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Small Group: Saona Island Full Day Tour

Recommended by 98% of travelers
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Viator Experience Award
High interest
Booked 5+ times today.
  • 9 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Deborah_A ·
Mar 2026
This excursion was a highlight during our girls trip to DR. The business owners and guides were very kind and informative. Each stop was wonderful with a little different flare and I enjoyed experiencing the food, snorkeling, starfish, and sea turtles. Highly highly recommend!
· Steven_M ·
May 2026
An absolutely stunning experience. Our tour guide was very friendly, knowledgeable and patient. The staff and captains were so accommodating. From helping us off boats to making sure our cups were always filled. The buffet was very tasty and the itinerary for the day was exactly as described. 10/10 experience!!!

Overview

Head to the sparsely inhabited Saona Island on a full-day trip from Punta Cana. Join a small group and visit the town of Mano Juan, home to a turtle conservation area. Then, spend the rest of your day exploring a secret beach as well as Abanico and Palmilla beaches, each with its own charm. Your day trip includes a simple breakfast and a hearty, buffet lunch on the beach.
  • Learn about turtle conservation from a community leader
  • Search for starfish and marine life with a provided snorkel
  • Hassle-free transfers from select locations
  • A small group means more attention from your guide

What's Included

  • Lunch
  • Breakfast
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Bottled water
  • Soda/Pop
  • Use of Snorkeling equipment
    Use of Snorkelling equipment
  • Air-conditioned vehicle

    Meeting and Pickup

    Pickup points

    Select a pickup point

    Pickup details

    Thanks for reserve our experience Please write to us: your full name your location name where do you need to be pick up We provided pick up and drop off from Punta Cana to Bayahibe Port and back to Punta Cana. The experience is for a small groups of 14 pax. Limited 2 groups. We develop the entire excursion over speed boat in Saona Island. Punta Cana to the Port of Bayahibe by Bus. Bring swimming suits, towels, sun block, bugs repellent, money. We provided breakfast and lunch if you have any food restrictions or you need information about the food we provided feel free to contact us. We served for breakfast sandwiches with cheese and tomatoes and cheese and turkey ham with do natural juiced and a fruit salad. For lunch with provided a buffet with traditional Dominican lunch( rice with vegetables, mash potatoes salad, green salad, fruits salad, bread, pasta in tomatoes sauce marinate with lobster, grilled chicken, grilled pork chops. We do one stop in a convenient store 10 minutes before the port where you can buy anything of your preference. You are free to bring to the trip drinks or food of your preference if you need it. Thanks again for reserve with me your experience to Saona Island. Best Regards Melvin Duran +18293707381

    Operating hours
    .6:00 am

    Itinerary

    For this Saona Island small-group tour either head directly to the meeting point on Bavaro Beach, or if you’ve requested pickup, get picked up from your Punta Cana location. This tour has a maximum of 12 travelers for an intimate full-day experience.

    First your group makes your way to Mano Juan, home to a turtle conservation area. Breakfast is included, too. After a short time in Mano Juan, continue to a secret beach for stunning views and a swim.

    Next, visit Abanico Beach on Saona Island for a delicious lunch buffet and free time to spend on the beach as you please.

    Lastly, visit Palmilla Beach, where you can search for starfish before making your way back to Punta Cana for drop-off.
    1

    Isla Saona

    3 hours Admission Ticket Free

    2

    Parque Nacional del Este

    30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    3

    Saona Island

    1 hour Admission Ticket Free

    4

    Parque Nacional del Este

    15 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    5

    Parque Nacional del Este

    15 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Most travelers can participate
    • 0-5 not allow
    • Pregnant not allowed
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers

    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

    Summer_S
    Hands down, the best part of our trip to DR was this excursion!! Melvin & Natalia were wonderful and provided such a beautiful experience! Book this excursion, you won’t regret it!! Saona Island is amazing, and the little touches that were put into this day did not go unnoticed.

    Reviews

    4.9
    based on 1,436 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

    Funnnn

    Jayla_G, Jun 2026
    This was a really dope Experience !! Food Was good and the water was pretty ! Boat ride to the island was fun ! Sit in the front if you want a wild ride lmao ! Pepe can Tokyo drift with his boat lol! Our tour guide was really awesome and knowledgeable ! Everything was on time and we started early to get ahead of the crowds ! Really awesome time ! 10/10

    Great Experience

    Chad_S, Jun 2026
    Great overall island excursion with beautiful water. Be prepared for lengthy and very bumpy boat ride.

