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Full-Day Catalina Island Snorkeling Tour from Punta Cana

Name: Full-Day Catalina Island Snorkeling Tour from Punta Cana
Brand: Passion Paradise Adventures
SKU: 18359P1
Price: 72.00 USD
Rating: 3.5 (177 reviews)

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Special Offer

From $72.00

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

9 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Cruise along the coast of the Dominican Republic to Catalina Island aboard the 'Paradise'. During this full-day tour led by PADI-certified divers, relax on Catalina Island's beaches and explore 'the Wall', the area's famous snorkeling site. Go ashore to enjoy an authentic Dominican lunch prepared beachside. Round-trip transportation from Punta Cana and Bavaro hotels is provided.

Cruise along the coast of the Dominican Republic to Catalina Island aboard 'Paradise'
Enjoy expert guidance PADI-certified diver guides
Relax, enjoy the beaches and explore 'the Wall', the island's famous snorkeling site
Go ashore to enjoy an authentic Dominican lunch prepared beachside

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Moto Catamaran ride
Access to beach on Catalina Island
National Park fee to Catalina Island
Guide
Use of snorkeling equipment
BBQ lunch
Unlimited drinks (alcoholic drinks served on beach and return boat trip | non-alcoholic drinks served through the day)
Beach lounger

Gratuities
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Specialty beers (available to purchase)
Snacks (available to purchase)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

09:30 AM

Pickup details

We pick up from all Hotels, villas and condors. please state the name of the hotel your staying in.

What To Expect

Catalina Island

9 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Passion Paradise Adventures

9 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Pickup time will be confirmed after booking, However all clients are advised to call prior to there excursion to confirm pick up
Please note that there are no refunds for cancellations of less than 24 hours notice, or if you do not show up at the pickup point at the specified time
Wheelchair accessible
Passengers with disabilities can be accommodated; please contact local tour operator to make all necessary arrangements

It is recommended that you bring a bathing suit, sunblock, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, and cash for any additional purchases
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
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 experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Georgina_M

What an amazing experience! This island was so exclusive and the water was incredible! I highly recommend this island over Soana. I think Soana is beautiful too but there were so many people. Catalina island was AMAZING!

Reviews

3.5

177 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 177 reviews

Not a great experience

Jaime_R, Apr 2024

There are parts that were alright but this was by far the worst excursion we have booked. I don’t normally do reviews but this had me reconsidering my choices and that I should start doing the whether they are good or bad. I was really excited for this but so disappointed. It was unorganized for pickup. To many people for one boat and for the beach to lounge. We didn’t even have seats at the beach. Getting in the water was a bit difficult because it’s so rocky but the water was nice and great to swim in . Super clear. The food was alright but they said we could upgrade to the lobster for my husband when we got there but could not. They would only upgrade us to shrimp which was $25 for 1 skewer. The guy said they were misleading people with the lobster. There seemed to be a disagreement between the workers from the different areas as they were arguing in Spanish. The workers didn’t speak much English for us to completely understand what was going on at all times. The snorkeling was good but have had a better experience especially when we were given goggles that were so worn they were blurry and were not given the actual snorkel to go with it. The drinks were small at the beach and you had to make multiple trips so it got to be pointless. Overall it was not a good experience and I would not book it again.

Fair experience only

DonnaCountway, Mar 2024

Enjoyed the snorkeling off of Catalina Island We were very disappointed in the communication experience, driver did not speak any english and boat crew had very limited english making communication vey difficult, from other reviews was under the impression that they would speak good english Facilities at La Romana dock-discusting!

Passion Paradise, Adventures Never Picked Us Up

ANDREW_B, Mar 2024

The tour operator, Passion Paradise Adventures DID NOT PICK US UP, We contacted them after they were 25 minutes late and also after waiting over an hour, but they never responded. I also requested a refund with no response. The toured we booked had a 9:30am start time, but we got an email the day before it that we would be picked up at 7am. It took 2 weeks and numerous emails to Viator's customer service after the refund was initially denied, but we finally received a full refund. We have used Viator for many tours for many years in many parts of the world and this was the first time we weren't picked up.

Book through your airline or hotel

VickiRobar, Mar 2024

I personally would not book through here again due to the transportation and unorganized nature of our day. We started our day being picked up by a small van and proceeded to pick up a few others at other hotel. After our driver who could not speak a word of English ( i dont expect a conversation but some basic understanding should be necessary) took us to a local gas station where we were instructed to get out of the van to wait for other vans to show up and then reorganize everyone into all the vans to drive to LA Romana. The speed he drove was very unsafe. We were then dropped off in a alley way to walk to the water to meet to boat crew. Which again were very unorganized. Once we finally arrived at Catalina Island it was beautiful and you could snorkel on the beach if you had your own mask. Lunch was good. Drinks were not so good. On the boat ride back it says drinks are included but only hard liquor. They had no beer. I would recommend booking through your hotel or airline for much safer transportation options.

