Saona Island, Dominican Republic: Final Thoughts. Be the first to receive special offers, event announcements, exciting tour updates, and so much morewhen you sign up for our newsletter. 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. One of the cheapest and most recommended tours is this Private Saona Island Cruise for up to 6 people*. Departures from 9am onwards, arrival to Bayahibe to 5.30 pm maximum. Check out the following widget with some alternative tours. Choose your destination: This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. With the current price of 450 US (subject to change), it is just 75 US per person an unbeatable bargain. This is why we are sharing this Complete Guide to Saona Island with you. It is very difficult to make a comparison between both islands. If you dont 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. It is known for its coral reefs, which caused shipwrecks of some ships such as that of Captain Kidd, a British pirate who was shipwrecked on the shores of Catalina and nowadays diving enthusiasts can visit his sunken ship in this history museum under the sea. 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. See a list of all hotels in Saona Island. Saona Island is located to the south of Punta Cana, just 12 miles off the coast. And the Cuba Libres flowed freely at the Natural Pool after:D. But highly recommend Seavis for the OP, they arrange the taxi and are just a top-notch outfit. This is a real island mon! Catalina Island, also known as Ikiita Island, is considered a Protected Natural Park and is located half an hour by boat from Casa de Campo in La Romana. With a private tour, you can have a more exclusive experience. What's so amazing about Isla Saona? Motor catamaran for rent and private tours to Saona Island, Palmilla (natural pools) and Catalina Island with departures from Bayahibe. 4 EXCURSIONS FOR USD250 P/P . If youve been wanting to reconnect with your natural side, visiting Isla Saona should be a must-do for your Caribbean vacation! There are not as many private tours available for Isla Catalina as for Isla Saona, hence a comprehensive list with different tours and providers doesnt make that much sense. ATV + El Valle Beach & Waterfalls, Baha de las Aguilas: Beach Day Trip by Boat -Day Pass Pedernales, Baha de las Aguilas: Beach Day Trip by Boat -Day Pass Snorkeling & Lunch, Birdwatching in Los Haitises National Park, Birdwatching Punta Cana Birding Tours from Punta Cana to Los Haitises National Park, Catalina Island and Snorkeling with Catamaran Party From Punta Cana Half Day Experience. Check out the Saona Island Tour and Catalina Island Tour and the Saona Gallery and the Catalina Gallery for some impressions, enjoy! Thank Kanta M . Do you want to take some beautiful pictures during your Saona Island trip? You choose the type of boat: sailing catamaran, motor catamaran, yacht or motorboat. Most Saona Island tours with big boats and crowds wont make a snorkeling stop, but Saona can offer an amazing snorkeling experience since it is a part of a large national park, Cotubanam, and a sanctuary to a large number of different species. We'll hit the Caribbean Sea on a speedboat and slowly cruise you back to the mainland on a spacious catamaran. Private boat rental for full day tour to visit Saona Island or Catalina Island. What Is Better: Isla Saona vs. Isla Catalina The reviews lately on the Carnival Saona special are not that great noting the seaweed problem, bad food experiences. 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. It is recognized as one of the best diving / snorkeling spots in the Dominican Republic and even the Caribbean and it is not surprising due to its seabed full of corals, sea sponges and tropical fish. The indegineous Taino people, the native populations of the Dominican Republic, occupied Saona Island before Christopher Columbuss arrival in 1494. Thats not surprising if you see the photos of this exclusive catamaran, which will bring you straight to paradise! Ask Kanta M about Saona Island Paradise From Punta Cana. Comfortable speed boat for private rental in Bayahibe for up to 12 people. No shoes on the boat. Our private half-day or full-day boat tours allow you to escape the crowds for a memorable Saona Island tour to experience this slice of Caribbean paradise on your own terms. It's up to you whether you want to discover one of the islands or, if you have enough time, venture to know the two little jewels of the Dominican Republic. Social distancing can be enforced. It is an island in the southeast of the country, dotted with palm-fringed beaches and surrounded by incredibly blue turquoise waters. Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean Soul. Each boat to Saona Island is different. This is not to say that there's not big boats going to Catalina. 