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Saona Island Full-Day Cruise, Natural Pool and Lunch

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

10 hours 30 minutes
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Experience the long stretches of white sand and azure waters of Saona Island on this full-day tour from Punta Cana. Save valuable vacation time by getting there via speedboat, then returning to the main island on a relaxing catamaran cruise. While there, spend your time relaxing and swimming, pausing midday for a barbecue buffet with unlimited drinks.

Convenient round-trip transportation from Punta Cana
Speedboat ride to the island and catamaran ride back
Barbecue buffet lunch with unlimited drinks
Guide provides commentary on the island's history and ecosystem

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off at your
Professional guide
Speed boat and catamaran to Isla Saona
Drinks National Rum ( Not Beer )
Lunch
25-minute stop at the biggest natural swimming pool
The pick up for this tour is collective
It’s a shared bus with more people.
This tour is shared with more people.

Towels
Fish, Shrimp, Lobster ( Available for extra payment)
Tips (Not mandatory
Photography (external company cost additional)
Beers, Piña Coladas ( Additional cost for another company)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:00 AM

Pickup details

* Once the client makes a reservation, our corresponding team will contact you via WhatsApp or text message to give you the pick-up time according to your location. * The client must wait for the driver at the lobby entrance. Once the driver is there, he will call you by the name of the person who is on the reservation. If the person does not have the name, it is not us.

What To Expect

Punta Cana

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bavaro

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Punta Cana

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Punta Cana

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Palmilla

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Saona Island

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Isla Saona

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Saona Island

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
The pick up for this tour is collective

It’s a shared bus with more people.
This tour is shared with more people.
Photography (external company cost additional)
Tips (Not mandatory)
Pets are not accepted
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 65 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.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Nikkie_G

This was such a Wonderful experience. The staff was very helpful and polite. The island was amazing and beautiful.

Reviews

4.0

208 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 208 reviews

It’s just ok

henry_C, Apr 2024

The water and sand are beautiful , but the food area and bathrooms are horrible , dirty and unkept what a shame !

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Good morning Mr Henry, this area is always maintained. but remember that it is an Island and that the salt on the beach kills everything. Every month the entire area is painted but the salt from the beach makes things a little ugly. Even an iron that you put in the sand and go look for it the next day will no longer have the same color.

We enjoyed the island....

lizetolguin1, Apr 2024

We enjoyed the island. The drinks were not what they promised. But food was ok. The beach was nice..

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Greetings, the drink is only National Rum (not beers) but if the client wishes they can bring them. There are no restrictions for this

I will be suing the cruise ship.I was drugged on cruise

Melissa_N, Apr 2024

Be very careful I was drugged on there cruise.They don’t like Americans.The food was trash and the boat is very small and also stole my money and my shoes once we were told to get off and go swimming in the ocean.Then I was drugged and arrested by there police.and it’s not open bar they walk around with shots of very cheap rum .please be careful I was there February 2024.They were desperate, begging for money also.I would not recommend this cruise to anyway please be safe. The most scary experience I ever had in fact no American should travel there water is gross and food it’s very sad.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Greetings Mrs. Melissa. I remember her case not because you say that they drugged her (which is totally false, you are raising slander to cause harm) I am going to give you an account of that day. That day you drank too much, anyone who is not used to this rum will get drunk since it has a higher alcohol level than that of any country. Remember that you were making a fuss with your brother at a private gas station where you were beating your brother. First you accused him of throwing away your passport, then you checked to see if he had the passport, then you accused him of leaving your flip-flop in the beach. Each client must pay attention to their things is the first thing the guide tells them. When we arrived in Punta Cana after the excursion, we were at a gas station and you entered the vehicle to hit your brother. Then he got out and you were hitting him. The owners of the gas station called POLITOURS since you were making a fuss. on private property and didn't listen to anyone. Even so, we always supported you, we bought you clothes since you had beach clothes, we bought you food, and at all times he was attentive to you. If the police arrested you it was because of the scandal you had in public. In the United States and any country they also arrest anyone if they do what you were doing. The gas station owner has all the videos of his behavior. and the drivers also have the videos they took of him when he entered the bus to hit his brother. In this country tourism is taken care of a lot and much less to drug anyone here we don't use those things. But I have to tell you that you are very ungrateful since we were always looking out for you, we even bought you clothes, food, (something that was not our responsibility) because you were the one who made scandals on the road. The videos are there, the videos speak. That day he accused his brother of so many things, now he says something else. If you don't know how to drink, I recommend that when you come to the DR you don't drink because the rum here has 18% alcohol. And another thing she should be more grateful for is that the treatment we gave her when the police arrested her was very kind. Another company would have left it since you caused that problem. the gas station has the videos. and you almost took your brother's ear off. The police accused her of scandal in public and of violence towards her brother who kept bleeding from her ear. The evidence and reports are both at the gas station, at the prosecutor and at politours

