our interpreter and photographer and he was AMAZING however everything else was a huge disappointment I was told it would be a big boat with adequate facilities, with an open bar all day, and snacks What we got was a small very crappy boat with no bathroom no where to lay out and relax. The boat was terribly rough. Several of our group has had surgeries and the roughness of the boat hurt them horribly. I finally talked to Roberto and he asked the driver to slow down. The pictures on their website are very misleading. I emailed back and forth multiple times and asked tons of questions so it’s not like I didn’t make sure we were getting what I asked for. Basically I was lied to. We only 1 bottle of water per person and no snacks and no open bar! What makes them think 1 bottle of water will be enough to make it 8 hours???? We had to buy our own water after that. The only other drink options was beer or coke. To make it worse I got a phone call the day before and was told there would be rum too. No snacks and no open bar at all. We had to buy rum drinks on Sonoa island. We were told there would be a lobster lunch and got chicken and fish. If we wanted lobster we had to pay $$ Other than the beautiful seas and seeing some of the coolest beaches the trip was very disappointing. Read more Written December 3, 2023
• robertsP5769EL 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Catalina Island excursion is a terrible experience The experience on the Catalina Excursion in the Dominican was absolutely awful. We have done many excursions in so many other countries but this was by far the worst experience ever. We started the day at 7:30 from the hotel going to a meeting point where we were transferred twice in different vehicles. When we got to the boat same experience we were all loaded on one boat of about 30 but they decided we needed to cram more people on another boat so was removed off of that one to the other that already had at least 30 on it. We finally left 3 hours later on the boat packed like sardines. Get to the snorkeling spot and was told we only have 30 minutes now to snorkel because of all the delay so by the time all 60 people unloaded to snorkel and I was ready to get in they told everyone to get out of the water heading to the island. Upon arriving out a ways from the island we anchored where they had to send 3 different boats out to get all the people off the boat which again packed like sardines and took for ever to finally get on the island. We had 2 hrs 30 min to spend on the island where the bar was setup like what you would consider in the states like a kids lemonade stand. The alcoholic drinks were for the most part premade. Also the cups given for water or awful sangria was in small Dixie cups! They did have two bottles of alcohol and the beer did not show up until 1 hour after being on the island. The sand was extremely hot and the ocean was so full of large rocks that you couldn’t get out farther than knee deep water which we didn’t experience either at our resort in Punta Cana. There was no alcohol on the boat at all to or from the island. The restrooms on the boat had no way to flush so they were pretty bad by the time we reached the island. All we wanted was a fun filled day of snorkeling and beach time but quite honestly the time for the trip could not come fast enough as we were so upset and disappointed to spend the money on a very miserable excursion. Waste of money and to be quite honest feel like we should be refunded our money. I am certainly not the guy that is looking for anything free in life but this was ridiculous. Read more Written November 15, 2023
• samanthaaV675SQ 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Pretty Chaotic The pros of this tour was we did get to see whales. However this tour was incredibly chaotic from the very poor communication of finding the bus picking us up from the hotel to getting to the drop off location where no one knew what was going on. The weather was HORRIBLE (while I get they cannot control that they did said they would cancel/reschedule if it was) everyone was throwing up on board, not only were the waves flooding the boat it was pouring rain too making it hard to see the whales. The boat was also way overcrowded. Trying to figure out which island people are going to and where we were going for lunch was a disaster. It was also hours longer than what we expected. Another review posted on here sounded just like the same experience we had. As much as we loved seeing the whales I would have rather stayed at the resort and went else where to see whales. Read more Written August 7, 2023
• 817nans 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles You have to be there to experience this adventure More than what was expected. Most amazing 360 degrees view of the sea and the mountains. Our guide Alex, is very professional ar what he does. Excellent no rush tour, tasteful lunch, and provides tip on souvenier shopping. I recommed this trip for away from the beach, cities tour, and if possible, get Alex as your tour guide, there will be no regrets. Read more Written August 5, 2023
• R3287BOolgas 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Terrible experience The guide didn’t show up. We waited for the whole hour nobody picked me and my family. We tried to contact the phone that was provided nobody picked up the phone. We tried to text nobody reply. We tried to communicate from TripAdvisor nobody answered. Read more Written July 14, 2023
