Saona Island Day Trip From Punta Cana with Lunch and Open Bar

Badge of Excellence

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Very popular!

5+ bookings in the past 6 hours.

9 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.3

· Kaylee_J ·

Jun 2026

Christian our guide was very helpful and communicative, drinks are generous and all rum based. Food was good and plentiful. Beach was gorgeous. Trip to get to catamaran was about 2.5 hours so pack snacks and eat breakfast. Also bring water there is a 5 ish minute walk to the boat. Overall no complaints, just be prepared for long drive. However was worth it for beautiful island!

· Nicole_T ·

Jun 2026

This tour was one of our favorite parts of DR. Our tour guide was Fabian and he was amazing! Highly recommend this tour to anyone coming. Food, drinks, vibes were all great!

Explore our promoted experiences

Small Group Snorkeling, Sharks & Rays Encounter At Punta Cana

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

4.1

(89)

Small Group Snorkeling, Sharks & Rays Encounter At Punta Cana

from $100

Punta Cana Boat Party Experience with Snorkeling & Natural Pool

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

4.6

(59)

Punta Cana Boat Party Experience with Snorkeling & Natural Pool

from $59

Price varies by group size

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

3.9

(15)

Glass Bottom Boat in Punta Cana

from $65

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

Visit Saona Island, an idyllic speck of sand and palm trees in the blue Caribbean, during a full-day tour from Punta Cana. Board a small speedboat for the thrilling ride out to the island, including a stop at a natural swimming pool where you can see starfish. Upon reaching Saona Island, spend the day exploring; stroll along the beach, relax in the white sand and swim in the azure waters. Sip drinks from the open bar and enjoy a buffet lunch of traditional Dominican fare. Round-trip transportation from Punta Cana is included.

Visit Saona Island, an idyllic speck of sand and palm trees in the blue Caribbean
Board a state-of-the-art speedboat for the thrilling ride out to the island
Spend the day exploring; stroll along the beach, relax in the white sand and swim in the azure water
Sip drinks from the open bar and enjoy a buffet lunch of traditional Dominican fare

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Snacks
Buffet lunch (BBQ, salad and typical Dominican fare)
Beer, rum and soft drinks (open bar)
30-minute stop at the biggest natural swimming pool
3-hours at the Saona Island

DVD (available to purchase)
Lobster (Available to purchase)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We’ll see you soon! If you're staying at a resort, please wait in the main lobby. For those in apartments or Airbnbs, we will assign a specific nearby meeting point for your convenience. Just keep an eye out for Caribbean Route!

Operating hours
.6:30 am

Itinerary

Visit Saona Island and a natural swimming pool in one day on this day tour from Punta Cana. Enjoy a hassle-free day in paradise, with hotel transfers, lunch, snacks, and an open bar included.

Get picked up from your Punta Cana hotel in the morning and taken to Bayahibe to board a speedboat. On the way to Saona Island, stop at a natural swimming pool to admire the views and look for starfish.

At Saona Island, you’ll have around 3 hours to relax on the white sand beach, play in the clear waters, and explore the island. Refuel with the included buffet lunch and sip unlimited beer, rum, and soft drinks from the open bar.

On the return trip from Saona Island, enjoy a dance party with open bar on a catamaran. At the end of the tour, you’ll be dropped off back at your Punta Cana hotel.

Bayahibe

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Saona Island Tours and Excursions Punta Cana

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Most travelers can participate

Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Note that: this tour starts in The Est National Park, La Romana. It thakes one hour by bus from any of the Punta Cana Hotels.
Pregnant travelers are not allowed to participate due to boat movement
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 300 travelers

Supplied by

Frequently Asked Question (1)

Q:How can I let you know where to pick me up?

A:We offer pick ups from most hotels. Let us know where you are staying in the 'Special Requirements' box in the Traveler Details section during checkout. Or you can let us know after booking by visiting 'Manage my Booking' and emailing us there.

Jul 2019

The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Slawomir_G

Saona Island day trip – really fun and entertaining from start to finish! Our guide was absolutely fantastic: super friendly, funny, and genuinely cared about everyone having a great (and safe) time. He made the whole experience feel effortless and special. The beaches and natural pool were stunning, the catamaran and speedboat rides were a blast, and the vibe on board was perfect. Food was okay – edible and plentiful, but nothing amazing (exactly what we expected for a mass excursion). Overall, 100% worth it. Highly recommend this tour – we came back tired, sunburned, and very happy!

Reviews

4.3

based on 3,123 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Sort by: Most insightful

Overall, we had a great...

Juliette_E, Jul 2026

Overall, we had a great experience. Be prepared to spend quite a while on the bus—it took us about 3 hours to get there because of hotel pickups and a few pit stops. We spent around 2 hours and 30 minutes at the beach. Our tour guide, Alex, was fantastic. He was informative, funny, and made sure everyone understood the itinerary while keeping us safe throughout the excursion. Mickey, our driver, got us there and back safely. The return trip was much faster because shuttle buses picked up passengers from different locations instead of everyone riding the same bus back. The island itself was beautiful! I only wish we had more time at the natural pool. The beach is quite rocky, so I highly recommend bringing water shoes—they made a big difference. One downside was the company’s communication. They didn’t respond to messages through Viator, so I recommend contacting them via WhatsApp instead. On the positive side, they were punctual for pickup, and the bus was air-conditioned and comfortable, making the long ride much more enjoyable.