DON’T DO IT

Denise_K, Mar 2024

The food was gross. The meat was dry and tough. I could not eat it We were surrounded by panhandlers and it ruined everything. Even when we would say no they would not stop pestering. We had to pay to use the bathroom. That’s unconscionable

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Good afternoon, Mrs. Denisse, those beggars that you call are residents who are in Bayahibe and live there but no client is obliged to give you anything. In fact, the description says that tipping is not mandatory. About the public bathrooms that are in Bayahibe (At the port of embarkation, in the public bathrooms which you went to, there are some women with a box of gum, toilet paper, sanitary towels, and they sell those things to earn a living but they don't You are obligated to pay to use the bathroom. In fact, our guide always tells you that you are not obligated to pay to use the bathroom in public places. On the Island, the bathroom is private and belongs to us. But as I told you, it is not obligatory to pay. for using bathrooms in public places.

We need to rescue the island.

Henry_B, Mar 2024

The company host this trip is not proffessional. All staffs are working hard. But the way of operating of the company are very poor. They pickup guests in many different hotels. All guests on the bus were upset with long waiting time. The trip is only 5 hours but from the pickup time to dropp off time is almost 12 hours trip. The island is too pollution. The bad smell of urine and sewer all on the island.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Sir, Thank you for your reservation, remember that you purchased a shared tours where there are more clients picking up. (This is not private) the expression on the beach is strange where it refers to pollution and bad smell. I tell you that the Dominican Government has always invested in this beach so that it is always beautiful and that tourists can enjoy it. That's why they have the Ministry of the Environment in charge of this beach (one of our natural beauty). In 12 years with our company, it's the first time I've read a comment like this.

Great experience but beware of the sales teams

Diya_L, Mar 2024

Overall great trip, however you couldn’t enjoy it as much without the natives selling you every five steps. Even on the Catamaran while entertaining they slid caps on your head and charged for that. We took photos and paid for a package deal of $300 but was charged an additional $88 and saw the guy hand him the $300 in cash. No receipt given no name nothing. They were all in cahoots with each other.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Good afternoon Mrs. Diya Lucas, if you can verify in our description it clearly says that photography is another separate company that has nothing to do with us. This tour does not include photos since this is a separate company. Regarding the vendors on the catamaran, they are people who live on the Island and earn their food this way. However, the customer is completely free not to purchase since it is not mandatory.

The best day ever

Nikkie_G, Mar 2024

This was such a Wonderful experience. The staff was very helpful and polite. The island was amazing and beautiful.

Breathe Taking

Alaina_L, Feb 2024

It was an amazing experience well worth the money. Everyone was so friendly if you party like to drink I would suggest buying bottle from the locals take singles aswell.

Great tour guide and boats, poor beach area

Anonymous, Feb 2024

The tour guide Manuel was wonderful. He took good care of us. The catamaran and speed both were both nice. We enjoyed the ride. There were professional photographers onboard who took beautiful photos. We couldn’t come close to the colors they got with iPhones. Bring money or Apple Pay if you want some great photos. The only thing I didn’t like was our spot on the breach. The beach chairs were in dire need of replacement. I walked the beach and saw much nicer sites for other companies. The chairs were nicer and there were nice buildings with thatched roofs. Our site was more like a shelter you’d find at a park. For this reason I would choose another company next time I go.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Greetings, thanks for the review, if you could verify all the buildings on the beach have the same constructions and are made of cana, the cana distinguishes us as Dominicans. Regarding the chairs on the beach, they are changed every X amount of time but unfortunately the salt on the beach is destroying them. they are still just bought

The Worst Day

Veronica_T, Feb 2024

Please avoid this at all cost. The majority of the day is spent driving or sitting in a parking lot. There is constant mass confusion and nobody has answers. This is a complete waste of a vacation day.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Greetings, thank you for your review, it should be noted that from Punta Cana to the pier where you embark to Saona Island is 35 minutes and from the pier to the Island it is one hour by Catamaran. so it is the only way to go to the island

Not worth price

Erica_J, Feb 2024

The catamaran out was okay but every other part of this trip was not great. It was all Hurry up and then wait wait wait. The few fun parts felt rushed every part of it was over crowded, which led to a lot of rudeness from other people also waiting. The staff were nice but all in all not worth the price to stand in line for what felt like 5 out of 10 hours.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Hello Ms. Erika, thank you for your review. Unfortunately, in this tours we have the time measured since at 6 in the afternoon the boats must all be out of the water (rules set by the authorities) so the time must be made the most of.

Awsome

jaantje_h, Feb 2024

It was a wonderful experience everyone was very nice. I had a lot of fun I would recommend everybody do this excursion. The snorkeling also was very nice. Photographers were awsome took lots of pictures.