Excursion was good but good stand some improvements for sure.

James_W, Feb 2024

The excursion was good but I may want to look at other tour operators for the excursion to Catalina Island. There were a few delays while we were on the boat and the crew was average in their care and attention to the people on the excursion. It was ok.

I consider this trip to...

Heather_B, Jan 2024

I consider this trip to be false advertising. It is billed as a full day snorkeling tour and yet we were only able to snorkel for 40 minutes in the whole day. Once on the island there was no place to snorkel. The island was fine and the food well prepared but if you are wanting to snorkel is this a rip off.

Overall an OK experience!

Arjun_H, Jan 2024

Not too bad, not that great either!!! The waters were clear and the fish beautiful. There were people on the boat who hadn't been snorkeling before; they were hoping for some help and guidance which unfortunately wasn't forthcoming. The beach on Catalina Island was beautiful; however, the facilities there were bad. The toilet was closed after some time and the food, even though not bad, wasn't enough for the entire group.

Not entirely like the description on the brochure

Rod_L, Dec 2023

The excursion started out as expected, being where we were, however the speed boat we were to have turned out to be a tug. Were to return to shore via catamaran, but again …….back on the tug. Meal and personnel were excellent on the island, but many hours wasted travelling to and fro

Would definitely recommend it!

Ron_G, Nov 2023

There was 40 minutes of snorkeling which was great but if you bring your own snorkeling gear you can do more snorkeling when you arrive at the beach at Catalina Island where we ate. Good food & friendly staff made it fun!

The worst “snorkeling” in the Caribbean

Clara_C, Nov 2023

This is a scuba diving experience that’s being subsidized by providing “snorkeling” gear. The snorkeling is awful. There are plenary of lovey reefs around the island, but the “snorkeling” site for this tour will provide you with more types of trash than species of fish, if you can see anything at all. The boat was filthy- cockroaches and flies everywhere, crumbs and sticky surfaces, heat thrown about with no space to stretch or even sit all the passengers, as the boat is definitely overbooked from an experience perspective. Going to the island is like leaving your resort for less amenities and high pressure sales. Food is terrible, drinks are EXTREMELY limited (it’s run and coke or rum and sprite only). This shouldn’t be advertised as it allowed to use snorkeling as a incentive to go, because having gear for 45 minutes of use doesn’t equate to providing a snorkeling trip. This is the worst excursion in the Caribbean - STAY AWAY.

Terrible transportation

Brian_T, Oct 2023

The actual excursion--ie the boat ride, snorkeling, beach time and lunch were ok--but the boat is old and pretty limited in space. The island lunch was very good, but the "free" drinks were limited to beer and rum only, with soda also available. However, the ride from Punta Cana to the port in La Romana is a nightmare--the buses that pick you up are unmarked and it is difficult to determine which bus to get on. Then they take you to a gas station, and play switch buses and get gas, then they drive you out to the country (past the turnoff to La Romana) for a rest stop--read here trying to get you to buy junk from the two stores. The trip from Punta Cana should only take about 50 - 60 minutes--not almost 2.5 hours.. The trip home was much quicker, but total time for this excursion 10.5 hours--time on boat and island about 5 hours.

Read before go

Alice_B, Sep 2023

Pick you up 7am from hotel so you can’t get breakfast Only serve 1 meal around 2pm Struggle is real Lots of people and very disorganized Non mention the mosquitoes avalanche inside open restaurant Loooong travel for poor time in water But yes it’s beautiful catalina

Experience great, Organisation bad

Zoe_W, Aug 2023

We booked the tour months ago and had everything in place to get snorkeling. Sadly, on the day our initial tour occurred we weren't picked up and the operator did not respond to any mails. After talking to Viator they offered a free reschedule a day later. We were picked up on time and picked up other hotel guesses as well. The transport, as written in other reviews, is very chaotic. No one explains what happens next, why people leave the bus and other ones enter the bus. Luckily we didn't have to switch the busses. The waiting for other guests were immense. Both ways. As we went snorkeling and other ones did scuba diving we had different time tables and durations but since we began the journey in the bus together we had to wait for the scuba diving people to arrive 30-45 minutes later so we can drive back to the different hotels. That explains the long duration hours. The event itself did not last longer than maybe 4 hours. We went on the boat and besides picking a German tour guide our guides mostly spoke Spanisch, only English when we asked for it. Therefore we mostly didn't understand the instructions. The snorkeling spot was great!! It was so much fun and we wished we had more time than only 40 minutes. They fly by soo fast! After that we want to Isla Catalina, which is a beautiful island ! We really enjoyed being there. The time we had (approx. 2,5 hours) was more than enough. We got food and drinks like coke, water, beer for free. The food was only 5/10. Almost no vegetarian choices for any veggie here. In the end the event itself was amazing but transportation and missing communication from the operator or the guides complicated everything and took us in the end more than 12 hours for that trip (of course depending your pick up time). Overall, the island is great, we would love to explore it again.

