Saona Island (Isla Saona) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Saona Island (Isla Saona). Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Small Group: Saona Island Full-Day Tour
• Quetzal Catamaran Cruise Prestige to Saona Island
• Saona Island for Carnival Cruise Passengers From La Romana Port
• Saona Private Tour with Personal Guide and Transport From Punta Cana
• Saona Private Full-Day Tour From Punta Cana

You will need a boat to visit Saona Island, and most people come to the island as part of an organized tour. Saona Island group tours typically start around 3,700 Dominican pesos (roughly US$60), with private, full-day excursions running closer to 40,670 Dominican pesos (US$660).

Saona Island's proximity to Punta Cana and Bayahibe makes it a popular beach vacation excursion. Its beautiful white sand beaches and clear waters—perfect for snorkeling—draw visitors looking to relax. It is part of Cotubanamá National Park, one of the most visited parks in the Dominican Republic.

The boat ride from Bayahibe to Saona Island takes about 30 minutes via a speedboat and two hours via catamaran. Most tours to Saona Island leave from Bayahibe, with some including a shuttle ride from Punta Cana or the La Romana Port.

Most tours include stops at a few beaches on Saona Island. Lunch and beverages are standard offerings, and you'll have time to walk along the beach and snorkel before heading back to Bayahibe. Some tours include Punta Cana hotel pick-up and drop-off or transfers from the cruise port.

Saona Island has beautiful weather year-round, but the best time to visit is from December through April when the temps and humidity are lower. However, these months are popular with tourists, so be prepared to encounter crowds.

Yes, there are people who live on Isla Saona in the area of Mano Juan. The small community of people in Mano Juan includes around 400 people total. The fishing village features little hut homes and no regular electricity provided from the Dominican Republic—only limited electricity provided by a few solar panels.

If you’re vacationing in the Punta Cana area, you can drive from Punta Cana to Isla Saona in about 1.5 hours. You do not need Saona Island tickets to access the area, so you can visit at any time. If you don’t have a car at your disposal, the best way to get there is to book a Saona Island excursion that takes you there—either by car or by boat.

If you’re exploring any beach of the Dominican Republic, and Saona Island is no exception, you’ll want to dress comfortably. You can wear your bathing suit under comfy clothes with flip-flops or sandals. You might also want to bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen to protect yourself from sun exposure.