17 Full day buggy Safari with lunch and Chavon River Tour. Private charters from La Marina at Casa de Campo Resort, La Romana. Then a Saona Island trip is just what you need! And when you find yourself in its crystalline waters, you must remember that you are in one of the most important ecological reserves of the Dominican Republic. Isla Saona: Saona 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*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*Saman (Salto El Limn & Cayo Levantado): Saman Info | Book it*Helicopter & airplane tours: Helicopter Info | Book it*Whale watching (Jan-Mar only): Whale watching Info | Book it*Looking for more inspiration? However, you can check out the following tour which is one of the best private tours to Isla Catalina. There, around the coral reef, we can see all kinds of fish of different colors. Muchas gracias Antonio por tu amable comentario! Departing from your hotel at 7 am, the tour includes the same stops as our classic Saona Island excursion. Our private boat tours let you have the experience of your dreams! Visit the Tiki Bar, dance merengue, visit the Tiki Bar, play volleyball, visit the Tiki Bar, walk the beach, visit the Tiki Bar, hit the buffet. In case of any problem, you can always seek immediate help from the staff or with the organizer. With over 20yrs. It is about an hour from most all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana to where the boat leaves. 3. It depends what you meany by "better". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2019 - 2023 Punta Cana Hero. Think Sun, Sand, Booze, Boats and Bikinis! Drinks and Food is not included but can be requested at the time of your reservation for an additional price. 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. 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua Tour from Puerto Plata. And if Catalina impresses underwater, it also does so on the surface. Most Popular Posts on Punta Cana Travel Blog . Isla Saona (or in English Saona Island) is the most popular tourist destination for day-trips in the Dominican Republic. For a head-to-head comparison of Isla Catalina vs Isla Saona, you can also use the following table. First of all, we show you our classic excursion to Saona Island. I guess it depends on what you want to do! As mentioned, there is quite an amount of people visiting Isla Saona (and to a lesser extent Isla Catalina as well). The second of the excursions we propose is our classic visit to Catalina Island. Los Flamencos Aparthotel. There were about 20 of us, and only two divers. We start approximately 8:00 am from Bavaro - Punta Cana to Bayahibe. Isla Catalina, also called Isla Ikiita (also called by local indigenous people like Toeya) is an island in the Caribbean Sea just a few kilometers southeast of Isla La Espaola south of the province of La Romana. The activity starts at your hotel, where we will pick you up to go to our departure point embark in a catamaran to Saona Island. However, for the overall experience we'd choose the powerboat excursion with Seavis, great day that! This full-day Saona Island tour includes a buffet lunch served beneath shady palm trees, round-trip transport by sailing catamaran, drinks on board the boat, and four hours of free time to experience Saona Island at your own pace. Isla Catalina offers a more intimate experience because it is a quieter island and tourists don't visit it as often as Saona Island. You may have seen Saona Island in the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Blue Lagoon, since some scenes from these movies were shot on Isla Saona! Not Bus Pick Up. Catalina & Saona are on the Caribbean Sea, so the water will be warm. The natural park bracelets (tax) are not included in the price:5$ USD per person. We guarantee you that you will love this Island and it's amazing reefs! Please go ahead and add Punta Cana Travel Blog to your feed: Youll have much smaller groups just the people from your traveling party. How to find the best Private Tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina? Seaweed was present around the first snorkel site at the old pier, not over where we were, but the snorkeling is not great there anyway. Check out the following options for some additional Isla Saona private tours for up to 10, sometimes even 12 people. Whats Included: Impuestos de parque incluido 14 From Los Melones: Saona Island Day Trip with Lunch. The captain is included with the boat rental. Do you remember the gorgeous Bounty Chocolate commercials that showed off a deserted island with a gorgeous white sand beach and turquoise waters? No matter what your interests are, Catalina Island offers something for you. Due to the seaweed problem at Saona Island (can anyone confirm this that's been lately? Although it is located off the coast of the province of La Altagracia, it is administratively part of the province of La Romana. This is not to say that there's not big boats going to Catalina. The best private excursion I can recommend for Isla Catalina is this private boat tour*. Saona Island is a must if you come to spend your