    Amazing, Ethical Tour that is an Unforgettable Experience!

    michele_l, Jun 2026
    Amazing experience! The communication throughout the tour is fantastic and it is clearly a very genuine experience. No photographers trying to sell you photos, no rushing from point to point. Just people with a real desire to show off Saona and help the sea turtles. Melvin and Pedro were incredibly nice and knowledgeable. Our speedboat captain Jorge was great as well. Absolutely recommend anyone to try out this excursion --a portion of the funds goes to the sea turtle sanctuary and the school on Saona! Thank you guys for everything!

    A Must Do Trip!

    Marlene_L, Jun 2026
    Highly recommend this tour! Yes, it is an early start to the day but we were at the island before anyone else! We had the whole beach to ourselves (the 28 of us - two boats) until the other tours started to arrive. Each stop was just our two boats and it was awesome! The water is unbelievable - it's crystal clear and magical!

    Stunning beach on Saona Island

    Ann_V, May 2026
    This is an educational all day trip with lots of stops and things to do and see. The beach is gorgeous but wear water shoes to get through the crushed coral. It is well worth the money for the small group experience.

    Marvin & his crew are incredible!

    Jeffery_H, May 2026
    Marvin & his crew are absolutely the best! This was truly one of the most incredible trips we’ve ever experienced. Traveling with a small group made such a huge difference — we’ve done both large and small group trips, and this experience was by far more personal, relaxing, and enjoyable. Marvin and his crew went above and beyond in every single way to make sure everyone felt comfortable, taken care of, and had the best time possible. Their kindness, attention to detail, professionalism, and genuine hospitality made the trip unforgettable. You can tell they truly care about the people they’re hosting and take pride in creating an amazing experience from start to finish. Every part of the trip was well organized, stress free, and filled with fun memories we’ll never forget. If you’re thinking about booking with Marvin and his crew, do it — you will not be disappointed. We cannot wait to travel with them again!

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Jeffery The pleasure was mine to spend time with your family and share some information about our Island and the places that we visited during the experience As you can see we try to make the day special for each guest To be on time for the pick up it’s very important for we to develop our program and enjoy the beaches not to crowded Thanks for reserved with us Saona Island full day small groups excursion Best regards Melvin Duran

    Great Experience

    Shannon_B, May 2026
    The first stop was a short look inside the local community, then there was plenty of beach time with beautiful waters, sea life, and even a delicious lunch! We loved that you could learn as much or as little about the DR as you wanted.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Shannon Thanks for wrote your review I really appreciate it Was nice to share some history with you about Dominican Republic Best Regards Melvin Durán

    Marvin and his crew were...

    Lisandra_B, May 2026
    Marvin and his crew were excellent. However, it was a day of heavy rain in Seona, and we wish they had considered canceling the trip due to the unfavorable weather conditions so we wouldn’t have lost the day.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good evening Lisandra When we pick up in Punta Cana and when we leave the port of Bayahibe the weather was fine. The rain star in the water after we passed the canal catuano. Unfortunately, those are things that we can’t control completely unexpected weather for one moment to the other that’s the caribbean. We were not expecting all that rain for yesterday in any forecast was announced that amount of rain in that time of the day, it’s was something unexpected. Therefore, we do the entire program and we do everything what we offer in our itinerary even with the moments of rain that we passed we do the entire program. When we have information of bad weather we canceled but yesterday that was not the case and we work like a normal day not expecting rain. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. Best Regards

    If you are looking for a...

    Linda_L, May 2026
    If you are looking for a smaller and more intimate experience at Saona Island, I highly recommend this tour. Melvin and his team were great and knowledgeable. He also explains the history of Dominican Republic, which I really enjoyed. My friends and I felt safe and comfortable with his team. Never felt pressure to purchase anything on this tour or pressure to write a review. Thank you for a wonderful experience and great memories, Melvin and Team!

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good evening Linda Thanks for wrote your review Thanks for your words about our saona island full day small groups experience Thanks for reserved with us Best regards Melvin Duran

    Favorite Excursion of the trip!

    Crystal_W, May 2026
    This tour was by far our favorite of the trip. Melvin and his crew were so informative, kind and amazing. Melvin is so knowledgeable on the history of the Dominican Republic. He treats everyone with kindness and respect. If you only do one thing in Punta Cana do this tour!! I can’t say entirely good things about it.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good evening Cristal Was nice to meet you and share some history facts with you and the reta of the group. A lot of things happened in this island but a lot of poeple don’t have the I organize information for be able to explain why we have today in this island 2 different country Dominican Republic and Haiti, two nations that have been growing fast in their own particular way. Thanks for reserved with us the full day small groups excursion to saona island was nice to meet you. Best regards Melvin Duran

    I've been to Saona Island...

