Saona Island by Catamaran: the 11 Best Trips from Bayahibe

1.Catamaran Boat to Saona Island with Buffet Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,822 reviews · 8 hours · from $82Our pick

Travel from Punta Cana to Saona Island by speedboat and catamaran, stopping at a clear natural pool filled with starfish. Guides such as Christian, Alex, Eduardo, and Juan lead the day, which includes beach time, buffet lunch, drinks, and music on the return boat.

“We had an amazing tour to Isla Saona with Eduardo! He was incredibly kind, friendly, and very informative — you could really tell he cared about making sure everyone had a great experience. He explained everything clearly and made the whole day fun and relaxing. Our hotel pickup driver was also fantastic — he made sure everyone got back to their hotels safely. The entire experience felt well-organized and welcoming from start to finish. The VIP experience was also excellent as the lobster and shrimp were absolutely delicious! There was such amazing effort from the photography team - their pictures were gorgeous! The speedboat and catamaran crew were all excellent…”

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2.Saona Island small group and relax – luxury catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 605 reviews · from $139Top rated

Sail from Bayahibe aboard the 75-foot Quetzal, limited to 30 people. Snorkel at Catuano, relax on Saona Island, and visit Las Palmillas natural pool. Lunch, snacks, drinks, equipment, guide, and Bayahibe hotel transfers are included. Guides may include Lola, Charlotte, Enrique, and Bernard.

“What a great experience to start out with ***** a beautiful boat and very great professional crew a small group which was very nice having alot of room on the boat to move around as we wanted without it being crowded. We made our stops and having amazing lunch and had wonderful drinks.. thanks for the great memories guys. Untill next time crew.”

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3.Saona Island Catamaran Tour with Food & Open Bar

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 380 reviews · 8 hours · from $67

Spend about eight hours reaching Saona Island from Punta Cana, stopping at the Natural Swimming Pool, then relaxing on white sand with lunch and an open bar. The boat may be a catamaran or speedboat, and guides such as Indiana Jones have earned warm praise for keeping the ride lively.

“*Real review* 100% recommend booking this activity. Was picked up from hotel on time. Great communication before and throughout. Was really looked after. Alcoholic Drinks were served throughout! Indiana Jones was our host. He was lovely and made everyone feel welcomed. When we arrived at the island the food was absolutely delicious. Everything was smooth. Highly recommend. Things to look out: Avoid having professional photos taken! Have a good breakfast before cause it’s a long day! Bring water, a snack, sunscreen and anti sickness tablets!”

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4.Saona Island: Catamaran/Speedboat Tour to a Dream Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 315 reviews · 7 - 10 hours · from $89

Spend 7 to 10 hours traveling from Bayahibe to Saona Island by speedboat and sailing catamaran. You get 2.5 hours on a white-sand beach, buffet lunch, open-bar drinks, Caribbean music, and a 30-minute natural-pool stop. Guides such as Christian, Juan, and Paula are praised for warm, attentive service.

“Everything was great. Our guide, Juan was perfect, he speaks english, french, and german. The music and the staff on catamaran was entertaining. The lunch on Saona island was good and enaugh. On Saona we had a massage, it costs 50$ - 90$ negociabil. Overall it eas a great trip.”

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5.Saona Island Excursion by Catamaran and Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 197 reviews · from $95

Travel from Punta Cana to Saona Island by speedboat or catamaran, stopping at a shallow ocean sandbar before a beach day with a Dominican barbecue buffet, local drinks, music, dancing, and optional volleyball. Guides may include Max or Jack Sparrow. Hotel transfers are included, but expect a long, busy day.

“My son and I were super excited about going on this excursion. We got an email the night before that it had been cancel and that I needed to contact Viator to receive a refund.”

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6.Saona island – Small group tour – Luxury catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 139 reviews · 10 hours · from $169

Sail Quetzal from Bayahibe to Saona Island with guides such as Angel, Charlotte, and Bernard. You’ll snorkel at Catuano, relax on a quieter beach, eat lunch aboard, and swim among starfish at Las Palmillas. Expect a calm sailing day, not a loud party boat.

“I 100% recommend this trip! It’s great value for money and you definitely won't be disappointed. The catamaran ride was amazing, and the crew was fantastic. Great snacks and drinks on board too. Just a small note: Be prepared that the transfer cost to their office might not be stated upfront as they use a third-party service. However, the tour itself is perfect!”

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7.Santo Domingo: Saona Island VIP Catamaran Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 116 reviews · 7 - 12 hours

You’ll travel from Punta Cana or Santo Domingo to Bayahibe, then cross by catamaran or speedboat to Saona Island. Swim at a natural pool, see starfish, enjoy Creole buffet dishes, and return with music, dancing, and an open bar. Guide service is available in English, Italian, and Spanish.

“Excelente tour a Isla Saona. La organización fue clara, el personal siempre atento y el ambiente muy agradable. Disfrutamos mucho la música, la playa y el almuerzo típico.”

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8.Catamaran Tour to Saona Island with Open Bar and Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 111 reviews · 9 hours · from $81

You’ll travel from Punta Cana to Bayahibe, then sail toward Saona Island with music, an open bar, and a stop at a shallow natural pool. Expect a Dominican buffet, about three hours on Saona, an English or Spanish guide, and hotel pickup if selected. Guide Alex has earned special praise for his friendly leadership.

“The natural pool stop was a highlight. Very enjoyable experience.”

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9.Saona Island Full Day Excursion from Punta Cana + Catamaran Party

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 103 reviews · from $79

Spend about nine hours traveling from Punta Cana to Saona Island by speedboat and catamaran. Swim in a natural pool, relax on white sand, eat a Dominican buffet, and join a music-filled catamaran party. Guides such as Enrique, Danny, and DannyBoy have earned praise, but transport and crowding can vary.

“Everyone was really great and had great customer service. The catermaran to the island was a lot of fun they really made you involved and made the guests have a blast. It was quite a few different transfers to get there but all the drivers were nice and got us home safe. We liked that they had photographers to capture us since we were on our honeymoon. Thank you!”

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10.Island Escape to Saona • catamaran & Beach lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 74 reviews · 570 minutes - 10 hours · from $59Best value

Travel from Punta Cana or Bayahibe to Saona Island for a starfish-filled natural pool, buffet lunch, and beach time. Guide Mama Diari may assist in English, Spanish, and French. Expect a long day with bus transfers, a shopping stop, and a music-filled catamaran return.

“Très bonne ambiance. Et avec la guide Mama Diari qui était top ! Elle fait même l’effort de traduire en français pour ceux le moins a l’aise avec l’espagnol ou l’anglais. Petit bémol pour l’arrivée tardive sur l’île, en toute fin de service pour le déjeuner. Résultat : presque plus rien à manger (plus de viande du tout) alors que la prestation est incluse. D’où le 4 (au lieu d’un 5/5)”

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11.Saona Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Natural Swimming Pool

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 39 reviews · from $75

Travel from Punta Cana to Bayahibe, cruise toward Saona Island with music and drinks, stop at Palmilla’s natural pool, then enjoy a Dominican buffet by the beach. Guides such as Carlos and Tio Luis add warmth, but long transfers, crowded boats, and changing transport can affect the day.

“I would use the company again. The tour leaders looked after us well and made sure we were safe, even in bad weather for traveling. The natural swimming pool and first beach were beautiful. Saona Island wasn’t what we thought it would be. The beach was rough and the bathroom there was disgusting and unusable.”

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