• NorthStar29588756902 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles The Excursion from Hell I am an honest person, so I am going to tell you the truth; the good, the bad and the ugly. My husband booked this snorkeling excursion for for a fun getaway from the hotel through Trip Advisor. It was midway through our vacation and we were looking forward to it. The good.... the crew was friendly, hardworking and polite. The captain had driven boats for 27 years, so we felt safe on the large boat under his guidance. Once we arrived at the beach for lunch, the water was very pretty. The bad.... When snorkeling, they make you wear a life jacket the entire time. This has never been our experience on any excursion, anywhere. While I appreciate safety, maybe they should base it on swimming ability. (and yes, the water was calm) The belt of the life jacket was cutting into my neck the entire time to the point that it hindered my breathing through the snorkel (and we had brought our own good snorkels and masks) My husband was so frustrated, he just went back to the boat, and most others quit snorkeling and just sat on the life jacket. Maybe instead of just sitting in the boat, the staff could have been active watching the snorkelers to make sure they were okay, and not on their phones, or asleep; then the participants would not have to wear life jackets. When snorkeling, you have to stay within 10-12 feet of the boat the entire time. They do not want you anywhere else. If there are fish there, that is great; if not, too bad. We looked at the same 10 black fish the entire 45 minutes in the water. While we were snorkeling, the other half of the boat went scuba diving. Part beginners, part advanced. The advanced group did not see 1 single fish. The beginners were with us. Pretty boring experience. The ugly....After snorkeling, we headed to the island for lunch. The snorkeling group would eat, while the diving group went on a second dive. Meaning we would be there an awfully long time. To get to the island, the large boat stops, and puts the passengers in a small boat to shuttle in. They combined us with another large boat. This put 28 people in a small pontoon boat to get to the shore. I cannot tell you how many times we almost tipped over. No life jackets required for that part. Even though we were moving toward shallower water, this was not safe. Once on shore, of course other people were already there. There were plenty of lounge chairs, but only shade enough for about 5. Lunch was served buffet style. We started eating. A nice family from Germany that spoke English sat down across from us. As we chatted, the lady pulled a live white maggot out of her spaghetti and put it on the table. I almost lost it. My husband and I promptly quit eating; although we did not have the spaghetti. We had to wait another 2 hours after that for the scuba group to get back and for them to eat before we could leave the island. We were shuttled back out, and given rum drinks on the boat back to the dock before going to the hotel. Ruined trip....My husband got sick that night. I became ill the next day. The rest of our trip was ruined. All remaining 4 days. We could not eat; could hardly even drink water. I lost 7 pounds between Thursday and Sunday morning, and I am not a big person at all. We arrived home Saturday night and were at Rapid Med Sunday getting bloodwork tested and IV fluids. Our first solid meal was Thursday (a week from the Thursday I got sick) We are still waiting on tests to see if we have a parasite. Although we did not see anything in our food, clearly it may have been maggot eggs, or poor handling of the food that made us sick. We always go on excursions, and have been to at least 20 different countries plus the Caribbean the past 25 years in row, and this has never happened to us. Do not book this excursion and ruin your vacation! Not only will you regret it during your trip, but when you get home as well. And there is the honest review. Read more Written July 8, 2023
• Trail27824775561 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles I will come back again with them and To go 5 Star It’s was an amazing experience, he was nice, friendly… took us to experience the country side and meal. Took us to best party plugs , restaurants and affordable shop locations Read more Written July 4, 2023
• Mrbrianfitz 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Good times, good food, great people The beach was awesome and the ride back was one big party. The crew was amazing. Made new friends from all parts of the globe. Highly recommend for good food good vibes and great fun. Read more Written June 15, 2023
• richardnF5691YP 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Awful communication Unable to go due not coordinating travel to and from hotel after multiple tries via WhatsApp and regular text/calls. Refused refund request Read more Written February 16, 2023
• framic69 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles city tour Over all this was a good tour. The communication from the provider was not so great. that is why only 3 stars. best part of the tour was the rum factory, where you get to taste 8 types of rum. Beware at the top of the cable car ride there are tons of stairs up and down, so bring water. There is plenty of things to see up top. Read more Written February 13, 2023
