La Romana: Catalina Island Snorkeling & Chavón River Cruise

Two snorkel sites in one morning, then lunch and a river cruise before your ship leaves

You snorkel two reef sites with a certified local guide, swim and relax on Catalina Beach, eat a traditional Dominican lunch on the island, and cruise back along the Chavón River. The group stays under thirty people, pickup happens at 8am from the cruise terminal, and you're back well before your ship departs. Beverages and snorkeling equipment are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Catalina Island snorkeling and cruise

• Pickup at La Romana Cruise Terminal
• Snorkel at The Wall site
• Snorkel at The Aquarium site
• Relax on Catalina Island beach
• Enjoy traditional Dominican lunch
• Scenic cruise along Chavón River
• Return to La Romana Cruise Terminal

The experience

The boat pulls away from La Romana Cruise Port at 8am, and within twenty minutes you're in water so clear you can see the sand thirty feet down. Catalina Island sits about an hour offshore, and the ride there is when you start to understand why people come back to the Dominican Republic. Your guide (a local who knows exactly where the fish are) hands out snorkeling gear as the boat cuts through the Caribbean, and then you're in The Wall, the first of two sites. It's not a dramatic drop-off. It's more like swimming into an aquarium that happens to be real. Coral formations in colors that don't quite have names, sergeant majors and parrotfish moving through the water like they own it, and the whole thing is shallow enough that beginners don't panic.

After an hour there, you move to The Aquarium: a protected lagoon with even warmer, shallower water and so many tropical fish that you stop trying to count them. The difference between this and a big cruise-ship snorkel tour is the group size: thirty people instead of a hundred, which means you're not swimming in someone else's wake the whole time. You get actual time at each site instead of a quick dip and back to the boat. Around midday, you're on Catalina Beach with a traditional Dominican lunch waiting (rice, beans, plantains, fresh fish), and the kind of time to actually sit and eat instead of wolfing it down between activities. The beach is white sand and quiet enough that you can hear the water.

On the way back to port, the boat takes the Chavón River route, which is the part people don't expect. The river is narrow and lined with mangroves and jungle thick enough that you feel like you're moving through a postcard. Your guide points out the landscape, the vegetation, the way the light hits the water in the late afternoon. You're back at La Romana Cruise Port well before your ship's departure window. The whole excursion is timed around that, so there's no scrambling or stress about missing the boat. The snorkeling gear, the lunch, the drinks (rum, beer, soft drinks), the park entrance fees. It's all included, which means you're not nickel-and-dimed at the end of the day.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup at La Romana Cruise Port at 8:00 AM, round-trip boat transport to Catalina Island, snorkeling equipment (snorkel, mask, fins), a certified local guide for the full excursion, entrance fees to Cotubanamá National Park, snorkeling at two sites (The Wall and The Aquarium), beach time on Catalina Island, a traditional Dominican lunch served on the island, snacks throughout the day (pineapple, chips, cakes), a scenic cruise along the Chavón River on the return, and beverages including rum, beer, soft drinks, and water. You're returned to the cruise port well before your ship's departure.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Dominican Attitude Excursions

Is this one for you?Right for cruise passengers with a Friday port day in La Romana who want snorkeling without the logistics: the small group and timed return mean you get two reef sites, a beach break, and a river cruise all in one morning, back to the ship stress-free.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time do we leave the cruise port?

Pickup is at 8:00 AM from La Romana Cruise Port. The boat departs shortly after, and you're back well before the ship's departure window.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkel, mask, and fins are included. A certified local guide accompanies the group throughout.

What if the ship can't dock or the itinerary changes?

If your cruise ship cannot dock due to weather or other cruise-related circumstances beyond your control, you receive a full refund.

How many people are in the group?

The excursion is limited to 30 guests, keeping it smaller than typical cruise-ship tours.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A traditional Dominican lunch is served on Catalina Island, along with snacks (pineapple, chips, cakes) and beverages throughout the day.

What are the two snorkel sites?

The Wall and The Aquarium. The Wall features coral formations and reef fish. The Aquarium is a shallow, protected lagoon ideal for all snorkeling levels.

Do I need snorkeling experience?

No. The excursion is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and both sites work for beginners and experienced snorkelers.

What's included in the price?

Round-trip transport from La Romana port, snorkeling equipment, entrance to Cotubanamá National Park, certified guide, Dominican lunch, snacks, and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).