Saona island

joanne_o, Jul 2026

Very well organised and the driver and tour guide are very friendly and helpful. The company inform you the day before on your pick up time. Saona island is amazing and if visiting Dominican Republic it’s a must do trip

Longgggggg

Celica_S, Jul 2026

The trip itself was very long 13 hours in total. I found the wait for the speedboat very disorganised. By the time we got on the slow boat home everyone was tired and wanted to go home and instead we were plied with alcohol and encouraged to dance. Experience would be much better if cut shorter

Overall it was a good...

Tatiana_T, Jul 2026

Overall it was a good time. I just didn’t like that we had to be ready at 6:55 am and was on the bus an additional 1.5 hours to pickup other people. We didn’t even get to eat breakfast because it was so early. There has to be a better way to facilitate pickups. There was food there but I got food poisoning from it. It could have been because it was in the sun for a while. Just make sure you bring snacks! They also stop at this shop with souvenirs and food but it’s highway robbery. They wanted to charge me $20 for Pringles and gummy candy.

Best tour experience ever

thane_h, Jul 2026

Tour operators were exceptional with customer service delivery. Tour operators Caribbean route & Transfers were professional, organised and knowledgeable. Speacisl shout to your guide Christian was simply amazing and made the day a truly special occasion for everyone on the cruise. Christian kept everyone updated and informed throughout, speaking 4 different languages ( great communicator). The island is so beautiful and magical. 100% recommend these guys and this tour. Thank you Christian and coach driver Mickey for keeping everyone safe and we’ll entertained. WHOHAA

Excellent tour

William_L, Jul 2026

No trip to DR is complete without visiting Saona Island. It was an amazing experience, managed by caring, knowledgeable, and professional yet laid back tour guides. Well done guys, and thank you so much.

I would say that this...

Angela_L, Jul 2026

I would say that this excursion was alot of fun. The only downfall is the amount of travel time. I feel like in my opinion we spent more time in travel and getting on/off boats than we did at the actual destinations. Tour guide was great, friendly and always checked to make sure we were all there. The food ar Saona Island was nice, they give you a buffet lunch with several different options. The spot that we went to on Saona Island was on the busier side, I thought it would be more lowkey. The vendors there were just trying to make their money and I fully understand but it can be quite annoying because youre just trying to enjoy. The water was beautiful, and the beach was clean.

Just book it

Monique_M, Jul 2026

This was amazing. By far the best part of my trip. Our tour guide Christian was very helpful and friendly, really wanted to make sure we all had a good time. It is all day, and a lot of transport but well worth it.

Good tour!!

Mikabreanna_C, Jul 2026

A great experience for the price. It does take some time to get to the locations but that’s to be expected so don’t think you are getting 8 hours at the beach that’s just unrealistic with the location compared to punta Cana. The boat ride was fun and the dip in the ocean in the natural pool was amazing. Love the professional photographers on board and the music and staff were amazing. The food was pretty good, what you would expect from this type of tour. We bought pins coladas which were good. I went with two teenage girls and felt safe the entire time. Would highly recommend!

Disappointing second visit

Collette_H, Jul 2026

This was the 2nd visit to this beautiful island I found this experience disappointing for a number of reasons the guide Francisco wasn’t too good and he made us walk further around the cove. Although still beautiful the sea was very choppy. And had to ride the waves. It definitely wasn’t suitable for older people or young children as it was too choppy Staying were the boats anchor is much more relaxing as the sea is very calm.

Good experience

Kaylee_J, Jun 2026

Fun but short time enjoying the beach

Kristian_K, Jun 2026

The bus ride was very very long, most of the day felt like it was taken up on transportation. We were picked up @6:45 and were not on the boat until about 11:00am. Once on the boat everything was a lot of fun. Did not enjoy the fact that they push pictures on you even when you say no. The experience at the island itself was a lot of fun, although we only got two hours to truly enjoy the beach. The vendors at the beach were also pushy and there was soo many of them, it was almost impossible to just sit there and relax on the chairs without having to say no to someone every 30 seconds. The open bar was also just rum, coke and sprite. Honestly would not do it again or recommend it unless you are really interested in seeing the island or swimming at the beach.

My son fell sick right...

Trevor_H, Jun 2026

My son fell sick right before our trip during the non-refundable period. As soon as he felt better, we reached out to Caribbean Route, and their WhatsApp customer service team completely saved the day by helping us reschedule for another date. Their excellent communication and flexibility turned a stressful situation into a great experience. We can’t thank them enough!

