Catalina Island (Isla Catalina) Tours and Tickets

There are lots of ways to experience Catalina Island (Isla Catalina) in the Dominican Republic. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best experiences available right now:

• Catalina Island: snorkeling, beach, lunch and river Chavón

• Full-Day Catalina Island Snorkeling Tour From La Romana 

• Full-Day Catalina Island Scuba Diving Tour From Punta Cana

• Tours Ziplines Punta Cana

• Catalina Island With Altos de Chavon: Full-Day All-Inclusive

There’s no national park fee to visit Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic, but you need to pay for transportation costs. There’s no ferry service to this uninhabited island, so your best option is a day excursion by boat or catamaran from La Romana port—day trips start from US$60.

Yes, Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic offers a more relaxed alternative to the better-known Saona Island, which tends to get overcrowded. If you're looking for a tropical paradise of blonde sands, palm trees, and turquoise sea with fewer people, this is the place. It's also a renowned spot for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Per one customer who booked the Full-Day Catalina Island Scuba Diving Tour From Punta Cana, "Beautiful island and colourful diving experience! The staff is super friendly and lively! Diving guides look after you all the time."

Catalina Island is located just a few miles off La Romana, on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic. You can get there by boat, and numerous tours to Catalina Island originate from La Romana, Bayahibe, Bavaro, Punta Cana, and even Santo Domingo.

Popular activities on Catalina Island include relaxing on the white sand beaches, walking around the island, swimming in the calm waters, and snorkeling and scuba diving the coral reefs and Captain Kidd’s shipwreck. Vendors on the island offer drinks and snacks, and some tours also include lunch on the island.

Popular snorkeling and diving spots around Catalina Island include the Wall and Captain Kidd’s Shipwreck. (The boat sank in 1699, in just 10 feet [3 meters] of water.) Both are located on the east side of the island. On the island’s west side, divers and snorkelers stop at the Aquarium.

Yes, many guided tours visit Catalina Island, with round-trip transportation from La Romana, Bayahibe, Bavaro, Punta Cana, and Santo Domingo. Tours typically stop at several locations for diving or snorkeling, and some also offer amenities like lunch on the island, drinks, lounge chairs, and snorkel gear.

When visiting Catalina Island, it’s a good idea to bring a swimsuit, towel, a cover-up or change of clothing, sunscreen, hat, insect repellant, water, snacks, snorkel gear, and cash (for the vendors on the island). Some tours to the island will provide lunch, drinks (including alcoholic drinks), and snorkel gear.

For the best snorkeling and scuba diving conditions, visit between December and May, when the water conditions are typically best for the south coast of the Dominican Republic. Visit in the morning if possible, as the island is popular with group tours and gets busier later in the day.

When you're done at Catalina Island, La Romana and the surrounding area have other fun things to check out. Per other travelers, here are some top attractions, towns, and islands to visit:

• Saona Island (Isla Saona)

• Higuey

• Bayahibe

• Altos de Chavón

• Chavón River (Río Chavón)    

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions around La Romana.