Almost nobody stays overnight on Saona Island, because it is a protected national park with no resorts, off the south-east tip of the Dominican Republic inside the Cotubanama National Park. The only way to see it is a boat day trip from the mainland, and it is the country’s most popular one, usually run from Punta Cana through the little port of Bayahibe. A group tour runs around 90 US dollars and includes the transfer, a buffet lunch and an open bar, with the famous natural pool and its starfish on the way. Below is how to get there, which excursion to book, what it all costs and whether it is worth it. The official Dominican Republic tourist board has the practical basics. Written and checked in July 2026.
How do you get to Saona Island?
You do not really visit Saona independently, since it is a national park with no accommodation and boats leave as organised trips from the mainland port of Bayahibe. How you reach Bayahibe depends on where you are staying.
- From Punta Cana or Bavaro, the tour bus takes about an hour each way, and pickups are early, often between 6am and 7.30am.
- From La Romana or Bayahibe itself, you are 10 to 30 minutes from the port, so you get more beach time.
- From Santo Domingo, it is about a two-hour drive, so most people book it as a long day tour with transfer.
Whichever tour you pick, hotel pickup and drop-off are almost always included in the price, so you do not need to arrange your own way to Bayahibe.
Which Saona Island excursion should you book?
The trip is sold in a few formats, and the difference is mostly the boat and the crowd. The combo, a fast speedboat out and a slow catamaran back, is the most common. Rough per-person prices, all normally including transfer, buffet lunch and open bar.
| Excursion type | Boat and journey | Rough price | Best for |
| Speedboat and catamaran combo | Speedboat out (about 40 min), catamaran back (about 90 min) | 85 to 100 USD pp | Most people, a bit of everything |
| Big party catamaran | Catamaran both ways, roughly 90 min each | From about 75 USD pp | Budget and a party crowd |
| Speedboat only | About 40 min each way | 90 to 120 USD pp | More time on the island, less on the boat |
| Private or small group | Your own boat and pace | From about 650 USD per couple | Privacy and a calmer day |
What is included is usually the resort transfer, a Dominican buffet lunch on the beach, and an open bar of local rum, Presidente beer and soft drinks. What is not included is the tip for the crew, any professional photos they sell, and souvenirs in Mano Juan village. For fewer crowds, pick a smaller-group operator or the speedboat combo rather than the giant party catamarans, which can carry hundreds.
What is there to do on Saona Island?
The day is built around a few set stops, with free beach time at the end.
- The natural pool, or Piscina Natural, a waist-deep sandbar out at sea where starfish live on the seabed. Look, do not lift them out of the water, since handling kills them.
- Catuano Beach and the main palm-backed beach, where lunch is served and you get your free time.
- Mano Juan, a photogenic fishing village of pastel huts with a small sea-turtle hatchery and craft stalls.
- Snorkelling over the reefs, plus hammocks strung between the palms if you would rather do nothing.
Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean may recognise the beaches, since Dead Man’s Chest filmed here, and the park is home to rhinoceros iguanas and frigatebirds.
How much does a trip to Saona Island cost?
The tour itself is the big cost. A bare party-boat ticket starts near 75 dollars, a standard group trip is about 90, and private trips cost more. Beyond that, the Dominican Republic is cheap once you leave the resort bubble, so budget a little cash for the day. Rough 2026 prices around Punta Cana and Bayahibe.
| Item | Rough cost |
| Standard group Saona tour | About 90 USD per person |
| Presidente beer, local bar | 2 to 3 USD |
| Lunch at a local comedor | 8 to 12 USD |
| Main at a resort-area restaurant | 20 to 35 USD |
| Bottle of water | About 1 USD |
| Short taxi around Punta Cana | 20 to 40 USD |
| Tip for the tour crew | 5 to 10 USD per person |
Bring small US dollars for tips and drinks off the boat, since cards are little use on the island and the open bar does not cover everything.
When is the best time to visit Saona Island?
The dry season from December to April is the best time, with reliable sun and calmer seas that make the boat ride smoother. May to November is hotter and wetter, and the official hurricane season runs June to November, with the highest risk from August to October, when trips are occasionally cancelled for weather. Whenever you go, take the earliest departure you can, because by midday several hundred people are sharing the main beach.
Is Saona Island worth it?
Yes, with the right expectations. The beaches and the natural pool are as good as the photos, and the price includes a full day out with lunch and drinks, which is strong value. It is not a deserted castaway island though, it is a well-run mass-tourism day trip, busiest in the middle of the day. Book a smaller-group or speedboat tour, take the early start, and it is one of the best days you can have from Punta Cana. Nearby Isla Catalina is usually the quieter alternative.
What should you know before you go?
A few honest tips to make the day better. Skip the giant party catamaran if loud music and crowds are not your thing, and pay a little more for a smaller boat. Skip buying the professional photos pushed on the boat unless you really want them. Do not lift the starfish out of the water for a picture, since it harms them and guides increasingly ask people not to. Take motion-sickness tablets if the catamaran leg tends to bother you, wear reef-safe sunscreen, and carry cash in small dollars for tips and extras.
Planning the day
A little planning makes the day. Book a smaller-group or speedboat tour rather than the cheapest mega-catamaran, take the earliest pickup, and carry small dollars for tips and drinks. Do that and it is the standout day trip on the Punta Cana side of the island, and one of the easiest good beach days in the Caribbean. The resorts and the capital, Santo Domingo, are covered in the Dominican Republic guide.
FAQs
On an organised boat excursion from the mainland port of Bayahibe, since the island is a national park with no hotels. From Punta Cana the tour bus takes about an hour to Bayahibe, and hotel pickup is included. Speedboats reach the island in about 40 minutes, catamarans in about 90.
A standard group excursion is around 90 US dollars per person, including transfer, a buffet lunch and an open bar. Bare party-boat tickets start near 75 dollars, and private or small-group trips start around 650 dollars per couple. Budget a little extra cash for crew tips.
Yes, for the beaches, the natural pool and the value of a full day with lunch and drinks included. Just know it is a busy, well-organised day trip rather than a quiet castaway island, so book a smaller-group tour and take the earliest start to beat the midday crowds.
December to April, the dry season, for the best sun and calmest seas. May to November is hotter and wetter, and the hurricane season runs June to November with the highest risk from August to October, when trips can be cancelled for weather.
It is a waist-deep sandbar out at sea, the Piscina Natural, where starfish live on the seabed and most tours stop to swim. Look but do not lift the starfish out of the water, as handling them causes harm.