    Denice_A, May 2026
    I've been to Saona Island three times. This is my first time with this tour company. Pick this tour company if you want to be one of the first people to get to Saona Island. We traveled with a small group. I think it was around 25 people total split between two speed boats. No catamaran so we got to our destinations quicker. The speed boat ride was fun and not too bumpy or wet. It's like riding a jet ski but without the fear of tipping over lol and smoother. What I like about this tour company versus the others: 1. Smaller group which meant less time picking people up from different hotels. 2. Speed boats on both departure and return which mean quicker access to destinations and also got back to our hotel at a good time (by 5:30pm i was in my hotel). 3. No loud music or party scene (for those who want a more relaxing scene/ and if not then bring your own speaker) 4. The tour operator was very friendly and informative. He took pictures of the group and individuals and sent them to us for no extra charge! 5. You stop at a gas station before taking off. They had clean restrooms and coffee and snacks to purchase. I thought it was a reasonable price for our purchase. I got three coffees, three bags of chips and gum for $13. I didn't need to buy the snacks tho because the breakfast and lunch provided were delicious and plentiful. Overall I would recommend this activity. Tips: Bring your own towel and an extra coverup. Bring Cash. Bring lots of sunscreen and a good hat.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good evening Denice Thanks you for your words really thank you as you can see and verify our program and itinerary it’s made for enjoy the most in saona also involving the locals inside saona that most tourists don’t even know there’s poeple leaving inside saona island since 1945, very unique places Mano Juan. Thanks for reserve with us Best regards Melvin Duran

    This small group...

    Aaron_S, May 2026
    This small group excursion was worth the 6am pickup time, getting out to Saona Island early to get to enjoy the beauty, and history of the island

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good evening Aaron Thanks for reserved our saona island full day small groups excursion was very nice to meet you Best regards Melvin Duran

    Worth the money

    HALI, May 2026
    I really enjoyed this excursion it was very educational and we did a lot. It was well worth the money. Food was provided and you can also snorkel if you wish, just don’t go on that boat with no wig on I was holding on to my wig the whole time lmaooo but I’d def do it again 10/10

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good evening Thanks for reserved with us was very nice to meet you Best regards Melvin Duran

    Melvin & his crew were...

    Alaina_B, May 2026
    Melvin & his crew were amazing!!! We had many stops and they were very helpful. Melvin took pictures of us throughout the day & sent them after. We visited many areas, saw the star fish, sea turtles, and was able to snorkel. We had breakfast and lunch provided and we arrived to the island before all the big crowds. They made it fun and we got to learn about the culture. 10/10 recommend this tour!!!!

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good evening Alaina Thanks for reserved with us Thanks for wrote your review was very nice to meet you Best regards Melvin Duran

    An absolutely stunning experience

    Steven_M, May 2026
    An absolutely stunning experience. Our tour guide was very friendly, knowledgeable and patient. The staff and captains were so accommodating. From helping us off boats to making sure our cups were always filled. The buffet was very tasty and the itinerary for the day was exactly as described. 10/10 experience!!!

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Steve Thanks for wrote your review Thanks for your words regarding our saona island small groups excursion, thanks for your words regarding our staff we always try to make this day special for everyone. Thanks for reserved with us Best Regards Melvin Duran

    The person in charge of...

    Jack_A, May 2026
    The person in charge of the tour (Melvin) was unprofessional but the other staff members were great.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Jack Thanks for wrote your review. We send you a pick up time message that you didn’t read and we resend you the message to your phone and you don’t read it, that’s not our fault. We are very professional with our excursion over 5,000 good reviews in the past 9 years back up our work. That you need to wait 10 minutes don’t give you the right to treat the staff in the way you, you don’t have the right to talk in the way you talk to us, a delayed can happen, you need to try to be more humble when you are out of your country and be more respectful with the locals, leave your arrogant actitudes at the home when you come to visit Dominican Republic for you to enjoy better your vacation. Best Regards Melvin Duran

    Great trip to Saona...

    Courtney_J, May 2026
    Great trip to Saona Island - highly recommend booking a private tour with this company. Very informative and had multiple stop offs to see more than just the beach. Great trip!☺️

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Courtney Was very nice to meet you Thanks for reserved with us Best Regards Melvin Duran

    Great Time!

    Kimberly_H, May 2026
    The trip was well organized and a fun experience. The guide was very informative on the Dominican history of the island and the lunch was very good!

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Thanks for reserved with us It’s was very nice to meet you Saona island small groups excursion is our main services offered from Punta Cana. Best regards Melvin Duran

    Must do experience

    Callum_R, May 2026
    This experience was absolutely amazing. Melvin was an amazing tour guide, very passionate about the excursion which my partner and I loved. Seeing the starfish was a highlight.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Was nice to meet you Thanks for wrote your review Any other time around feel free to contact us Best regards

    Excellent organizing....