Saona Island- worth a trip

David_F, Jan 2024

In my opinion this is a trip worth taking. I met interesting people from all around the world, the beauty, the friendliness of staff and locals is hard to beat. If you enjoy good people, sights, and dancing, this is worth a try. There are different prices, depending on your taste, but it can be fairly inexpensive and worth it. Thanks

Top of the Domenican Republic

ra_K, Jan 2024

Blue sea, music, danse and endless drinks!! So much reccomended!! The hole family had a blast ☀️💦 Jeiii

Not for families

Helen_R, Jan 2024

Speed boat out was fun. Snorkeling was very basic. Didn’t see many fish. Natural swimming pool was a big bunch of boats hanging out in some shallow water. The island itself was beautiful but so overtaken by tourists and boats it was hard to enjoy. The catamaran back was long and very loud with drunk people so not ideal for families. Photography guys were nice but tried to charge us an arm and a leg for the photos.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Greetings, Mrs. Helen, thank you for your review. The Catamaran does not sound, the ones that sound are the motors it has, which are 4, about the drunk people they are going to enjoy, about the natural pool and the Saona Island, people from different companies go there to enjoy their vacations and about the photos, it is a company separately so it is not mandatory to buy them. in fact it is in our description.

Not a great experience!!

Usha_K, Jan 2024

As a first time visitor we booked this trour. They took us on a speed boad to the island. I think the big letdown on this trip was the lunch on the island which was very basic which was white rice, chicken, pasta and salad. Another letdown was catamaran ride. This tour dumps 3-4 boats of passengers in to one. The catamaran net was so weak and torn in some places and only few people can sit on that and rest were scared to even get on. Snorkeling was a joke, no proper equipment and just 5 mins they let us spent. Overall not that great experience.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Greetings, thank you for your review. Clarifying: Our menu is established in the description, remember that it is an Island so it is not a buffet like the hotel. We have a single menu to be and cook on the Island. It will never be a Buffet like the one at the hotel. Regarding Snorkeling we give you free 15 minutes not 5, you are given the established time for free. If the client wants to do more Snorkeling time, we suggest the Catalina Island Tours because it is easier to do it there. As for the equipment, only the mask was provided since day by day clients lose their equipment, which has generated a great loss of money. so he only provided the mask. In other companies they do not give you free Snorkeling, you have to pay much more than what I pay for these tours and you have to bring your equipment. About changing boats to board a catamaran because catamarans cannot reach the shore of the beach due to their heavy weight. so the dynamic is to take them by boat to where the catamaran is a few meters from the shore. And about the seats, 97% of the RD catamarans are like this, they have few seats and part of the rest is for people to dance, have fun and do the dances with the staff guys who do choreography. In reality, the tours are about having a good time and having as much fun as possible.

Fun in the sun

Kara_S, Jan 2024

Our pick up was on time but had an 15 minute wait at the meeting point (gift shop) before getting in the big bus. Once we arrived our guide was friendly and outgoing. We took the catamaran 1st, it was sunny and beautiful outside. There were drinks and dancing. We went swimming and spent time on saona. The lunch way ok nothing to write home about but the speed boat was fun. We had no snorkels just masks but still had a great time.

Terrible

lucas_t, Dec 2023

The local always wants you to buy a lot of stuff that you don’t need. They put things in your head expecting you gonna buy it. When you don’t, they make you feel bad about it. When it’s not things, it’s pictures. Never be able to enjoy the moment.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Sir, thank you for your review. Those are sellers who live on the island and sell things. It is not mandatory to buy them. They are not our employees. This is the livelihood of the people who live there on the Island. We explain it to each client when we arrive at the beach. that there are people who live on the Island, they are dedicated to selling things to survive but that buying is not mandatory

Good island, bad snorkeling

Abdullah_H, Dec 2023

Saona island was really good, the boat ride was okay, could have been better with a bigger boat and less people. The entire snorkeling experience was the worst part of my trip to Punta Cana. They forced 40 people on a tiny boat that holds 20 people, they only brought 25 life jackets for 40 people, and only 16 goggles for 40 people. Granted, not all of them were going snorkeling, but many people didn't get a chance when they paid for snorkeling.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Greetings, thank you for your review, it is impossible for 20 people to get on a boat with 40 people, much less without vests since that is totally prohibited. Here in the DR no boat and no company can go out without life jackets. I could show you hundreds of photos. The first thing is that the authorities carry out inspections before leaving. Just remember that you are going on a speedboat with two people in each seat because they are for two people, not one. Maybe you say there are 20 because you understood that it was a double seat for a single person. Regarding snorkeling masks day by day we have to buy masks, clients lose them and when they lose them they don't like to pay for them. I can show you photos of the boat you were on. It is a seat for two people, not one. If this country and our authorities have something, it is that they take great care of tourists and tourism. We give free snorkeling to make a difference with other companies since they all charge for snorkeling and they charge a lot.

Saona Island is paradise

Eray_O, Dec 2023

This is a good day out but organisation needs to be improved more, also local sellers hassle you a lot. Food was bit cold as we were expecting bbq on the beach. Although a great day out.

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