vacation in the Dominican Republic and its popularity is well deserved. Catalina is more recommended if you are in snorkeling and scuba diving. You will feel unique in the world, and even more so when you visit the natural pool, where you can see starfish and walk to infinity without being covered by the water. DESCRIPTION. The sand can also be a problem if it's a little rougher. Bayahibe Travel Guide At 17:00 it will be time to return by boat, and finally we will take you back to your hotel. On the other hand, if your intention is to enjoy a privileged environment where you can also snorkel or dive, you should choose Catalina Island. : Visit Saona Island, an idyllic speck of sand and palm trees in the blue Caribbean, during a full-day tour from Punta Cana. We'll be contacting you shortly with the exact location". There are some recommendations that are the same for all the excursions: The best time to visit both islands is from January to April, when rainfall is much lower and temperatures are lower. Posee una superficie aproximada de 9,6 . But the highlight of the activity is the visit to the village of Mano Juan, where you can meet the inhabitants of the island. I know it is sometimes boring to read all those articles with all my personal experiences and recommendations. In Mano Juan, a small fishing village on Isla Saona, there is a refuge for turtles that you can visit and you can help the cause with a donation. Hop on board, sail along the Caribbean Sea, feel the ocean breeze and sip on an ice-cold beer or a delicious Cuba Libre. The Wall, is a slope that plunges to 100 meters deep and where a great variety of marine life proliferates. Oscar himself met us on the beach with our drinks which we paid for on the Internet and even helped us get on our boat. Powered by Invision Community. Maximum for 40 people on board. On the way to Isla Saona, theres a gorgeous natural pool, a large area with waist-deep shallow and crystal clear water. Alternatively, you may use, Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort, https://www.proexcursionsbayahibe.com/en/index.html. Book your private Saona Island excursion now! However, approximately three decades after Columbuss first visit and the Spanish conquest, the Taino population of the Dominican Republic including the Saona Island was diminished by old world diseases, such as smallpox, and brutal work conditions established by the colonizers. and share your adventures with friends and family. It is led by Negro, a local community organization, that gets turtle eggs from high-risk areas to a safe environment where they can hatch and then be returned to their natural habitat. The ride from Bayahibe to Catalina by boat takes about 25 min. However, be careful not to touch the starfish you find because your sunscreen is toxic for them. Hotel Bayahibe. Plus, they have not responded to my reservation request. Saona Island is a beautiful Carribean destination to visit, but HOW you visit it matters a lot. With Catalina you're snorkeling off the boat or off the Wall so less concerns about sand and you have both the Aquarium and the Wall to snorkel. He knows every captain in the area and every boat. It is also an exceptionally good place to fish, where you can find specimens of guatapan, horse mackerel, king mackerel, and other types of temperate-water fish. Isla Saona offers more things-to-see and more spectacular spots. leave from Bayahibe and arrive straight to the gorgeous wild beaches shortly after. It is an island in the southeast of the country, dotted with palm-fringed beaches and surrounded by incredibly blue turquoise waters. Isla Saona is a relatively small island just 42 square kilometers long but it has a rich history. With an Italian-medieval appearance, this place is famous for being a meeting point for many celebrities. Departing from Bayahibe. . Where to begin to describe one of the most beautiful places in the Dominican Republic. Catalina Beach. 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 youd like to book it). For more information about both islands, check out my comprehensive Isla Catalina and Isla Saona guide. They make for a gorgeous photo background, too! GOOD NEWS! However, the finishing village of Mano Juan does have a small hotel where you can rent a cheap room for the night. Are you looking for a littleadventure? more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Spend a relaxing time on Catalina Island, an uninhabited nature reserve and national park, and enjoy a barbecue-style lunch on the island. The island of Saona is the most visited island in the Dominican Republic. Enjoy the Saona or Catalina Islands with this private tour to suit your group. How many islands does the Dominican Republic have? Both meet the prototype of Caribbean paradise islands, with crystal clear waters and beaches of fine yellow sand that lend themselves to spend a day of scandal. There were lots of vans picking up to go to Saona/Catalina.