• paulbE2486SQ 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles More Bad Than Good! I generally only do reviews when I’ve had an exceptionally great experience or a bad one. Unfortunately, this one falls into the latter category. I have purposefully waited a few days before writing this review because I wanted to be fair and factual. We booked the Full Day Whale Watching Tour in Samana Bay from Punta Cana through Viator tours but the tour operator was Shelting Tours. The Good Part: • We managed to see some of the best whale watching we’ve ever experienced. This lasted about 30-45 minutes and it was up close showing mother and baby and I think we even saw the father at some point. We took some very nice pictures and video so we could relive it later on. • Also, overall, the staff was very friendly. The Bad Part: • Speaking of the boat, it was very nice but certainly overcrowded. There were some people that didn’t even have a seat so they had to stand for most of the trip. We also had a few situations where people were blocking our view, so we missed some of the action. Of all the other boats we saw that day, ours was the most crowded. • There are many different tour packages offering a variety of activities thrown in with the whale watching as well as the duration of the tours. We chose the 8-hour version by Shelting tours that advertised to last about 8 hours and it included transportation on a comfortable air conditioned coach bus, whale watching, and lunch at Bacardi Island and a brief time on Bacardi beach. Some of the other tours ranged from 10-14 hours and included horseback riding, visiting waterfalls and other excursions. We opted for the shorter trip because we simply didn’t want to be gone that long. But here’s how it actually played out... We were picked up at our hotel at around 6:40am. At the security gate, not the lobby as they had promised in the advertisement. This meant we had to get the hotel to give us a ride to the gate. The drive from the hotel to the boat was about 75 miles and since there were several stops and waits along the way, we arrived at the boat dock 2 hours and 45 minutes later. There were stops literally along the side of a major road where the person in charge opened the door, called some names and pointed to another bus pulled off of the road near us… not exactly a comfortable experience for those pulled off and directed onto another bus. The “comfortable” coach bus we were promised was an older bus that seemed to have been designed for children with very narrow and small seats. Every seat was taken, including an extra jump seat by the door. Not the “Comfortable Coach” that was advertised. • When we arrived, we were dropped off at a dirt lot right at water’s edge where garbage was stacked up around at the water line and throughout the lot. They offered a snack of a piece of meat between 2 slices of bread and some coffee. • Poor, poor communication and chaotic and uncoordinated transfers (bus to boat, boat to shore, shore to boat, boat to bus) at every point. Yes, there was a huge language barrier, but also little to no communication or even coordination most of the time. If this is a daily occurrence, print up some basic instructions or pieces of directions in different languages to use. There was a guide that spoke several languages, but I’m not sure he understood what he was saying since he could not really answer questions. • We were supposed to eat lunch at Bacardi Island beach. See their advertisement. Instead, after dropping off some from the group who signed up for one of the longer trips, we were taken by the boat somewhere else (Santa Barbara de Samana, I think) and then ushered to this small local dive where we ate then waited about 30 more minutes for our boat to return. No beach or explanation whatsoever on what was going on. Anyway, we were then picked up by the boat and taken back to Bacardi Island beach. The beach was OK but was a bit crowded with trash laying around. OK now if you are doing the math based on the quoted 8 hours, you are thinking that we are only going to be at this beach for an hour or so. Here’s where it begins to get very sketchy. We were given a free drink ticket and told we would not be picked up from the island until 5:00 - 5:30pm and it’s now 1:15pm. We were in fact picked up at around 5:30pm so at this point the 8-hour tour is already into 10 hours and we’re still a boat ride to get back to the bus and a long bus ride. Anyway, once we arrived back to where the many buses were waiting, nobody was telling you which bus to get on and it was up to you to walk to each bus and check if it was your bus. We spent a good 5-10 minutes in a bit of a panic looking for our bus. We were afraid we would be left behind and we’re 2 hours and 45 minutes from the hotel and it’s getting dark. We finally arrived back at the hotel at 8:45pm. There were some other not so pleasant things that happened, but I think you can get a good sense for how this went. • So, it looks like various tour operators share the bus and boat with other tours and other tour operators. Us signing up for an 8-hour tour didn’t matter since we were lumped in with 12-14 hour tours…they simply stretched the 8 group out to 14 hours. There was no warning they were planning this at any point. There was also a feeling (comments from workers) that they do this all the time, so I don’t think this was a one-off situation. They were in fact saving money (boat and bus transportation as well as labor) by combining all transportation for the two tours. I would steer clear of Shelting Tours and also this 8-hour tour by unless you like unpleasant surprises. Read reviews carefully and verify with the tour operator all the details before you signup and do screen shots of any text communications. Read more Written January 30, 2023
• sierrrae 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Top tier Experience! Loved our tour guide Alex and our driver Elvis. Top tier experience and they love to teach you the coolest spots and feels like they are really genuine and kind gentlemen! Read more Written January 24, 2023
• U1208UYjoshuas 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Grumpy Person Impressed! I’m not one easily impressed or care about sight seeing excursions, but was elated by the end of it. The sights were beautiful. The food fantastic, better than any of the food we had at our resort. Our guide Alex and driver Elvis for this excursion were amazing, and really made this trip a personal and unique experience. Read more Written January 24, 2023

