Saona Island from Punta Cana: price, distance and is it worth it?
Saona Island is the best-known excursion from Punta Cana: white sand, a catamaran, a natural pool and lunch on the island. Before booking, it helps to know how long it takes to get there, what is included and who it is not for.
Prices per person taken from each tour page on November 10, 2026. Check the price on the linked page before booking.
Where is Saona Island and how far is it from Punta Cana?
Saona Island is in the southeast of the Dominican Republic, off Bayahibe, inside Cotubanamá National Park (formerly Parque Nacional del Este). You cannot drive there: you go by road to Bayahibe, about 70 km (43 miles) from Punta Cana, around one hour, and from there by boat.
Normally one leg is by speedboat and the other by catamaran, with a stop at the natural pool: a shallow sandbank in the middle of the sea where you can see starfish.
You can also go from other parts of the country. Jhoraji Tours has departures from Bayahibe (US$65), Miches (US$80), Santo Domingo (US$90) and Samaná (US$165).
How long is the Saona Island excursion?
All day. Pickup is between 6:30 and 7:15 am, depending on where your hotel is on the route, and you are back in the afternoon.
The program is timed around lunch on the island: normally you go by speedboat and come back by catamaran, or the other way round. In between there is about an hour by road to Bayahibe each way, the stop at the natural pool and free time on the beach.
Do not book another activity that day, and avoid scheduling it the day before your flight home.
How much does the Saona Island excursion cost?
From Punta Cana, US$65 per person for the classic excursion and US$120 for the small-group VIP tour, both with hotel pickup and lunch.
| Departure | Excursion | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Punta Cana | Classic Saona Island | US$65 |
| Punta Cana | Saona Island VIP | US$120 |
| Bayahibe | Saona Island from Bayahibe | US$65 |
| Miches | Saona Island from Miches | US$80 |
| Santo Domingo | Saona Island from Santo Domingo | US$90 |
| Samaná | Saona Island from Samaná | US$165 |
Tips (optional), photos and premium alcoholic drinks are extra. You can pay on the day of the activity.
What does the Saona Island excursion include?
The classic trip includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned transfer to the port, a catamaran or speedboat ride with music and entertainment, a stop at the natural pool, free time on the beach, a Dominican buffet lunch with drinks and a visit to the fishing village of Mano Juan.
The VIP tour changes the format: a small group, quieter beaches and snorkeling.
| Classic | VIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | US$65 | US$120 |
| Maximum group | 50 people | 20 people |
| Beaches | Main beach and natural pool | Up to 4 uncrowded beaches and the natural pool |
| Snorkeling | Not listed on the tour page | Guided, with gear |
| Lunch | Dominican buffet with drinks | Typical lunch by the sea, with an open bar of local drinks |
| Mano Juan | Yes | Yes |
| Tour page | Saona Island | Saona Island VIP |
Is Saona Island worth it?
Yes, if you want a full day on a Caribbean beach away from the resort: for US$65 you get the boat, the natural pool, the beach and lunch. It is not for you if you do not want an early start (pickup is between 6:30 and 7:15 am) or about two hours on the road, there and back.
For. Saona faces the Caribbean Sea, where the water is usually calmer and clearer than on Bávaro's Atlantic coast. The catamaran ride is part of the plan and the price includes the meal.
Against. It is a very popular excursion, and on the main beach you will share the sand with other groups. If that worries you, the VIP version goes in a small group to less-visited beaches.
There is no minimum age and babies do not pay. The tour pages advise against the excursion for pregnant women and, for the classic trip, also for people with heart problems.
Saona Island or Catalina Island: which is better?
Saona if you want beach, catamaran and atmosphere; Catalina if you are after snorkeling or scuba diving. They cost almost the same: US$65 and US$70.
| Saona Island | Catalina Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A long white-sand beach, a natural pool with starfish and the village of Mano Juan | A coral reef for snorkeling; diving at The Wall or The Aquarium |
| Duration | Full day | 8 hours |
| Pickup | 6:30 to 7:15 am | 6:30 to 7:30 am |
| Includes | Buffet lunch with drinks | Snorkel gear, buffet lunch and local drinks |
| Price | US$65 (VIP, US$120) | US$70 (with diving, US$140) |
| Tour page | Saona Island | Catalina Island |
If you have a week, there is room for both: they are different days at sea.
What should I bring to Saona Island?
Your swimsuit on, a towel, sunscreen, a cap, sunglasses and some cash for photos and souvenirs.
Add dry clothes for the way back, a waterproof phone pouch and, if you get seasick, your usual medication. Leave jewelry and anything you do not want to get wet at the hotel.
You are in a national park: use reef-safe sunscreen if you can, and do not take the starfish out of the water.
To compare Saona with the rest, see all the excursions with prices. If you are unsure about dates, read when seaweed season is and, to book, how to book and pay.