Well-Organized Tour with Beautiful Scenery and Friendly Staff

Adriana_E, Jun 2026

I highly recommend this tour! We were picked up on time by the tour company in a spacious, clean, and comfortable tour bus. The tour guide, bus driver, photographers, and onboard staff were all friendly, welcoming, and professional throughout the day. We were driven to the departure point, where we boarded a speedboat that took us to Saona Island. From the parking area to the shoreline, there was a short walk of about 8 minutes. Before arriving at Saona Island, we stopped at a beautiful natural sandbar with crystal-clear turquoise water. We spent approximately 30 minutes there swimming and enjoying the scenery. After the sandbar stop, we continued to Saona Island. Upon arrival, we took a pleasant 7-minute walk across the island. The island was clean and well-maintained, and there were military personnel present to help ensure the safety of visitors. Lunch was delicious, and fresh fried fish was available for an additional cost. I highly recommend trying it—it was excellent! We spent about two and a half hours on the island, which gave us plenty of time to relax, swim, and enjoy the warm, clear water. For the return trip, we sailed back on a catamaran. The staff kept everyone entertained with music and activities, creating a fun and lively atmosphere. Overall, this was a wonderful experience and a great way to spend the day. The tour is well-organized, enjoyable, and very family-friendly.

Had such a great time...

Marilyn_S, Jun 2026

Had such a great time with my family. We thoroughly enjoyed everything! We bought our pictures that were taken of us and we love them!

Saona Island is a must see experience!

Shelton_D, Jun 2026

The Saona Island tour was GREAT! I think the long day was totally worth it. Just realize that the trip will take ALL DAY! We left the hotel at 6:50am and got back at 7pm. The beach was perfect. They feed you on the Island and giving you free drinks on the catamaran. The natural swimming pool was good too.

Great experince!

Daviana_M, Jun 2026

Great experience! Would do it again ! Everything went smoothly and it was well organized ! Great communication as well

The island itself was...

Jasmine_C, Jun 2026

The island itself was beautiful. The bus was about 30 minutes late and made an unusual stop on the side of the road. It felt rushed and I was not a fan of transferring boats in the middle of the ocean. Food was ok drinks were just ok nothing over the top. Unfortunately I would likely not book this one again.

Did not spend enough time...

Averil_M, Jun 2026

Did not spend enough time at the destination. The food was fillling but did include seafood which would have been nice.

Great tour… loved it

MahaKumar, Jun 2026

Great tour, loved the party boat and the speed boat ride. Very coordinated and service was great. The island was just stunning, so picturesque.

Don’t get me wrong the...

Charles_S, Jun 2026

Don’t get me wrong the excursion was really nice. The water on that side of the island was absolutely beautiful. The only disappointment was the fact that it said open bar. The only alcohol drinks that you didn’t have to pay for were rum or beer. And the beer was given to you in these super small little 9 oz cups. I’m a Louisiana boy, a 9oz cup is a shot for me. Ha! Besides that it was amazing. Tour guide was great and took good care of us.

Christian was our tour...

Michelle_M, Jun 2026

Christian was our tour guide. He was absolutely amazing. All staff was very helpful and worked hard to ensure we had a good time. I would definitely recommend this tour. Get some rest the day before because it is a long day. Take snacks with you.

10/10 Experience!

Nicole_T, Jun 2026

This tour was one of our favorite parts of DR. Our tour guide was Fabian and he was amazing! Highly recommend this tour to anyone coming. Food, drinks, vibes were all great!

This trip is a MUST if you travel to Punta Cana!

Mario_d, Jun 2026

The experience was better than we expected. From the drive through the country, the support from the coach (bus) team, the boat team and the workers at Saona island were amazing. we will never forget the experince.

Not worth the cost. Plus they close too early. That said, the staff at the Park were very friendly and hospitable.

Claudia_T, Jun 2026

Terrible communication around pickup arrangements which I don’t think was the “Park’s” fault but of Viator.

Amazing !!!!

Angeliz_V, Jun 2026

The excursion was amazing from beginning to end. Our tour guide Francisco was exceptional. Loved every moment 10/10 highly recommend.

Thrilling, superfun and must do trip.

Rupal, Jun 2026

The activity was very well organized l. Expect surprises as you don't know the co-travellers and everyone around is only Spanish but the tourn guide was kind enough to repeat everything on both the languages. You take the bus to speed motor boat which takes you to the perfect island 🏝. The lunch was great with will cooked nice spaghetti 🍝, chicken and fruits etc. My kid abs elderly mom were happy as I was super concerned about them. On the way back we had way too much fun on the sail boat. We drank, sang, danced and rested well.

Saona excursion with friends and family - beautiful day

Kim_M, Jun 2026

We really enjoyed the catamaran ride out there. The staff was fun and entertaining. We understood that the swimming whole had starfish to be seen and we were not taken to the one with starfish but we still had a great day. One thing to know about the Saona island beach is that the bottom of the ocean is rocky in spots so I would recommend water shoes. Our group did not get the speed boats back but it might be because of the size of group. The photographer with our group took some amazing photos. We were overall very pleased with the day.