More to explore in Dominican Republic

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Full Day Tour to Saona Island by Catamaran from Cabeza de toro provided by Shelting Tours

Catamaran to Saona Island

Catamaran Tour to Saona Island

In the early morning, dozens of beautiful catamarans dot the Bayahibe shoreline waiting to take anxious tourists to the stunning shores of Saona Island. Most of these tourists come from Punta Cana but some stay at local Bahayibe hotels as well. As long as you are using a reputable tour operator you should be more than pleased with the quality of the catamarans cruising you out to or back from Isla Saona. Normally, Saona catamarans include all the necessary amenities for a comfortable and enjoyable day out on the Caribbean Sea. A large, covered dance area, animation team, beat pumping sound systems, bathrooms and a wide front net to soak up the sun and hover just above the water line as the cat moves steadily along. Open bar is normally the biggest draw on Saona Catamarans with dark, rich Dominican rum, beer, soda, juice and water.

The catamaran ride is normally the highlight for everyone's Isla Saona trip. Even more so than the beach! The reason being is mostly because of the animation professionals. These are trained animation and dancing teams that really know how to get the party started and get you up and dance! Visitors always get a crash course in latin music dancing like merengue, salsa and the Dominican Republic's own homegrown sound of Bachata. And, with open bar, shyness seems to fade away for everyone.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK A CATAMARAN TOUR

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Private Charter

The Original --> Saona Island Private Charters

ECO FRIENDLY

Max. Capacity

Days sailed, happy clients, saona island private charters.

Visit Saona Island on one of our private tour options , whether on a speed boat or catamaran your day on Saona Island will be truly a memorable one.

What to bring

... good mood and fun

What's included

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Unlimited beer, rum and soft drinks

Professional Guide & Crew

and for sure lots of fun ...

SAONA VS. PUNTA CANA

Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures has now opened its doors to the Saona Trip. Although Saona is known to be a wonderful experience, we find it is important for our clients to investigate and compare some important facts about this trip before booking.

SAONA ISLAND full day tour:

SIGHTSEEING: Caribbean Sea

TRANSPORTATION: Transfers between 1 hour and 1 1/2 hour

DURATION: FULL DAY outside of your resort

STOPS: Beach with buffet & Starfish Cay

FOOD: Served buffet style on the beach (OPEN-AIR)

PUNTA CANA half day tour:

SIGHTSEEING: Atlantic Ocean & Cabo Engano (where Atlantic meets the Caribbean)

TRANSPORTATION: Transfer is less than 30 minutes (depending on your hotel)

DURATION: HALF DAY outside of your resort

STOPS: Snorkeling in a coral nursery, deserted beach with fresh Coco Loco Cocktails & Natural Pool

FOOD: Served directly from a floating kitchen right onto your plate. * Private tours get skewers served also directly from the floating kitchen, show cooking. You can hop over to see how your food is being grilled.

3 and 4 hours cruises--> Saona FULL DAY charters

Our seasonings are handpicked and made from scratch.

Our first-class food is grilled on our Floating Kitchen , which allows you to hop over and take a look at the magic! We can accommodate dietary restrictions of any kind and our food is grilled separately to avoid cross-contamination.

All our 4 hours private tours will have the opportunity to do an upgrade and eat at Eclipse the biggest event boat in the Caribbean , available during the booking process.

Saona by Speed Boat

(approx. 8 hours) from  us$  855.00, cruise times :, rates : from  us$  855.00 -->, saona & fishing town, (approx. 8 hours) from  us$  945.00, rates : from  us$  945.00 -->, saona by catamaran, (approx. 8 hours) from  us$  1,755.00, rates : from  us$  1,755.00 -->.

Here are some of our best snapshots from one of our PrivateCharters excursion to give you a little preview of what could be your highlight during your Dominican Republic vacation or business trip, we hope you enjoy them. For more day-to-day pictures please visit us on Facebook and kindly become a fan.

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Hispaniola Acuatic Adventures

At Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures we know that if we're enjoying what we do you'll enjoy our excursion, what most satisfies us is to have happy guests. Read More ...

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• Semi-Private (adults only)
• Semiprivate-Families
• Private Tours
• Events & Party Boat