The money was more important than the lives!

Laurie_K, May 2023

Monday May 22, 2023- Don't Do This Trip!! We were to do the full day snorkeling Excursion at Catalina Island, DR. It was pouring down rain and also lightening. The water had very large waves and was rough. Passengers pleaded top the captain not to take us out. Its was not safe. They didn't care. As long as Viator didn't cancel, they were going.... Due to the mighty Dollar! 4 Passenger's were able to get off, but had to pay their own way back to the hotel ($100+). We went anyway. People were scared, crying, seasick!! Not everyone had life jackets!! We almost got to the Island, when we finally got the words that Viator has cancelled it!! We then had to endure the rough trip back to shore!!! Unacceptable!!!!!

Too old to snorkel?

Philip_R, May 2023

At 71 and 65 my wife and I enjoyed the snorkeling although there weren't many fish to see. The beach BBQ was good but the the whole trip organisation, including hotel transfers, needs to be better.

Definitely worth the money, great atmosphere

Dean_H, May 2023

Great day ,great crew and boat was plenty big enough ,bbq lunch was OK but not gonna be for most people's taste Only real negative was the bus journey there due to picking up people from other resorts who weren't even going on our tour ,and dropping them off in gas stations on other buses

Dangerous!

Dawid_Z, Mar 2023

STAY AWAY!!Really bad service,dangerous aswell!!My wifes foot was creashed between 2 boats due to overcrowded speed boat.Crew on catamaran didnt even bother to asked what happened.I will take it further if when we get back home find out that there is long therm damage.We lost 2 last days of our dreamed holidays becouse of this accident.People dont book with this guys.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Dear valued customer, We are sorry to hear about your negative experience during our excursion. We take safety very seriously and prioritize the well-being of our clients above all else. We can assure you that we never overload our speedboat and always have staff present to ensure the safety of our clients. However, we were not made aware of any incident involving a crushed foot or any other accident during the time of your excursion. Our staff are all first aid responders and if any accidents are reported or seen, we are always there to assist and provide medical attention as needed. We take all feedback seriously and would appreciate any further information you can provide us with. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly so we can investigate further and take appropriate action. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future.

Don’t waste your time

kelly_k, Mar 2023

If I could leave no stars I would. The worst excursions I’ve ever gone on. Tour guide left 2 people in the middle of the ocean snorkeling. Didn’t realize it till we got to next destination and then went back to find them. Good thing they were able to swim to land and started walking the beach. Beach time they were trying to sell seats when there weren’t even enough for those who came Once we got back had to wait an hour to leave due to 3 people buying different packages than us

Response from Host, Mar 2023

We are sorry to hear that you had a negative experience on our excursion. We appreciate your feedback and would like to address some of the points you raised in your review. Firstly, we would like to clarify that in the many years we have been in operation, we have never left anyone behind on any of our tours. Secondly, we would like to clarify that we do not charge for chairs on the beach. All chairs are included in our package and we never sell them separately. Regarding the issue with the other clients, we want to explain that they had paid for the same package as your group. However, they mistakenly got onto one of our other boats, which caused a delay of only 15 minutes. We did explain this to your group in the marina, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused. Lastly, we would like to clarify that our website does not state that the bus is private. Additionally, we did inform you during your conversation with us that our service operates as a shared bus. We apologize if this was not made clear to you before booking. We take all feedback seriously, and we will use your comments to improve our services. Thank you for bringing these issues to our attention.

Not a bad experience, just expect crowds and to be rushed

Anne_M, Dec 2022

The experience was what I expected from a tour like this one. It took 3 hours from our hotel pick up until we finally made it onto the boat. I read other reviews and, because of other hotel pickups, changed shuttle buses, and a bathroom stop at the souvenir shop, I expected it would take awhile. The snorkeling spot was decent, but it was crowded by 4-5 other tour boats there at the same time. Isla Caratina was pretty, but, again, our section of the beach was over crowded from all of the other tour groups. The lunch buffet was good, but nothing too exciting. Everyone we interacted with was really nice and helpful, but in the end, I felt more like piece of cattle being herded from one spot to the next.

A MUST SEE!!

Georgina_M, Aug 2022

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