    Abijith_K, May 2026
    Excellent organizing. From pick up to travel, food and then activities, everything was went as planned. The guide was so so nice, explained the history amd things we are going to do in advance. Gave enough time at each locations so that we can enjoy to the max. Overall an excellent experience

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Was nice to meet you and your wife, thanks for reserved our saona island small groups full day excursion, thanks for coming with us Best Regards Melvin Duran

    Saona Island Day Trip

    Ania_H, May 2026
    Wow!!! Words can’t describe how beautiful and breathtaking this tour was! One of my favorite excursions in the DR. The trip was very thoughtfully planned and executed. Our tour guide, Melvin, was the best! He was so knowledgeable and even took several pictures of us! I would definitely book this tour again. We saw and got to hold star fish, snorkel with fish, see sea turtles, and swim in the clear water at Abanico Beach. It was just amazing and everything I was looking for!!!

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Ania Thanks for wrote your review. Was very nice to meet you and thanks for reserved with us the saona island full day small groups experience Any other time around feel free to contact us Best regards Melvin Duran

    A good day trip.

    Sarah_E, May 2026
    The tour was very informative. There was a lot of on and off the boat which could be difficult for some, but the staff was very helpful. All in all a good day. It was a bit disappointing to not see any live turtles at the turtle sanctuary. Also, the guide took photos that were to be shared with us on what’s app but we still haven’t received them.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Thanks for leave your review We just send your pictures it’s take time because you don’t use WhatsApp like all the others that I sended right on the van in the same day, but, immediately you wrote to us we send your picture for free like all the others participants. To find turtle hatching is dependent of nature things that any humans can control therefore we see it in the mangroves in their habitat. Thanks for reserved our saona island small groups experience Best regards Melvin Duran

    leon

    leon_j, May 2026
    had a great day, very nice food. would highly suggest booking with this company for a saona island excursion, day was planned out very well and they were very informative. got to see a sea turtle which was a nice addition to the day, and having your own sunbed bit on the beach was great.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Thanks for wrote your review, really thanks. It’s a great feeling to read your impressions about our experience for small groups to saona island full day Was nice to meet you Best Regards

    Saona Island Tour

    Rebecca_W, May 2026
    Bring water and lots of sun cream. The experience is that we had was simply out of this world, we had so much fun on this excursion. The tour guides were Spanish but also spoke very good English, they looked after us throughout the day. Was approachable to ask any questions, they made our trip here to the Dominican fun, safe and informative. Get booking :)

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Rebecca Thanks for reserved with us Thanks for take your time and wrote a review I really appreciated I wish you all the best Best Regards Melvin Duran

    Best tour!

    dairiou_d, May 2026
    Tour guide was amazing! Made everyone comfortable and by the end we were all talking to each other. Pace was great too. Not too many people and we avoided the crowd which was a big plus.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good afternoon Thanks for reserved our saona island small groups full day excursion was very nice to meet you and enjoy the day with you and your family Best Regards Melvin Duran

    An exception experience...

    Marta_R, Apr 2026
    An exception experience with Melvin and his team. Huge respect to being eco-conscious, educational and entertaining at the same time, there are not that many excursions like this one on the market in the area. Would definitely recommend to solo female travellers too - I felt safe and cared for, met good companions along the way but also definitely had a chance to enjoy by myself, no interactions were forced

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Marta Thanks for wrote your review. I really appreciated. Was nice to meet you. Thanks for your words, really thanks. Best Regards Melvin Duran

    Very nice responsible...

    Elena_S, Apr 2026
    Very nice responsible reliable people,well organized and passionate about their homeland.We were picked up on time,every step of tour was smooth,generous hosts

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Good morning Elena Thanks for reserved our saona island full day small groups excursion, thanks you very much, was nice to meet you. Best Regards

    Saona Island Tour

    hbnrd6q2x7, Apr 2026
    It was a great experience touring the Saona Island with Melvin and his group. It was very informative and the Saona Island experience is definitely one of the highlights of my first trip to DR. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience! Just a heads up, the speedboat ride is not for the faint of heart lol especially on windy days. If you have children or with elderly people and if you’re a person with back problems just book something else like a catamaran. Just for your information. Overall it was a great experience!

    Highly Recommend!

    Michelle_R, Apr 2026
    This tour was the highlight of our trip! The tour guide and staff were very professional. They brought us to the beach nice and early, before the crowds set in. They took lots of group photos and sent to us directly at no extra charge. Highly recommended!

    Must do experience!

    Trevor_H, Apr 2026
    Very informative and an awesome history lesson (IF YOU ASK!!!). The itinerary was amazing and well timed. Would highly recommend this trip over a booze cruise with the family. The beaches were spectacular, the food was amazing, the locals were friendly and of course the turtles and starfish were amazing.
    Likely to Sell Out

    From $165.00

    per person

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

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 32 days in advance.

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